Why do dogs stare at you while you are eating if they don't want the food?

Maybe they want something specific from your plate?

Like meat.

It’s intriguing that you’re hounded by random dogs while you’re eating.
Are you eating in a kennel or a dog park? ;-)
Is indoor dining illegal where you live. ;-p

Otherwise, I agree with @RedDeerGuy1.

@Brian1946 I’m referring to several incidents, and each time I was with one dog. I’m not surrounded by a pack of dogs :P

In my country sometimes dogs can walk inside restaurants. They would walk around looking for leftovers from customers or even go beg themselves. And that is how I saw that behavior. I also have friends who have dogs and that happens too.

Once I was in a friend’s house and I was eating a bag of chips. There was nothing inside except chips. The dog came begging and I threw a slide for her and she just walked away then came begging again. I guess she was expecting something else?

I think you are attributing more intelligence to dogs than they really have.

They look at you eating and they want whatever it is. They don’t have the mental capacity to understand that they might not want the food after all. So they wait and beg, and then reject it because they have no context.

@Mimishu1995

“In my country sometimes dogs can walk inside restaurants.”

Ah, so I was wrong about where you were eating.
Apparently self-closing doors are illegal over there. ;-p

Dogs have some pack instincts. If the alpha of the pack is eating something, they might be looking to see if it is something they should be getting. When you throw them a scrap, they sniff it and turn away because it isn’t something that appeals to their nose. But then you go back to eating so they know you are eating something and it might be something different than you offered.

I was once eating green olives. My dog was looking at me like it was something he wanted. I told him he didn’t want it but he was sure he did. So I tossed him an olive. He sniffed it and looked at me like I was joking. But then the cat ran in and ate the olive. The dog looked highly offended and told me he wanted a second chance. So I tossed him another olive. He picked it up in his mouth and then dropped it out. And the cat ate that one also. This repeated until the dog ate an olive just to keep the cat from having it.

They see you are eating something, and they might want it. Then they take a closer look/sniff, and decide it’s not to their liking.
Or maybe they are just fucking with you.

@seawulf575 Hahaha!

Cats do it too. I think theyre just curious.

Pack behavior makes them think, “You are eating. It must be good. I want some!” Then they determine that it’s not something they want.

Because the 2nd…3rd…time they hope you’re eating something different.

They secretly do want it.

They’re checking you out. If they figure you’re an illegal immigrant they will run for the door.

My dog wants to know what it smells like, to evaluate if she really wants it. When she gets really curious while I am eating, I’ll blow a breath towards her nose. Most of the time that’s enough. This dog is not much into people food. Previous dog loved people food.

How are they supposed to know a bag of crisps contains only crisps? I bet they’re hoping that you’re eating several different types of food, as humans very often do. If you’re eating a salad, the dog would probably decline lettuce and tomato, but then happily accept feta cheese.

The reason they’re insistent is just past success. Most dogs have a strong history of getting very tasty food after begging incessantly. They’ve learned to be persistent. If they act cute enough, maybe you’ll even get up and fetch some better snacks!

Every dog I have ever had was obsessed with “people food”, Even if they won’t like it, if it’s in your hand, they’ll want it!

My dog turns away at the slightest hint of sourness.

Could it be that if you’re in a restaurant, that the smell of something like a steak is coming from a certain direction, maybe near you. So the dog approaches you thinking that you are eating the steak, but then when you offer them some of your food, they just walk away disappointed. Otherwise I have no idea.