Pet owners worry about leaving their dogs home alone.
No dog should be left at home by themselves for long periods, but it’s especially important not to leave puppies alone for too long without checking in on them.
Any training progress can be lost, and you can kiss goodbye to that brand new sofa if they get particularly anxious and agitated.
Keep reading to learn if dogs miss their owners when they go to work, and find out what the most common signs a dog is missing their owner are (and how to prevent them).
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Do Dogs Miss You When You Go to Work?
Any dog owner knows that dogs miss their owners when they’re gone, but if there’s any doubt, studies have been conducted that support the assumption.
After studying dogs and their owners for two years, Psychology Today reported that dogs do miss their owners when they are at work or away from home.
They also found that dogs greeted their owners more vigorously after being left alone for two hours compared with being left alone for 30 minutes, suggesting that dogs miss you more the longer you’re away.
However, it’s unclear whether dogs can tell the difference between being away for 2 hours compared to 8 hours.
How Do You Tell If Your Dog Misses You? 5 Telltale Signs
Some of the signs that a dog misses you are more obvious than others. Here’s how to tell if your dog misses you while you’re away from home.
1. They whimper while you’re away
The most obvious sign your dog misses you is whimpering.
You’ll know if your dog whimpers while you’re away if your neighbors complain about the noise, but a more reliable way of telling if your dog is distressed is to set up a home security camera that records sound inside the house.
Pro Tip
With AlfredCamera, you don’t need to buy a hardware camera to do this. Simply download the app to your current phone, and then to another phone or tablet that’ll serve as the camera. Pair the devices, and you’ve got a reliable pet monitor on your hands in no time at all.
2. They watch the door
When a dog misses you, they often sit by the door and wait for you to come home. They can do this for hours at a time or periodically throughout the day.
While this is cute and kind of endearing, it can be bad for your dog’s health. They may not drink or eat throughout the day, or not exercise enough.
You’ll only know your dog does this if you have a pet camera to keep an eye on your dog while you’re away.
Use AlfredCam as an affordable pet camera
Having a pet camera installed to watch your dog is a great way to create shared memories together. You can catch the funny or cute things they do while you’re away from home and easily share them with family and friends.
When you use AlfredCam as a pet cam, you’ll be automatically notified whenever there’s motion. Clips are automatically saved, making it easy to share them with loved ones.
This is particularly useful for monitoring the eating habits of puppies as you start to ease them into being left alone for a while. Send them a comforting word or two via Two-Way Talk to soothe them throughout the day.
Find out more about why you should get a pet camera for your home.
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3. They act excited when you get home
Another clear sign your dog has missed you is how excited they are when you get home, since the intensity of their greeting may be linked to how lonely they get.
If, when you return, your dog can’t handle the excitement, starts jumping around, rubbing against your legs, and wagging their tail profusely, they have missed you.
They may also follow you around the house all evening once you’re home.
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4. They chew or destroy items
Dogs with separation anxiety will usually try to communicate it the only way they can—by making a mess of the house.
When a dog is missing you, they may start destroying things in the house out of frustration or to send a message.
For example, some dogs may destroy toilet rolls in the bathroom and scatter them around the house.
They may also chew your belongings, like couch cushions, chair legs, or shoes.
5. They cuddle your stuff
Some dogs take the opposite approach to destroying anything and everything in their sight.
If you notice your dog cuddling your possessions on your pet camera while you’re away, or spot your stuff in their basket when you get home, this is a clear sign that they miss you.
Your dog loves and recognizes your scent, so cuddling things that smell of you makes them feel happier and closer to you.
How to Stop Dogs From Missing You
Once you’ve identified the behaviors associated with dog separation anxiety, there are ways to help them become more comfortable and confident when left alone.
Here’s how to stop dogs from missing you when you’re away from home.
1. Get a pet camera
Pet cameras are increasingly popular among dog and cat owners, particularly for remote workers who go into the office one or two days a week.
Because pets are used to their owners being around during working-from-home days, being left alone one or two days a week can spark separation anxiety.
Getting a two-way pet camera with audio can prevent your dog from missing you while you’re away. You can easily check in with them at intervals throughout the day by talking to them via the live feed.
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This can make your dog feel like you’re in the home, and reduce the sense of being away for as long as you have.
Aside from that, pet cams make it easier to know what your pet is up to day-to-day, including how much they eat and drink.
Pro Tip: How do you monitor a sick dog?
When pets are unwell or recovering from surgeries, getting a pet camera allows you to monitor their health throughout the day and ensure that they stay safe.
For example, you can see if they are drinking enough water or eating the food in their bowl. It’s also important to keep an eye on stitches and cones they’ve been made to wear.
AlfredCam let’s users enable infrared night vision, which means pets don’t have to be disrupted by artificial lights when they are sleepy.
If they’re generally more calm in darkness, let them go about their day as they wish—AlfredCamera can see them just fine.
Shop AlfredCam today.
2. Leave a TV or radio on
Another way to make your pet feel less anxious by being alone for long periods is by leaving a TV or radio on.
The constant sound of people speaking can make it seem like someone is home with them, which can prevent and ease separation anxiety.
While this method won’t be as effective as speaking to your pet via a two-way audio camera, it might be useful if work is especially busy. It’s also more taxing on energy consumption than using a pet cam.
Pets are likely to get used to the noise of a TV or radio and understand that it’s not real, potentially reducing its effectiveness over time.
Pro Tip: Easily share pet cams using Trust Circle
Share pet cam access with others by allocating a Trust Circle in AlfredCamera.
This means, when you’re not around, you can share access to the camera with friends and family. This feature is particularly beneficial if your dog is sick and needs constant supervision, but you’re unable to be with them 24/7.
It’s also a great way to let others get updates on pets they are fond of, like kids who no longer live at home.
Just add them to your Trust Circle, and they can easily greet their favorite furry friends via the AlfredCamera app or WebViewer.
Get started by downloading AlfredCamera for free, or learn how to add accounts to your Trust Circle.
3. Gradually increase time away
If a dog is suffering badly from separation anxiety, ease them into your absence slowly. Start with leaving them for 15-30 minutes at a time, and use Two-Way Talk to make the process easier.
Continue this for several days or weeks if the separation anxiety is severe.
Then, gradually increase the time away to several hours. This can help a dog get used to being separated from you and increase their independence and confidence.
Leaving dogs home alone, safely
Remember, it’s not recommended to leave a dog alone for longer than 8-10 hours.
If it’s absolutely necessary, get a friend to check in on your dog while you’re out, or use an AlfredCamera device to keep an eye on them from your phone.
Read our guide on how long you can leave a dog home alone to learn more.
Conclusion
Most dogs miss their owners when they leave the house, regardless of how long it’s been since their owner left.
While some dogs are okay with being alone for a few hours, other dogs experience separation anxiety. When this happens, they can act distressed and even destroy belongings in the home.
Getting a pet cam can ease them into more time spent alone, and offers owners reassurance that their dog is safe and settled.
Recommended reading: How To Make A Cat Feel Comfortable In A New Home: 8 Top Tips