Does Your Dog Miss You? Pet Behaviorist Reveals How You Can Tell

It's amazing to think how much of an impact a creature that can't verbally communicate will have on a human's life. Yet a majority of American pet owners consider their dog to be part of their family. So it's no surprise they miss each other when they aren't together.

According to one survey, 42 percent of 1,000 U.S. adults admitted they will miss their dog more than their kids when they are no longer required to work from home. So how can owners find out if their feelings are reciprocated by their four-legged friends?

Newsweek reached out to Boston-based dog behaviorist Kait Hembree to learn the top signs that indicate your dog has missed you.

Hembree said: "Like us, dogs can be quite vocal when it comes to telling us how they feel. Their voice can be expressed through a variety of tones, including barking, whining, grumbling, cooing and even howling.

"The volume and frequency of their chosen speech often indicates exactly how excited they are that you are home and could be interpreted as an indication of just how much they missed you too," she said.

3 Signs Your Dog Missed You

If you return home and your dog can't contain his excitement, it's probably safe to say it missed you. Hembree, the head of training at GoodPup, a dog training company, has more telltale signs that indicate your dog has missed you:

1. Some dogs may simply show their happiness at their owner's presence or return through their body language, including entire body tail wags and loose, wiggly bodies. They might paw at their owners or cock their heads with an open, C-shaped mouth similar to a smile. And, of course, this expression of happiness at their owner's return suggests that they missed them while they were gone.

2. Dogs are naturally social creatures. It's one of their characteristics that draws us to them and them to us. When your dog's right there on the other side of the door to welcome you back or comes from another area seeking you out after hearing your arrival, you can rest assured that it's glad to have you home and missed your companionship.
3. If your dog seeks touching from you upon your arrival, such as pressing its body into you, nudging your hand or even jumping on you, that longing for something tangible suggests it missed your touch.

How Long Can You Leave a Dog Alone?

In an ideal world, owners could bring their dogs everywhere with them. While there are many dog-friendly restaurants, workplaces and stores, it isn't always possible to be joined at the hip with our furry friends.

Sometimes owners are forced to leave their dog at home, which is fine. But canines should not be left at home alone for any longer than eight hours, according to the American Kennel Club.

It is important for owners to teach their dog how to be alone and to ensure there is plenty of mental stimulation available for them.

Things to Do to Help Dogs Beat Boredom

A bored dog can turn into a destructive dog, so owners need to provide plenty of entertainment for them. Hembree has shared three tips aimed at helping dogs beat boredom:

1. Activities and games that provide mental stimulation are some of the best at-home enrichment options for dogs, but these don't have to be hard or time-consuming if you have a little creativity and fortitude. Long-lasting chew toys, including marrow bones and frozen Kongs, can be prepurchased and stuffed and then kept in the freezer for easy access when needed.
2. There are tons of simple DIY toys on the internet. Hide treats in recycled cereal or cracker boxes. Or make a treasure box/hunt by filling a large cardboard box with scrunched-up paper and tossing in treats for your dog to search through using its natural foraging behavior.
3. Lastly, mealtime in and of itself can easily become a "Sniffari" of adventure by simply scattering or hiding pieces of your dog's kibble throughout dog-safe areas of the home.

Hembree tells owners to "keep in mind that, depending on your dog's personality, direct supervision may be a requirement for DIY style of entertainment."

How to Keep an Eye on Your Dog

These days, dog owners can communicate with and watch their canines through a home camera. This is a great way to say hello and make sure they are safe.

A nationwide survey conducted by home camera company Xfinity found that owners are obsessed with checking on their pets. The results showed that 44 percent of 1,000 U.S. adults checked in on their pets at least four times a day. Two in five participants admitted they have a sneak peek during working hours, and almost everyone (94 percent) said checking on their pet is one of the best parts of their day.

While your dog may be missing you, don't think it will be sitting at home crying all day. Many owners are shocked to discover what their pets really do while they are out. For instance, Pecan, a sausage dog, was caught on camera begging for treats. Another owner watched her dog destroy her much-loved interior decoration.

Most security cameras have audio capabilities, so owners can speak to their furry friends. This is a great way to help owners and pets feel close even when they are miles apart.

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.