11 Signs Your Dog Missed You While You’re Gone from an article at Rover.com
Written by Christal Yuen
Dogs do miss their human counterparts, thanks to the time you’ve spent creating positive associations with them. But dogs don’t define “miss” the same way humans do. Rather than “longing” for us, dogs notice our absence. So when we return, they display many signs of happiness.
“We are a source of a lot of positive reinforcement for dogs,” says Brie Blakeman, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA. “Our absence can easily be associated with absence of those reinforcers.”
To understand how a dog reacts to us leaving, we spoke to behaviorial experts and trainers who specialize in canine behavior and training:
Brie Blakeman, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA, a certified professional canine behavior consultant and founder of Noble Woof Dog Training
Namita DigheShetty, IAABC, CPDT, FDM, FFCP, dog behavior consultant and trainer of Pawsitive Cultr+
Jenny Efimova, KPA, CTP, certified fear-free founder and trainer behind Dogminded
Read on to learn how to interpret your dog’s behavior for a more enriched relationship with them.
Ways Dogs Say “You’re Back!” (or “Don’t Go”)
1. They act more hyper when you get home
Dog zoomies are a common expression of joy and pent-up energy to your return. DigheShetty puts it best: “[Dogs are] responding to the current moment of seeing a love oned. It’s like a friend who may not call or text often, but every time you reconnect, it’s like you never been apart! An instant connection!”
Tip: Ask your dog walker or pet sitter how your dog reacts when they arrive. Is it different from how they greet you?
2. They bring you toys or lick your face
“Bringing us toys, licking our face, jumping on us are all signs of the dog feeling excited (often overwhelmed with it) to see us return,” says DigheShetty. Dogs who carry toys in their mouths are often transferring their energy because they’ve been taught not to jump or lick your face.
3. They stay close to your scent when you’re gone
In 2015, researchers used an MRI machine to see what part of the dog’s brain would react. When dogs smelled the scent of a familiar human, the region associated with rewards and positive associations lit up.
When you’re not home, your dog may seek out something extra-scented of ours to experience those positive associations.
4. They watch the door or window for your return
Waiting by the door conjures a sad image for humans, but in the dog world, this could be their job. Some incredibly patient dogs may consider your return a reward, while others may have gotten into the routine of waiting a treat.
Even though they don’t have the same concept of time as humans do, dogs can gain a sense of when we are coming home, if we have a regular schedule.
5. They pace and scratch when you leave
Dog yawning, scratching, lip licking, and shaking can be low-level signs of stress. “If your dog is exhibiting a combination of these signals when you are getting ready to leave, they might be communicating that they find your absence stressful,” says Blakeman.
To help your dog, you may want to practice fake departures every now and then, where you pretend to leave but don’t. You may also want to get a pet camera to make sure your dog’s stress signals aren’t escalating.
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To read the rest of the article go to Rover.com where this article was originally published.
Written by Christal Yuen. Christal is an editorial manager at Rover and has been in publications such as Healthline, Greatist, Racked, and more. Her editorial experience in health and wellness has informed her compassion approach to content—especially for animals. At home, she has two dogs and a cat who she practices positive reinforcement with.