My dog Jaro always howls when we leave. Even if it’s just for a while. That whine only lasts a few minutes. When he sees us again (after about 10 minutes or after hours) he is always just as happy.
Since I am going on a journey now, I am afraid that he will grieve. He remains in his familiar environment. I’ve heard that some dogs don’t want to eat when their owners are gone. But if they don’t have a sense of time, this isn’t right, is it? My father-in-law is coming to live with us.
Answer
hi Virginia,
The sense of time in a dog is probably not as advanced as in humans. But at least they have a very strong biological clock (knowing when it’s time to eat, go for a walk, when the weekend comes) and make very good associations (my dogs already know I’m going on a mission when they see my suitcase pack).
If your dog won’t see you at the time of day you expect him to be, he will know something is suspending and hopefully grieve too.
It often happens that my dogs stop eating the first few days after I leave, but this lasts less long if a bitch is in heat nearby – so apparently there are degrees of affection after all. So I wouldn’t worry too much, especially if your dog stays in familiar surroundings.
Regards
Answered by
Dr Reginald De Deken
entomology and tropical veterinary medicine
Nationalestraat 155 2000 Antwerp
http://www.itg.be/
.