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How long do dogs miss their owners?


Dogs form strong bonds with their human families. When separated from their owners, many dogs experience signs of anxiety and stress. As pack animals, dogs are social and form attachments to their people and canine companions. Being left alone can be hard for dogs. But how long do dogs actually miss their owners when they are separated?

How bonded are dogs to their owners?

Dogs are very bonded to their human families. The strength of the bond a dog feels towards their owner will vary between individual dogs based on factors like:

  • How long the owner has had the dog
  • The amount of time spent together daily
  • The living situation (the dog sleeping in the owner’s bedroom for example)
  • How attentive the owner is to the dog’s needs
  • The dog’s inherent personality and attachment style

Research has shown that when owners interact positively with their dogs through walks, play, training and affection, it releases oxytocin in both the human and dog. Oxytocin is known as the “love hormone” and helps facilitate bonding and attachment. Dogs who have close relationships with their people likely have higher oxytocin levels, strengthening their bond.

Do dogs grieve when separated from owners?

When separated from their owners, many dogs do appear to go through a period of grief or mourning. How intensely a dog grieves and for how long will depend on their individual personality and bond with their owner. Signs of grief dogs may display include:

  • Increased vocalizations like whining, howling or barking
  • Pacing and restlessness
  • Loss of appetite
  • Being withdrawn or less active
  • Searching for the owner

These behaviors can start immediately after the owner leaves and may continue for several hours or days afterward. Crying, whimpering and howling are ways for dogs to vocally express the stress they feel when their owner disappears. Pacing by the door shows the dog’s anticipation for the owner to return.

How long do dogs miss their owners on average?

Research indicates the duration of separation anxiety and grief varies substantially between individual dogs. However, some general trends have emerged:

  • In one study, around half of dogs studied exhibited signs of separation anxiety and stress for up to 4-5 hours after being left alone.
  • Most dogs seem to adapt to short term separations of a few hours while the owner is at work, school or running errands. Anxiety behaviors tend to decrease after the first few hours.
  • Separations longer than 10-12 hours often produce more intense, prolonged anxiety behaviors that may last several days or more at the beginning of the owner’s absence.
  • In one study, over 40% of dogs studied displayed signs of separation anxiety for at least 7 days after being kenneled in a boarding facility away from their owners.

So while all dogs are different, research indicates most dogs will start to miss their owners within minutes or hours of being left alone. Short term separations of 5 hours or less may only cause mild, temporary anxiety. But separations longer than 10-12 hours often generate more intense, prolonged grief behaviors lasting several days or longer.

Factors impacting how long dogs miss their owners

There are some key factors that influence how intensely and for how long dogs miss their people including:

The dog’s age

Younger dogs under 2 years old often seem to have more separation anxiety. They feel a strong attachment and dependence on the owner since they are still maturing. Senior dogs can also feel greater distress when the owner leaves due to cognitive decline.

The dog’s background

Rescue dogs and those from abusive backgrounds may have greater separation anxiety due to insecure attachments and lack of early socialization. These dogs have a higher risk of clinging to their new owner.

The dog’s personality

Dogs with inherently anxious personalities seem more prone to struggling with separations. Nervous, timid, excitable and high strung dogs have a harder time coping alone.

The length of separation

The longer the duration of separation from the owner, the greater the dog’s anxiety and grief response tends to be.

Changes in routine

Dogs crave routine and familiarity. Changes like moving homes, switching dog walkers, kenneling during vacations or having a new baby can intensify separation anxiety.

History of separation

Dogs who have had frequent, prolonged separations throughout life may adapt better. Dogs unused to time alone often panic when owners first return to work or travel.

Quality of attachment

Dogs who have very close, attentive owners that spend lots of quality time together often become more distraught when the owner leaves. Highly bonded dogs miss their humans more.

Do other pets help dogs miss their owners less?

Having other pets in the home can sometimes help ease a dog’s anxiety and grief response when separated from their owner. The presence of other dogs or cats provides social companionship and distraction. But much depends on the relationships between the pets. Some key considerations:

  • Dogs who are strongly bonded and attached specifically to one person still tend to miss that owner more than the other pets in the home.
  • The longer the separation, the less impact another pet’s presence has on reducing anxiety over time.
  • Introducing a new puppy or dog while the owner is away can actually heighten separation anxiety.
  • Dogs who don’t get along with other household pets can find their presence more stressful than calming.

So while having other pets can help provide some reassurance, they are unlikely to completely prevent dogs from missing their owners during long separations.

Tips for easing separation anxiety when leaving dogs alone

While it’s completely normal for dogs to miss their owners when separated, extreme anxiety, depression or destructive behavior may need intervention. Here are some tips for easing separation distress:

  • Gradually get your dog used to being alone by starting with very short departures and absences. Slowly increase duration over weeks and months.
  • Provide lots of exercise and playtime when you are home to reduce anxious energy.
  • Give your dog a food stuffed puzzle toy to focus on when you leave.
  • Play calming music and leave familiar scented items like worn t-shirts to soothe your dog.
  • Consider doggie daycare a few days a week to provide companionship.
  • Hire a dog walker to break up longer absences.
  • Consult your vet about anti-anxiety medications in extreme cases of distress.

With patience and by making departures relaxing and routine, you can help ease separation anxiety for your dog. But most dogs will still miss their beloved owners after they leave. Just how much varies between individual dogs based on their personality, background and bond with you.

How long are dogs upset when owners return from long trips?

After returning home from a long trip, most dogs will be extremely excited to reunite with their owner and this initial excitement phase may last several hours or up to a day. However, after the initial euphoric greeting, dogs may go through a phase of increased clinginess, neediness and anxiety as they readjust to the owner being home. This anxiety over the owner leaving again may last 1-4 weeks in dogs who are prone to separation distress. Ways to help your dog readjust after returning from a long absence include:

  • Plan to spend extra quality time doing favorite activities with your dog the first few weeks.
  • Stick to regular daily routines as much as possible.
  • Ask friends or family to periodically check on your dog if you have to leave again soon after returning.
  • Use calming essential oils like lavender or supplements if your dog seems extremely anxious.
  • Consult your vet if anxiety doesn’t improve within a month of returning.

With some extra TLC, you can help reassure your dog and ease their transition anxiety as they get used to having you home again after a long separation.

When do dogs stop missing owners after rehoming?

Dogs rehomed into a new family do grieve the loss of their previous owner for a period of time. However, most dogs will bond successfully with new owners within 1-2 months. Providing them with love, reassurance and consistency helps dogs stop missing their old owner and transfer their attachment to the new family.

Can dogs move on after owner’s death?

The death of a beloved owner is an extremely challenging loss for dogs. After the initial period of grief, most dogs are able to transition and form an attachment relationship with a new caretaker over 1-2 months. However, depression, refusing food, lethargy and anxiety could all be signs your dog is struggling to cope with the death of their previous owner more severely. Working closely with your vet and using antidepressants/anti-anxiety medications can help in these cases. Ultimately, while the death of a long-term, loving owner will always affect the dog, most can eventually transfer bonds to a new family.

Conclusion

Dogs form deep relationships with their owners and experience varying degrees of grief when separated from them. Factors like age, personality and duration of separation impact how severely dogs react. Short term separations of a few hours are generally tolerated well, but absences over 10-12 hours often produce escalated anxiety and vocalization that may last several days or longer. Exercising your dog before departures, providing interactive toys during absences and maintaining a predictable routine can help ease separation distress. But most dogs will still miss their owners intensely at times. Understanding this and providing ongoing comfort and companionship is key to maintaining a strong human-canine bond.