Shih Tzu's Intense Stare Down With Mom Is Both Hilarious And Unsettling
We've all seen the meme: The chances are low but never zero when it comes to your pet plotting your demise, usually accompanied by an image of a dog or cat looking creepy. Well, now it's time to meet Hugh the shih tzu from TikTok, a little white, fluffy dog who sits at the end of his owner's futon peering just high enough over the edge to unsettlingly stare. All we have to say is...thank dog he's cute!
@hughtheshihtzu Genuinely terrified of what that stare means half the time 😭 #shihtzu #shihtzulovers #shihtzupuppy
♬ Creepy and simple horror background music(1070744) – howlingindicator
Set to spooky music, the creepy-cute clip is captioned: "The Shih Tzu Stare: Genuinely Terrified 😭" and shows the small shih tzu in various stages of staring. "Lol he is a creepy little dog but still precious," noted one person in the comments, as another jokingly played it down: "That's just his way of saying hi.... for a long time." No word on whether the lil doggy got what he wanted, but he sure knows how to draw some attention!
Here's why dogs stare at you
We've all been on the receiving end of a dog intently staring, watching as we eat that last bit of food off our plate or just walk down the street. To us, it can be cute, funny, or even slightly creepy. For the dog, it's usually a way of trying to communicate, whether asking for something, showing affection, or genuinely trying to figure out what's going on in a moment.
When a dog sits and stares at its owner or someone else in its household, it's usually because he or she wants something. It's often a silent way of asking for food, a walk, or just some attention — basically a mastery of the art of begging. Sometimes, it's just a sheer sign of affection, caught in the moment of gazing lovingly at the person who is their closest companion, seen as one of the signs that your dog loves you. Once in a while, they are trying to read your body language to decode your emotions or are waiting for a cue in anticipation of what might happen next, like dinner being served or a leash being picked up.
Usually, a dog staring is harmless, but if the look is accompanied by tense body language or growling, you should assume that the dog should not be engaged with. Otherwise, go ahead and take a video of the moment, set it to some eerie music, and give yourself — and others — a good laugh!