Over the centuries, dogs have become increasingly close to their owners. The relationship between humans and canines has evolved from dogs being kept as hunters and herders, to becoming close family companions.
Dogs are very social creatures and have become so close to humans that - although they do not speak - they can understand what we’re saying from our facial expressions (like our smiles), our gestures (like pointing) and our tone of voice. They recognize individual people, and look to their owners for comfort and protection if they are nervous or stressed.
It follows, therefore, that dogs are very likely to miss their owners if they are separated for any length of time - just as we would miss them.
After a 2 year project, Psychology Today reported that “Yes, dogs miss us when we’re gone!” In another study it was found that after 2 hours absence, dogs greeted their owners more vigorously than after only 30 minutes of being left alone. This could suggest that dogs can tell the difference between 30 minutes and 2 hours, and may struggle to tell if you’ve been gone any longer - but will still be pleased to see you!
Another study explored the difference between whether dogs missed their owner the most, or were they just as pleased to see a stranger, or someone that was less familiar than their owner. Measuring the part of their brain which is associated with positive expectations and rewards (activated by a familiar human’s scent), it was clear that the dogs clearly missed their owners more than they missed anyone else.
The human/dog relationship is a source of emotional fulfilment for humans too and has been proven to benefit humans in all walks of life and situations. The bond between someone in service and their dog is well documented - the pair become as one, particularly in situations like searching for drugs or bombs - and if anything happens to the dog to separate them, the person in service might grieve for their loss, just as they would another human.
Aside from the warm welcome when you return home, look out for these other clues to understand if your dog has missed you:
If you think your dog’s welcome is over-exuberant when you get home, you should look out for these signs that may indicate that they have found your absence more of a challenge:
Not all dogs like being home alone, and you may need to take some steps to help them adjust. For example:
Recent research has shown that gentle petting of your dog and settling them before you leave may help to calm them down, rather than leaving them without acknowledgement.