Do dogs miss people and cry?

Question

My 6 yr old Italian Greyhound has been acting weird ever since my parents went away on vacation; so I'm the only person here with my dog.

For example, when I take her for her walk, she seems so anxious and antsy, looking around everywhere. Usually she just walks in a straight line like dogs normally do, but ever since my parents have been away (it's been 2 days), she's all over the place when she's walking. Also, she just lies down at the front door, which she has never done before. Is she depressed?

****thanks for the response everyone. i guess it's pretty obvious that dogs miss their people.....but do they actually shed tears? i guess i already know the answer to my question because my dogs eyes were all wet (the fur around her eyes), i just never knew they actually shed tears.

Answer 1

It seems your poochie has a case of seperation anxiety. It's normal in dogs, especially the smaller breeds which are more prone to high strung behavior.

Part of it also seems to be stress from the pecking order being out of balance with the "Alphas" out of town. It's part of their pack behavior. The alpha male and female generally govern all spectrums of behavior in a pack (eating, breeding, playing, grooming). This is why some dogs won't eat when their people are away, the alpha needs to be there to give permission to eat.

And of course she is upset from missing your parents. Give her plenty of attention and affection and make sure she eats and drinks enough. We don't want her getting sick over it.

Before I left for college, if I spent the night anywhere but home, my dog would just sleep by my door and not eat until I came home. Luckily she got over this when I left for college.

Answer 2

Yep it sounds that way.
My dog is 12 and I had to leave her in Ohio for six months while I finished school, ever since then she gets very antsy when I leave. My roomates say she lays at the front door the entire time I am gone and whines. She also will not eat until I come back.
Some get seperation anxiety.
Mine also will now pee on the floor if I don't come home overnight.
*****!

Answer 3

They certainly do. I dog sit all the time and even the dogs that really like me will search for their owners.
I sat for one dog with a lot of phobias. Two being linoleum floors and the refridgerater when it was making noise. This dog, who was deathly afraid to walk passed the kitchen in it's own house, and never did when the owners were home, would walk through to the front door to look for it's owners whenever a car would go by. Missing it's owner and wanting to look for them over rode a very powerful fear for that dog.
So yeah. Dogs miss their people very much when they leave.

Answer 4

Yes, she probably is depressed. Dogs are pack animals and always need to know the pack is there. I've read that after about 10 minutes, they begin to think they have been kicked out of the pack. My dog gets sad when my wife goes to work and is happiest right when she walks in the door. When they come back she will be better.

Answer 5

Yes, dogs definitely are emotional and notice the absence of the people who love them.

I've seen a dog absolutely depressed every time his owner goes out to work. He hangs his head and totally mopes around, yet is like a little kid, jumping all over the place when she comes home. She even has to lie to him and tell him she's "just going to the store" so that he doesn't get upset when she leaves.

Just give the pooch lots of love and comfort. They are very sensitive animals and they really do miss it when people are gone.

Answer 6

Sure they do. That is why they pee or s@#t on your shoes when you leave them, they just want you to know that they are upset. To keep ur parents' dog from getting too depressed while they are away, call and ask ur parents for some advise. Ask them to give you some details of how they talk to the dog or nick names they might have for her. Dogs are accustomed to routine and if you can show her something she is familiar with, then maybe she will cheer up. There is no substitute for her parents and she knows that, but she will appreciate you for trying.

Answer 7

Of course they do. Dogs form relationships just like humans do, even if they can't speak to us about it, and they miss us when we aren't there. I've seen lots of dogs run to the door and cry and whimper when their owners leave. That's why they say dogs are man's best friend. I wouldn't say she's depressed, she's just lonely, and misses her friends. Even if they told her they were just going on vacation, she didn't understand that. She's sad because she doesn't even know if they're coming back.

Answer 8

i know by the time i am typing this answer u have already got the answer to your question, but i need points to get to next level. I really hope u'll chose my answer as the best, because this will be the longest answer to your query.

Now let's get to the point.

Yes dogs do have feeling like we do. As a matter of fact everybody on this earth have feeling, it's just that we human think that only we can feel & turn a blind eye to other's feelings.
He is missing your parents, because he think them as his parents.
And they definetly cry.

Answer 9

yes dogs really do miss people and cry my chihuahua cries when we leave the house especially when my mother leaves to a place and when we come she is so happy and starts jumping up and down or when i am home but my mom isnt she does not want to eat or play all she does is lay down in the front door

Answer 10

I really do think so. Our next door neighbor has a darling dog. When our kids and grand kids come to visit if they don't go over and pet him he cries until they go back outside and pet him. The same with the people who walk by. His name is Snowzer. She is missing your parents.