It’s always hard to say goodbye to your dog, whether you’re off to work for the day, or leaving them with a sitter for the holiday. We miss those furry little faces while we’re gone. But does your dog miss you back?
Studies show that dogs form positive associations with their favorite people, and they don’t like being separated from you for long. Dogs can handle alone time, but they do miss you when you’re gone.
Do dogs really miss us when we’re gone?
The short answer is: yes, dogs miss us when we’re gone. In a series of experiments called The Dog Project, Gregory Berns, Ph.D., M.D., professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Emory University School of Medicine, found that dogs indeed love their humans. The dogs in the study were trained to keep still enough to go into an MRI. In one round of experiments, Berns exposed dogs to different scents: their own, the scents of familiar and strange humans, and the scents of familiar and strange dogs. The data from this particular part of the study has not been released but Berns believes his observations lead to a smoking gun that can conclude dogs do love their humans. Combining the knowledge of dogs loving their humans and a dog’s perception of time leads to the belief that dogs do in fact miss us when we’re gone.
5. They cuddle your belongings while you’re out
Dogs have an incredible sense of smell, and you are one of their favorite scents. When you’re not home, your dog may seek out something extra-scented to remind them of you. That explains why I always come home to find my dog cuddled up to my oldest, dirtiest pair of shoes.
4. They lean against you as soon as you get through the door
Oh yeah, the lean. Dogs may lean against their people to get attention or seek comfort. Whatever their reason, the lean shows that they like to be close to you. A dog that comes in for the lean after you get home is saying, “I’m so glad you’re back.”
3. They follow you around the house
Does your dog turn into your shadow after you get home from work? Now that you’re home, they don’t want to let you out of their sight.
2. They smile when they see your face
Dogs respond to your facial expressions and make quite a few expressions of their own. A dog greeting you with raised eyebrows, an open mouth, and soft eyes is showing you how happy they are that you’re home!
1. They’re super-excited when you get home
Does your dog get a major case of the zoomies when you walk through the door? They’re so happy to see you, it comes out in a burst of energy. Time for a post-separation play sesh!