I need one of those good German words or phrases...for the dog

[RJSV]

   Hey:
   Does anyone know the German equivalent phrase,  for my dog friend's soulful gaze ?

Seems like 'Rufus' was questioning universal existence,  or some shit like that !
   She was giving lots of deep,  probing  eye contact,  and came closer on the chair.
Almost seems like she was questioning life itself,  and putting aside any quest for a cookie.

   What's the German word,  I mused ?
For an almost psychotic need for knowing the basis for life and the whole universe !!

I've heard folks call that 'The Void',  which can be a panic causing metaphysical hunger.

   OR, lol,  am I reading too much into a puppy seeking religious salvation ?

Anyway,  I'd please like a German term,  for that.

Thanks

[rhodges]

"Unsicherheit-weh-gesicht?"

[RJSV]

   I'll try it!  (Will take a few minutes,  not in office)
Thanks.  That can be a romantic language.

[ksjh]

Anyway,  I'd please like a German term,  for that.

It might be Weltschmerz: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weltschmerz.
This term is sometimes used to describe the picture Hund vor der Welt by Franz Marc (1912): https://germanmodernism.org/2015/04/06/hund-vor-der-welt-how-a-dog-sees-the-world/

[thephil]

Not a perfect fit but Weltschmerz comes somewhat close.

OK - someone was faster ;-)

[RJSV]

   That is special,  I noticed !

   Too smart to enjoy fetching a ball !   She seems lost when other dogs are into it.
Very fast,  these are RAT hunters and oriented to work the fields.

   To play fetch,  I tried throwing a virtual branch....4 feet long (1 m) and thick as my arm.   
Didn't want to bore her

[RJSV]

   Oh great,  now I have to deal with 2 depressed pups:
   The 'melancoly' and existential situation,  like some Tennessee Ford play.   With the one pup too intelligent to just play with the ball for a second.
   These 2 are pets of a working person,  who can't be home for long periods each day.   That makes for a load of boredom.
You do what you can.

[pdenisowski]

My first thought was either "hundeelend" or "hundserbärmlich"

There are a lot of German idioms / compounds that use Hunde (dog) for something undesired or unpleasant.

Or maybe something like "Bedeutungsweh" (longing for meaning) - similar to Heimweh or "Fernweh" 

[RJSV]

Thanks for reply.
   I've gotten a little surprise taste of bummer,  dog wise,  reflecting on the meanings:

   rhodges reply has to do with sadness in the German word meanings.
   Also a 'weariness about life' with world pain.

   'Unsicherheit-weh-gesicht'
getting a Google translation.
Or also a unsteadyness or insecurity about life.

   Playwright Tennessee Williams had some capture of that meloncoly,  where,  in my case,  those dogs are in a bit of an 'indifferent world' and an incomprehensible one.

But,  that's a dog or other pet's life,  having enough material benefits,  but also long stretches of solitude and boredom.
   I think that's the 'metaphysical' that I've tapped into,  here today,  wondering just how much THE DOG agrees,  (or comprehends).

The reason I brought up the American plays is that they kind of expressed a similar dynamic,  often portrayed in bad economic times.

   But...you do what you can.

   I think I estimated that by the scales of relative height,  a small dog relates about like we humans would,...gazing up at a creature thats 40 feet tall,  in equivalent.

[schmitt trigger]

That is the reason German was (or is) the preferred language of philosophers: a single compact word can carry so much meaning.

There are so many, Schadenfreude, Zeitgeist........

[dietert1]

If you want more German: https://www.zooroyal.de/magazin/zoo-mix/hundeblick/

You know that a dog can recognize where you are looking? Some people give hints to their dogs by rapid eye movements.

Regards, Dieter

[RJSV]

Yeah dietert,  not surprised as they are 'pack' oriented.  I once got tricked,...this time by a cat,  that suddenly looked up,  as if there was something approaching.   When I looked over there,  the cat BOLTED away,  skillfully.

   Converse to what you mention,  the dogs seem to be automatically aware of my every move,  likely due to keen hearing,  of the air I push.

   The smart one of the pair does this clever 'hot dog' roll (Jack Russell) that bowls down the other dogs running,  like a rollin pin.

[Nominal Animal]

my dog friend's soulful gaze ?

Here is a fun "self-test" you can do with dogs (and many other animals, perhaps even with other human beings):

When you notice the dog looking at you, concentrate on the feelings you feel about the interaction and the dog in particular.  I like to concentrate on how I enjoy their presence and antics, because that is often the strongest one for me.  Do so for any negative feelings too, though.  Let it suffuse throughout your body, so that those feelings are the only things you are aware of.  (Physiologically, that affects the hormones on your skin within seconds, especially in your head, in the wrist-inner elbow regions, and back of the knee.)

And then, say "I like you", or whatever comes to mind to express those feelings, even if negative (like "You are scary dog, and I don't want you to bite me, or to do anything that would cause you to be angry at me.")

The purpose of this is to ensure your body language perfectly matches your feelings that perfectly matches your words, making you very easy to "read".

I like to do this as often as I am able to, simply because of the results I get.  It is particularly powerful if they come and sniff your scent immediately afterwards. 

[vk6zgo]

Sometimes the woofas are underfoot or going so crazy, that you just have to say "Raus aus meinem Haus!"

Other times when neighbours have a visitor, the dogs woof their backsides off, & you can say "Kein Bellen mehr!" multiple times.
They stop, look at you, then go back to woofing--rinse and repeat.

When they see the local newspaper in your hand, they decide they don't want that across their backsides & leave the room, only to come back a few minutes later with their sad look.