For dog owners, the heart-wrenching sight of a dog's 'puppy dog eyes' as one leaves the house is a familiar struggle. Despite the necessity for humans to engage in work, exercise, shopping, and socializing, dogs often do not comprehend these absences, spending hours wondering about their owner's return.

Adrienne Carson, Vice President of Behaviour and Training at St Hubert's Animal Welfare, explains that dogs deeply miss their owners because they associate them with happy feelings. Research indicates a direct correlation between the length of an owner's absence and the dog's excitement upon return, highlighting their social nature and potential sadness when their favorite person is gone, regardless of whether they have separation anxiety.

Fortunately, Carson notes that dogs thrive on routines and familiar environments. While an initial sadness might occur when an owner leaves for work, dogs soon engage in typical 'dog stuff' such as sleeping, chewing toys, or listening for sounds. Indeed, a significant portion of their alone time is spent sleeping, which effectively helps pass the hours.

The question of what dogs dream about offers further comfort. Stanley Coren, a professor emeritus of Psychology, suggests that dogs dream about 'doggy things' and their 'favorite things', with their owners likely featuring prominently in these dreams. This implies that even when physically apart, dogs might be 'spending time' with their owners in their subconscious. This research is supported by Dr. Deirdre Barrett, a clinical and evolutionary psychologist, who confirms that dogs, much like humans, dream about their everyday lives, making it highly probable they are dreaming about their owners.

Adding to this understanding, a TikTok video by Animals Studio emphasizes that canines not only love their owners back but also consider them family. Dogs reportedly receive more protection and affection from humans than from their own kind, reinforcing the strong bond.

However, being alone is not natural for most breeds, and dogs may express their apprehension in various ways. This can manifest through vocalizations like barking and whining. In some cases, distress might present as sickness, inappropriate urination indoors, or the destruction of objects within their reach. The Animals Studio video further suggests that when owners leave after spending quality time with their canine companions, dogs often spend their solitary hours reminiscing about the eventful day they shared together.