Dogs form strong bonds with their human families. Their loyalty and devotion often seem deeply felt, especially when separated from a beloved owner. This leads many to wonder – can dogs really miss humans? Do they pine for absent owners the way people miss a dear friend or family member? Understanding whether dogs can truly feel the emotion of missing someone requires looking at their biology, emotional intelligence, and the nature of the dog-human relationship.
The Dog-Human Bond
Dogs and humans have co-evolved for thousands of years. Some experts believe the first stages of domestication may have begun over 27,000 years ago when hunter-gatherers formed bonds with wild wolves. Since then, dogs and humans have come to share an exceptionally close relationship. Dogs have evolved to read human emotional cues and form strong social attachments.
This connection between dogs and humans is supported by oxytocin, often called the “love hormone.” When dogs interact with and gaze at their owners, oxytocin is released in both human and canine brains. This reinforces bonds of trust and affection. Studies show that dogs produce more oxytocin than wolves, suggesting domestication honed dogs’ ability to connect with people.
The formation of this inter-species attachment indicates dogs have an innate emotional capacity to form meaningful relationships with humans. But does it mean they can feel longing in a human-like way? Do they miss owners who are suddenly absent for long periods? The science is still evolving, but here are some key factors to consider:
Separation Anxiety
Many dogs develop noticeable distress when separated from a caregiver. Common symptoms of separation anxiety include pacing, destruction, elimination problems, and excessive vocalization. This distress response indicates dogs form a social attachment and do not cope well when the attachment figure leaves. However, separation anxiety may be more a sign of insecurity than literally missing someone.
The depth of the dog-human relationship likely matters. Those acquired as puppies and fully socialized to view their owner as a central caregiver likely form the strongest attachments. This social bond may better enable longing when the owner disappears for an extended time.
Dog Cognition
Dogs appear capable of some complex emotions like jealousy, empathy, and grief. Their ability to learn words and commands shows evidence of higher cognition. Research indicates the average dog may have the mental abilities of a human toddler. Like a 2-3 year old child, dogs can likely feel basic emotions and form long-term memories of attachment figures.
However, dogs lack other key features of human cognition. Their sense of time is limited, making it difficult to perceive lengthy absences. They also live much more in the present moment. These cognitive factors may limit dogs’ capacity to pine for those not currently present.
Signs of Missing an Owner
When owners are away for long periods – like military deployments or hospitalizations – some dogs do show signs suggestive of missing their person. Common behaviors include:
- Depression
- Loss of appetite
- Excessive vocalizations
- Waiting longingly by the door
- Sleeping in the owner’s bed
Dogs have also been known to maintain these behaviors for weeks or months after a caregiver leaves, especially if they had a strong bond. Their excitement when an owner finally returns after an extended absence can seem intensely emotional as well.
Canine Emotions and Memory
Scientists cannot definitively state whether dogs miss people in the same self-reflective way humans experience longing. However, canine emotions and memory likely play an important role.
Primary vs. Secondary Emotions
Animal behaviorists categorize dog emotions into primary, likely shared with other social mammals, and secondary, which require more advanced cognition. Primary emotions are basic sensations like happiness, fear, anxiety, and anger. Secondary emotions are more complex, like pride, shame, and longing.
Most experts believe dogs experience primary emotions quite strongly. Their social nature and dependence on human caregivers require it. However, views differ on whether dogs are cognitively capable of secondary emotions like missing someone.
Since longing involves reflecting on those not present and imagining them in the abstract, it may exceed canine mental abilities. Dogs live in the moment, so even if distressed when a caregiver leaves, they may not dwell on absent humans when relaxed.
Long-Term Memory
Related to emotion is memory. Dogs likely need strong recall of attachment figures to experience missing someone. Research confirms dogs have excellent long-term or episodic memory especially related to caregiving.
Studies show dogs can remember specific people, places, words, and events for at least two years. This supports their capacity to recognize and recall owners who have been absent for extended periods. Whether this memory enables feelings of longing is difficult to confirm, but it likely plays a role.
Behavioral Signs of a Dog Missing Their Owner
Since dogs cannot communicate in words, behaviors are an important indicator of their internal states. Here are some common actions that suggest a dog may be missing their person:
Searching/Pacing
Dogs whose owners are suddenly gone for an unusual period may patrol the home looking for them. They pace from window to window seeking the absent person. This persistent searching behavior is a sign of anxiety and concern over the missing caregiver.
Avoiding Other People
Some dogs refuse to interact with other humans when their owner leaves. They withdraw socially instead of seeking comfort from others. This may indicate they are pining for the absent person.
Loss of Appetite
Many dogs stop eating normally when separated from owners. Their anxiety and stress likely decreases appetite, but the behavior may also reflect mourning the missing bond.
Excessive Vocalization
Frequent whining, barking and howling are common reactions when dogs are apart from owners. The vocalizing may be an attempt to express sadness, loneliness or get the absent person’s attention.
Destructiveness
Dog’s left alone for long periods sometimes engage in destructive behavior like chewing, digging and shredding household items. Separation anxiety is the likely motivation, but it could also reflect protest behavior to show unhappiness over the owner’s absence.
Depression
Some dogs, especially those strongly bonded to a single owner, display lethargy and loss of interest in social interaction or play when that person leaves. Their depressed demeanor is likely an expression of grief and missing their attachment figure.
Apathy Toward Commands
Well-trained dogs who are usually eager to obey known commands may ignore them when an owner suddenly departs. Their lack of motivation reflects the distress of separation.
Excessive Sleeping
Increased sleeping when owners leave may be a self-soothing behavior dogs use to cope with distress. Tuning out reality by sleeping also allows avoiding the pain of missing someone.
Owner Behaviors That May Worsen Longing
Certain actions by owners when departing can trigger more intense distress in dogs. Common owner mistakes include:
- Making a big fuss over saying goodbye – This signals to the dog something is abnormal which increases anxiety.
- Lengthy goodbyes and lingering at the door – It prolongs separation and may not give the dog a clear signal the owner is leaving.
- Appearing upset when leaving – Dogs sense human emotions. If owners seem sad, dogs interpret the situation as bad.
- Disrupting normal routines – Feeding, walking and play routines give dogs confidence. Drastic changes worry them.
Avoiding these behaviors helps dogs cope better when owners leave and prevents compounding feelings of missing someone. Clear communication, consistency, and calmness eases anxieties.
Helping a Dog Who Misses Their Owner
While hard to completely prevent, there are ways to ease a dog’s stress when owners are absent:
Provide Engaging Toys
Rotate novel, interactive toys to keep dogs occupied so they don’t dwell on missing owners. Food puzzles and treat-release toys are excellent boredom busters.
Stick to Routines
Follow regular daily schedules for feeding, potty breaks, walks and playtime. Maintaining structure provides comfort and minimizes stress.
Give Plenty of Exercise
Make sure dogs get adequate vigorous exercise every day. Tiring them physically helps prevent anxious behaviors from under-stimulation.
Allow Comfort Objects
Let dogs keep special toys or blankets with the scent of absent owners to ease longing. Familiar items provide reassurance.
Practice Brief Separations
Gradually accustom dogs to being alone by doing short practice departures. This desensitizes them to isolation and prevents severe separation anxiety.
Provide Distractions
Arrange novel experiences like doggy daycare, playgroups or overnight stays with trusted caregivers. Distractions help displace feelings of missing owners.
Offer Reassurance Upon Returning
Minimize overly emotional homecomings. Greet dogs calmly and stick to regular routines. This provides stability and avoids reinforcing separation stress.
The Bottom Line
The depth of canine emotion remains somewhat scientifically ambiguous. However, the close social bonds dogs share with humans, coupled with their observable behaviors, indicates at least some likely feel the distress, anxiety and sadness of missing a beloved owner. Their lack of complex cognitive perspectives may limit fuller experiences of melancholic longing, but the available evidence gives credence to the idea that dogs do indeed miss their people. While hard to definitively prove, it is difficult to attribute the noticeable shift in many dogs’ behavior, mood, and motivation purely to instinct rather than some form of psychological pain. Ultimately, viewing dogs as sentient beings capable of an array of emotions seems the most consistent conclusion.