Do Our Dogs Miss Us When We're Gone?

Source: Berit Brogaard, used with permission

As our closest animal companions, dogs are often regarded as more than pets—they are family.

Their deep emotional bonds with humans and other animals have long intrigued scientists and pet owners alike.

Recent scientific advancements have allowed researchers to explore the depths of canine emotions, shedding light on questions like:

Do dogs grieve the loss of a loved one? Do they miss their owners while they are away? Do they form deep attachments to other pets and humans?

Do Dogs Miss Their Owners When They Are Away?

While grief is often associated with the death of a loved one, the experience of missing someone—a more general feeling of longing due to absence—can also be a significant emotional response.

Dogs are known for their deep attachment to their human companions, raising the question of whether they miss their owners when they are away, such as at work or school.

A 2017 study by the University of Lincoln investigated the behavioral changes in dogs during their owner's absence. The researchers found that dogs often experienced anticipatory behaviors before their owners left, such as becoming more anxious or clingy.

When the owners returned, the dogs displayed signs of relief and excitement, further indicating that they had missed their humans during the separation.

Further evidence for this comes from a 2020 study by scientists from the Department of Animal Science at Azabu University in Japan, who investigated whether dogs miss their owners during short and long absences.

The researchers monitored 50 dogs, measuring their heart rate and behavior during periods when their owners were absent.

The results revealed that dogs experienced increased levels of stress during their owner’s absence, with heightened heart rates and more frequent pacing or vocalizations.

The study also highlighted that the longer the separation, the more intense the dog’s emotional response. When reunited with their owners, the dogs exhibited strong signs of affection, including tail wagging, jumping, and licking, behaviors commonly associated with joy and relief.

The studies indicate that dogs do indeed miss their humans during absences, suggesting that they form strong emotional attachments akin to human relationships.

Do Dogs Grieve When Kids Go Away to College?

Dogs often form strong bonds with multiple members of a household, including children. When children leave for extended periods, such as going away to college, many dog owners report noticeable behavioral changes in their pets.

The question of whether dogs miss children when they go away to college or grieve their absence is closely related to the broader concept of attachment in dogs.

A study published in a 2018 issue of Applied Animal Behaviour Science examined the attachment styles of dogs to various family members. The researchers found that dogs form unique attachments with each individual in the household and can display different behaviors depending on who is absent.

When a particularly close family member, such as a child, leaves for an extended period, dogs may show signs of distress similar to those observed in separation anxiety. These signs include decreased energy, loss of appetite, and increased sleeping.

While further research is needed to explore this specific scenario, the existing evidence suggests that dogs are likely to miss kids when they leave for college, especially if they have a strong bond with them.

Do Dogs Miss Their Old Owners?

Rehoming a dog can be a challenging experience for both the dog and the new owners. The question of whether dogs miss their old owners after being placed in a new home has garnered renewed attention from animal researchers.

A 2020 study conducted by the University of Bristol looked at the behavior of rehomed dogs over six months. The study found that while many dogs exhibited signs of stress and confusion immediately after rehoming, most adapted to their new environment within a few weeks.

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However, dogs that had particularly strong bonds with their previous owners took longer to adjust and showed lingering signs of sadness, such as searching for their previous owners or remaining withdrawn.

This suggests that dogs do have the capacity to miss their old owners, particularly if the bond is strong. However, with time and care, most dogs form new attachments to their new owners, although the process may vary depending on the individual dog's temperament and past experiences.

Do Dogs Grieve the Death of Humans and Pets?

The idea that dogs grieve the death of their owners has been widely popularized by stories of loyal dogs waiting at gravesites or showing signs of depression after their owner's passing. But what does the scientific research say about this phenomenon?

A landmark study published in the Journal of Veterinary Science in 2021 explored the behaviors of dogs following the death of a human or animal companion.

The study included 150 dogs who had experienced the death of their primary caregiver. The scientists found that a significant number of dogs displayed grief-like behaviors, such as reduced appetite, increased lethargy, and seeking comfort from other family members.

Some dogs even exhibited signs of depression, including withdrawal from social interactions and a lack of interest in previously enjoyed activities.

Just as dogs can grieve the loss of a human companion, they may also grieve the death of another pet in the household.

The 2021 study also examined 279 dogs who had lost a canine companion. The results revealed that 66% of dogs exhibited behaviors associated with grief, including a decrease in appetite, increased vocalization (whining or howling), and a decrease in playfulness.

The dogs were also more likely to seek out their owners for comfort, displaying signs of sadness and depression. This study supports the idea that dogs, much like humans, can experience grief following the loss of a close companion.

A 2021 study conducted by the University of Milan further reinforced this conclusion. The researchers surveyed dog owners who had lost one of their pets and observed similar grief-like behaviors in surviving dogs. These behaviors included searching for the deceased animal, increased clinginess towards their humans, and altered sleep patterns.

These findings align with the growing body of evidence that dogs are capable of mourning the loss of a close human or animal companion.

Takeaway

Taken together, the available evidence supports the idea that dogs experience emotions similar to humans, particularly in response to loss.

For dog owners, understanding that their pets may grieve or miss them is a crucial step in providing emotional support during times of change, whether through loss, separation, or rehoming.

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