Do dogs feel sad when their owner leaves them?
I used to work in a boarding kennel. I can tell you that by and large dogs would be agitated for a few minutes after being dropped off, then go on to talking trash with the neighbor dogs and having a generally great time. By the time the owner had reached the end of the drive way, their dog was perfectly happy. One of the wonderful things about dogs is their ability to live in the moment. Just because a dog puts on an enthusiastic greeting when you return doesn’t mean he was mopey and depressed while you were gone. If a dog does experience distress when left alone, a condition called separation anxiety, that’s not normal “missing you” behavior. That’s a dog with a condition that needs treatment either from a veterinarian or a behaviorist (dog psychologist). A mentally healthy dog can love us and be glad to see us without being distressed at being left for a while.
