Avoiding eye contact / Averting gaze

In this behaviour, the dog makes a clear effort to cut off eye contact. The dog may continue to monitor the part of the area surrounding him that is within his field of vision. Looking away may or may not include the dog turning away his head.
(Fox, 1971; Goodmann, 2002; van den Berg, 2003; Shilder & van der Borg, 2004; Koler-Matznick, 2005)

This male Jack Russel is standing tall as he approaches a female of the same breed. She lowers her head and averts her gaze, turning her head slightly.

In this interaction between two males, a Belgian Malinois and a German Shepherd are facing off in T position. Both dogs are averting their gaze.

This Australian Shepherd was adopted just a few weeks before this photo was taken. During this lesson, he is averting his gaze, avoiding eye contact with his owner.

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In this interaction between two females, the Cattledog is aware that the Golden Retriever is approaching. The Retriever exhibits standing tall; the Cattledog lowers her head and tail. When the Golden Retriever moves into a lateral stance, the Cattledog averts her gaze, turning her head away (and showing the whites of her eyes). Head lowered, the Cattledog leaves the interaction, glancing at the Golden Retriever.

avoidance<>barking