Dog is mourning the children leaving post Christmas

[Enko]

Dh and I have 4 children in their 20s. 2 have fully moved out one is in uni and one has started her masters this September having been at home the previous 18 months.

DDog adores the children and the day he had all 4 of them home was his best day. 3 where here for 4 days and 2 for 14 with youngest having been home for 22 days..

Dd2 left Saturday and dd3 returned to uni this morning.. just dh and I left. DDog is bereft. Following dh around the entire day (I was at work) even tried to go to the toilet with him. Keeps checking the girls bedroom and then Sighs heavily when he rediscover they really are gone.. snuggled into dd2s bed so we likely cant change her bedding for a while.

Obviously dh and I find the house so quiet but we equally get the kids are out there living their lives as they need to do. Just today with all the decorations down and the house quiet. Dinner for two and DDog now cuddled as close in against me as he can manage. I want to turn back time for a little while.

Anyone else ever wish they could time travel to relive good times. Not to change anything but just to enjoy the moment with those you love?

Btw yes I know some people loathe DDog but I love it🙂

My DDog not only misses the DC, but also my DSs cats. They lived close to us so he got to know them from going over to visit and then a couple of years ago the cats lived with us for three months when my DS flew to live abroad. They joined him abroad so now we only see them over video call. So when we say hello DCat and he hears their name he starts looking round the living room for them and if he hears them meow he goes bonkers. Thank goodness they are returning to the Uk later this year and will live with us for a bit until they are settled again.

Poor ddog. The cats miss ds1 when he is at university. I put on his music while he was away and both cats came running because they thought he was here. They like to video call him and ds1 finds it hilarious when i message him asking if he's free for a call with the cats. They always put their faces really close to the camera to ds1 can't see any one else!

My Mums neighbour has a Bassett hound he's a proper character but very needy they really are people dogs. I look after my daughters dog a few times a week and I take him to mums. Dudley ( The Bassett ) sits at the fence as he loves a play date. I think they enjoy any kind of company either canine or human.

From what I can gather, Basset Hounds, like Beagles, are pack dogs, and so are more likely to suffer from separation anxiety and to feel that family members are part of their pack. I mean, all dogs are pack animals if you think about it, but it's maybe more hard-wired into dogs that have historically been kept in big groups.

My dog (who is sadly no longer with us) used to be a bit mopey when family members went home. It was sad to see. I used to cheer her up by keeping her busy with lots of long runs at the beach and interesting walks. When she came home she was tired out and slept like a log. It would pass easier that way, I found.

The poor sweetheart. It's so hard not having language and a calendar to help at these times.

@Enko

Think it’s second dog time…. 😉 can be a different breed…

Wow what a mutt ... this is so unreal !

Yes same here. One of my daughters came to stay for two weeks. The other one was in and out quite a lot over Christmas and my son came for a couple of days and now my little hound is so so sad. I’m too boring for her on my own, I guess😂

I hear you.

One of ours has left home the other still here with gf. But one has just temporarily moved back in for a month. So it's all crazy mad busy again. Lovely.

But soon dd will be gone. Gf moves out soon too leaving just 3. And the cats (who don't seem to care, because Cats).

I'mDrinking in all the noise, mess and chaos right now with a melancholy happiness.

Soon enough ill get fed up with the mess though 😂😂😂

Life's a funny thing isn't it ? All ups, downs, quiet and mad times, sad one minute , delirious happiness the next.

Joyful really. And such a privilege.

Here he is. Right now he is asleep on my legs

Dogs have an incredible memory and definitely rely on more than smell. A new sign appeared on a walk ddog goes on 2-3 times a year and she barked at it and was so suspicious.

Awww thats cute

Dog was adopted after DCs left so wasn't raised with them . I think she likes it when they leave after a visit so she can have us all to herself.
Previous Ddog was here since a pup . Died at 14 . The Queen almost had a bigger funeral .