My dog keeps staring at the patio

[reup]

It’s not always the same area and sometimes it seem to be more staring at the bottom of the outside chair legs too. He sometimes whines at it too.

It’s only started happening this summer but he can do it for ages.

He’s 4 years old and normal the rest of the time though he has stared to get a bit more grumpy the last year or so - barking randomly at people or dogs for no particular reason.

Any ideas?

I’d assume there’s something there tbh...

Mice? Insects? Fox scent?

Are you sure he is staring, not having a mini seizure/episode?

Alert ears up, might have a scent staring?
or
Half sleep, slump position staring?

Thanks for answering.

He seems very focused and alert - sometimes it’s the patio but he will often follow the chair leg I move it.

His ears are as up as a cocker spaniel gets!

There are lots of foxes around. We thought he might have seen something once like insects etc and now he keeps looking agsin but its gone on so long!

Was your house ever owned by anyone named Jordache?

My dog follows me to the wood pile and barks and barks at a particular area of ground and has dug a big hole. I haven't a clue what he thinks is down there

That’s what my husband said! It just seems so weirdly obsessive he doesn’t get as much rest as usual.

Is he doing it through a glass window OP? Could it be reflections or shadows?

No it’s when he’s outside. He also stares out the patio door when he inside but he’s been doing that for much longer - we get foxes and cats sometimes and he likes to be on alert for a visiting dog next door which he has to defend us against. It’s a nightmare if he's outside when the other dog visits as It is so close to breaking down our fence but the neighbours do nothing,