Dogs never fail to give you that wow moment. They are lovable, clumsy and obedient in addition to their unbearable cuteness and their loyalty. They have a strong attraction towards their human owners and research shows that there is a possibility they dream of us. As a result, they are the number one preferred pets for most people.
Their strong affection towards us is what makes it practically difficult to leave them on their own. Whether you just left for a few minutes in the toilet or pooped out for a whole day, chances are your dog will give you that glance that says “are you leaving me forever?” They widen their eyes and start to whimper and will seem to be lost in deep thoughts – I am now forever alone.
That state of heartbrokenness only comes to an end when you enter into the house jovial, from an almost infinite journey. Have you noticed how they run at you, producing happy sounds as you rub through their hair?
What your canine friend goes through when left alone
According to a revelation by two top canine behaviour experts, the dogs react in stages when left home alone.
The first few minutes are the toughest and most stressful. Dogs tend to constantly whine, bark and howl. This is a stage that commences in 30 minutes time, says Alice Potter, a pet scientist at the RSPCA.
“The most common behavioural signs of seperation-related behaviour are destructive behaviour often targeted at the door the owner leaves through, various types of vocalisations (howling, barking and whining), defecating and urinating.”
Some other mild signs could be self-mutilation, vomiting, excessive salivation and repetitive behavior.
Their reaction to your immediate departure could be due to the fact that they are used to responding to any indication you are going away.
The dog, having become your best friend, learns of the things you do before leaving the house. These could be simple things such as parking your bag, picking the keys and putting on your shoes.
Some dogs may translate this to mean that something bad is on its way and will motivate them to turn violent if not anxious.
Once you are gone, the following few hours will be determined by your dog’s personality. For the anxious types, they will keep pacing up and down as they wait for their owners to come back.
If your dog has separation problems, he may not withstand even a few hours of being left alone. Typically, they will take less than a minute to rest and then get up for a pace. By the time the owner gets back, they will be exhausted and take an immediate sleep.