Animals of many species, including dogs, often perceive eye contact as a threat. Many programs to prevent dog bites recommend avoiding direct eye contact with an unknown dog. Also do not hold eye contact with wild animals like coyotes, wolves, lions, or leopards.
Face/eye recognition is built into the makeup of all vertebrate social species. Such ability and its resultant behavior is found in many fish, a number of reptiles (especially lizards), most birds and most mammals.
To most animals, this is seen as a challenge or as dominance. It's also very impolite, even with humans. So I would say that it is a bad idea to look at an animal straight in its eyes unless you're looking for a fight.
The leopard relies so heavily on its camouflage, it will lie dead still until the absolute last second, hoping you will not see it and simply pass it by. Believe me, this happens. If you do see it and look it in the eye, it knows it's cover has been blown and has to react. The so-called “Flight or Fight” response.
During a close encounter with a wolf, people should do the following: Stand tall and make themselves look larger. Calmly but slowly back away and maintain eye contact. If the wolf does not run away immediately, continue making yourself large, keeping eye contact, and backing away.
Most mountain lions will try to avoid a confrontation. Give them a way to escape. Maintain visual contact with the lion so you can always see what it is doing — keep your eye on it! If you look away, the lion could move and then you will not know where it is or what it's doing.
Running may stimulate a mountain lion's instinct to chase. Instead, stand and face the animal. Make eye contact. If you have small children with you, pick them up, if possible, so they don't panic and run.
Tigers are less likely to kill you if you look them in the eye. Tigers like to hunt by ambush. By looking a tiger in the eye, you're showing it that you know it's there. This, “they say”, makes it less likely that a tiger will attack you.
It is vital to stand your ground, perhaps retreating very slowly, but to continue facing the lion while clapping your hands, shouting and waving your arms around to make yourself look bigger. Most charges are mock charges, so you will usually be fine. And remember: hold your ground! Never run or turn your back.
Some report you should use soft eye contact when dealing with horses, meaning you can look at the horse but also keep a wide field of view. Other trainers indicate hard contact is preferred to establish your dominance over the herd.
Back away slowly.
Instead of turning and running, continue to face the leopard and begin backing away slowly. Avoid eye contact, but keep the cat in view. If the leopard leaves you be, continue backing away until the leopard is out of sight. Then you can turn and quickly leave the area.
In their wolf ancestors, staring is considered threatening and rude. Some dogs still retain that attitude. That's why you should never stare down strange dogs or hold dogs still to stare into their eyes. If a dog gives you a hard stare, with unblinking eyes and a stiff posture, back away and don't make eye contact.
Wolves see staring as a sign of aggression. The study concluded that the production of oxytocin may have been a crucial step in the evolution from wolves to domesticated dogs. As much as we may wish our dogs could talk to us and tell us exactly what they want, we can learn a lot from the way they stare at us.
Like many large carnivores, wolves are generally afraid of humans and will avoid people, buildings, and roads if possible. The risk of wolves attacking or killing people is low. As with other wildlife, it is best not to feed wolves and to keep them at a respectful distance.
Tigers prefer to hunt by ambush, so by looking a tiger in the eyes you are showing him you know he is there. Now he has lost the element of surprise, and will most likely go find something else to feast on.
Cheetahs are predators that do not eat other predators or even challenge other predators. Humans are not prey to Cheetahs and a human's height will also deter even an inquisitive Cheetah from approaching.
Side eye placement allows for greater peripheral or side vision. This enables the animal to see predators approaching from the side as well as from behind. This vision is very important for protecting an animal when it is grazing or feeding.
Spoiler alert: if you ever find yourself engaged in a staring contest with a snake, you'll lose. “Because snakes don't have eyelids, they cannot blink,” explains Bruno Simões, a researcher at the University of Plymouth in the United Kingdom. Simões has been studying the evolution of snake eyes for 10 years.
This expression, along with a relaxed posture, is a sign that they're giving you a look of love. If you take a moment to stare back at your dog, it can be a bonding moment for both of you. Mutual staring between dogs and their owners releases oxytocin. This is a hormone that gives you a feeling of love and well-being.
Direct eye contact
Cats can find direct eye contact quite threatening. They wouldn't look another cat straight in the face unless they were fixing for a fight. When your cat's relaxed, they might look at you with a peaceful gaze or half closed eyes. A “slow blink” is your cat's way of saying they love you.
That cool, nervous butterflies feeling can be a lot of fun. When you maintain eye contact with her, heightening her self-awareness in the process, you're giving her a little gift. You're allowing her to enjoy that feeling even more.
Geckos (Gekkota)
Nocturnal geckos have superb vision in dim light - their eyes are 350 times more sensitive to colour at night than a human's (see for yourself with our animal vision interactive).