Uh-Oh—8 Subtle Signs Your Dog Is Lonely, According to Pet Behaviorists
Loneliness. Sadly, it’s an emotion most people are familiar with. It can make you feel like you have a dark cloud following you around, like you’re misunderstood, and can result in your brain constantly having negative thoughts about yourself that aren’t true. And while a person can usually end up pinpointing the things in their life that trigger them to be overwhelmed with loneliness from time to time, it’s a little harder to do that when it comes to your pet. This leads us to eight signs your dog is lonely, according to pet behaviorists.
If you have a furbaby, how do you know if they are feeling lonely? It’s not like you can ask them and get a response. Because of that, we spoke to dog behaviorists Bryndon Golya of OC Canine Coaching and Gia Savocchi of Thinking Canine. They broke down eight signs pet owners can look out for that can mean your furry companion is lonely. They also explained what can bring about that emotion for animals and what you can do as their pawrent to help them return to their sunny and happy selves and show them you love them.
Keep reading to find out what they had to say about the topic, below. Some of the things they reveal may even be actions you have been overlooking or behaviors you couldn’t figure out the root of.
Related: How To Decode Your Dog’s Body Language
Do Dogs Get Lonely Being the Only Dog?
“Dogs, like humans, can experience loneliness at any age,” Golya tells Parade. When they experience this intense feeling, he says there are a few things that usually bring it about—and are not necessarily related to being the only dog in the home (more about that later).
“Dogs that are lonely are more likely bored or under-stimulated,” he reveals. “This is especially true if they are alone for several hours at a time. When this happens, it brings about unwanted behaviors.”
Related: The No. 1 Telltale Sign Your Dog Is Chronically Bored
8 Signs Your Dog Is Lonely, According to Pet Behaviorists
If you want to know if your pet is lonely or not, Golya suggests paying attention to how they are acting because their actions can speak volumes.
“Your dog’s behavior is what will tell you how they are feeling,” he notes. “For instance, if you are experiencing more behavioral problems than normal, that is a sign your dog has unmet needs, and loneliness could be one of them.” See below to find out what some of those signs could be that your dog is sending you.
Related: The 5 Dog ‘Love Languages’ and How To Offer Them Every Day
1. Pacing
“Pacing and being restless can be a sign of boredom and loneliness,” Savocchi states. “Dogs sleep a lot, so the time they are awake should be filled with enrichment activities, socialization with you or people your dog likes. Pacing and being unable to settle down can also be a sign of anxiety or a medical issue, so if your pet is doing this, it means they need help.”
Related: These 30 Super-Fast Dog Breeds Are So Quick, It’s Almost Im-Paw-Sible To Believe
2. Over-Excitement When You Are Around
You may think having a super-hyper greeting from your pet is normal, but Golya actually says it can be a sign that they are lonely when you’re not there, so don’t let this behavior fool you. “If your pet is over-excited when they are around you, they act that way because they are aroused due to the lack of stimulation and social contact prior to it,” he explains.
3. Hair Loss
One sign you can look out for as a pet owner that can mean your dog is lonely, actually has to do with their appearance. “Often, dogs who are bored will engage in repetitive grooming, and they can lose hair that way," Savocchi tells Parade. “This type of behavior can be medical, but it can also be caused by boredom and loneliness.”
4. Destruction
“Dogs left alone too long need something to do to break their boredom, loneliness and frustration they feel,” Golya explains. “Chewing is a natural solution for them.”
Savocchi adds, “When you don’t give your dog activities to do throughout the day, they end up finding their own activities, which are often problematic actions, like destroying your things.”
5. Being Vocal
Sometimes when a dog is lonely, they express it. “Panting, whining, crying and howling are symptoms of anxiety which can occur when dogs are left alone too long or isolated/confined,” Golya points out.
Savocchi agrees and says, “If they aren’t getting enough entertainment and enrichment, they may tell you about it.”
Related: What Your Dog's Sleeping Position Says About Its Personality, According to a Vet
6. Loss of Appetite
“If your dog is lonely and not experiencing the right amount of human contact, they may experience it by having a loss of appetite,” Golya shares. “So if you leave the food down all day and they don’t eat it, it doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t hungry.”
7. Depressed Mood
“Animals can act depressed for a variety of reasons,” Savocchi states.
So if you notice your pup isn’t acting like their happy self and they aren’t showing interests in things they normally like, they could be dealing with loneliness.
Related: Oh No—Do Any of These Behaviors Sound Familiar? 4 Signs Your Dog Is Depressed, According to Pet Experts
8. Sleep Habits Change
“Dogs may seem more tired and down when they are lonely,” Golya divulges. Because of this, if you realize your pet is sleeping more than usual, it could be a sign they aren’t feeling 100%.
Related: 30 Cutest Dog Breeds of All Time
What Should You Do if Your Dog Is Lonely?
If you feel like your pup is experiencing loneliness, you can help them out by doing a few things our experts suggest, below.
Golya and Savocchi say it’s important to spend more time with your pet and do activities with them when you are home because it will help lift their spirits and keep them entertained. “This can include walking, going to the park, or even puzzles,” Savocchi explains. “If your dog likes other dogs, you can also schedule playdates. Basically, the more enrichment and interaction a dog has with people, the better their quality of life will be.”
However, our experts say one thing owners usually think will fix the problem is to add another pet to their family so their dog won’t have to be alone. While that may sound like a good idea, they say it may actually make things worse.
“Do not add another animal to keep your current dog company if you are also going to leave them home all day, too,” Golya tells Parade. “If you do, you will end up with double the behavior issues.”
If you know you have to leave your dog alone for a long period of time during the day, Golya and Savocchi point out that it‘s actually best to consider letting someone else watch them during that time. “Getting a sitter or a dog walker to break up the day for your dog can be a great way to help them feel less lonely,” Savocchi suggests.
“If your dog is comfortable with group settings, they may like doggy daycare as well,” Golya adds.
Next: 25 Best Dog Breeds for Cats, According to a Veterinarian
Expert Sources
Bryndon Golya, pet behaviorist of OC Canine Coaching
Gia Savocchi, pet behaviorist of Thinking Canine
