SerpApi.Org
We all know about Velcro dogs that just have to sit next to you, stand next to you, follow you around from room to room, and prefer to be carried like little princes and princesses—but have you ever had a dog that just stared at you?
Winnie the Cattle Dog is a red Australian cattle dog who loves to hang with the pack and show off her daily adventures on YouTube, and in this clip, we get a hilarious look at what life is really like with a herding breed in the house.
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"Living with a herding dog means someone's always getting stalked, whether they like it or not," the video caption reads while Rockwell's 1983 hit "Somebody's Watching Me" plays in the background.
Meanwhile, we're treated to a montage of Winnie and her herding-dog siblings and friends staring at the person behind the camera, at each other and just plain staring in perfect stillness, and the vibe is definitely weird when so many dogs are stalking at once!
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_BWVCj9wLmU
"Just doing our job," wrote one commenter from the point of view of the herding dogs.
"Very accurate song for this too," said another person.
"Looks significantly at my senior Heeler mix, who, now in her confused dotage, has to herd all present family members into a specific room with her favorite bed in it before she'll relax and take a nap," another joked
Related: This Weiner Dog's Unconventional Tricks Are Actually So Cute
Why Do Herding Dogs Stand and Stare at Others?
Australian Cattle Dogs are just one breed of herding dog that can exhibit such behavior, as well as German shepherds, Shetland sheepdogs, Border collies, Pembroke Welsh corgis and a handful of others, but what is that behavior about and why do they do it?
These dogs were bred to herd, obviously, which means they've been bred to control the movements of other creatures on the field and farm. They use staring and strong stances to intimidate or nudge others in the direction they'd like them to move, and, according to Rover, these dogs actually experience a burst of the feel-good chemical dopamine when they assume this stance.
It doesn't necessarily mean they're trying to intimidate you into moving; they could just want you to get up from the couch and play. However, if it makes you and others feel uneasy, there are ways to train around this behavior.
Staring is a natural instinct in herding breeds, so you don't want to punish them for it or train it out of them completely. It's best to just learn to redirect their attention with toys and commands. Of course, if you see them staring, you can always start playing Rockwell and go with the vibe!
Related: Dog Dad Tells the Story of How He Met His Rescue Dog, and It's a Tearjerker
