Every dog owner knows the heartache of leaving their pet behind while they head out to work, especially when faced with those pleading puppy eyes.
Dogs, not understanding the concept of work, often spend hours wondering where their owners have disappeared to.
Adrienne Carson, the vice president of behaviour and training at St Hubert’s Animal Welfare, told The Dog People that dogs miss their owners because they associate them with positive experiences.
The Dog People noted: “If you’ve been gone for a long time, your dog might be super excited when you come home. Research shows that the longer you’re away, the happier your dog is when you return. Dogs are social animals, so they may feel sad when their favourite person is gone. This can happen with all dogs, not just those with separation anxiety.
“Luckily, Carson says dogs do well with routines and familiar places. When you leave for work, they might be sad at first, but then they’ll do dog stuff, like sleeping, chewing toys, or listening for sounds while you’re gone.” Thankfully, a lot of a dog’s alone time is spent sleeping, helping to pass the hours until their beloved owner returns.
Stanley Coren, a psychology professor from the University of British Columbia, has said that dogs likely dream about their ‘favourite things’ and that owners are possibly featured in their slumbering thoughts. While you’re away from your furry friend, they may very well be ‘spending time with you’ in their dreams.
Coren explained: “What we’ve basically found is that dogs dream doggy things. So, pointers will point at dream birds, and Dobermans will chase dream burglars. The dream pattern in dogs seems to be very similar to the dream pattern in humans.”
Coren’s findings have been backed up by Dr Deirdre Barrett of Harvard Medical School. As a clinical and evolutionary psychologist, Dr Barrett concurs that canines dream about daily experiences, implying they also dream about their owners.
Echoing this sentiment, Animals Studio shared a captivating TikTok video noting: “They think about their owners. Canines don’t just love their owners back. They actually consider them to be family as it turns out man’s best friends get more protection and affection from human beings than their kind.”
Additionally, since many dogs are naturally social creatures who prefer companionship, they often express their dislike for being left alone through sounds like barking and whining. Some dogs might exhibit their feelings through sickness, urinating indoors, or destroying objects they can reach.
The video explains: “They reflect or dream about their day. When you leave after spending a good part of the day with your canine friend, they will remain reminiscing about the eventful day you’ve had together.”
Users chimed in on the video, with one commenting: “That’s right.” Another added: “My dachshund remembers everything,” while a third simply stated: “I love dogs.”