To think my dog is unusual (and to be upset about it?)

[3GreenFrogs]

I have very few friends and consider my dog to be my best friend. I give him lots of attention, I’m the one who walks him twice a day etc and I always have time for him.

However - whenever I get back off holiday he doesn’t seem arsed! There is no fussy greeting, no wavy tail or excitement - he acts like he doesn’t really know me. In fact - if I was to walk in with a stranger he’d be more excited by the stranger than me!

He’s always been like this. He’s only 3 years old so for the first year or so I assumed it was just because he was young. Then second year I thought he really should feel some attachment by now and now he’s 3 I’m getting a bit upset about it! (Ridiculous I know but my dog means everything to me)

I’ve just got home from a 5 days away. Thought about him every day and couldn’t wait to see him. I envisioned a fussy dog greeting me when he realised I was home and instead I got a quick sniff and then he walked off!

Is it the breed or what?? (French bulldog) as I’ve never known a dog act like this and I’ve had a few dogs in my time.

I’m getting another dog in a couple of months (a boxer) and I’m secretly hoping that this one at least gives a shit about whether I’m here or not!

It is unusual, isn’t it?

Nah mine has always been like this. He gets really excited by visitors but if I come home i might get one or two wags and then he’s off. I figure like all housemates he’s just really comfy with me and doesn’t feel he has to make an effort, it’s the equivalent of him in his pjs with a face mask on!

He's got the hump with you for leaving him!

Most of my dogs have done this.

I had the same thing with mine (diff breed) when I got back from a short break once. He was more interested in the friend who'd been looking after him. I was gutted. (I have a suspicion she'd somehow engineered it that way though - she was enjoying the whole 'look, he's all over me still' routine)
But when I've been out for a couple of hours or less she can barely let me in the door because she wants to tell me she's missed me - go figure

That’s exactly what my dogs like. I love her so much and yet she’s so indifferent with me. She loves people in general and loves being fussed by them, but I’m basically ignored. It’s hurtful.I console myself that deep down she loves me. If we’re out walking with DH and I lag behind she always come back to “round me up”

Bless you, I don't anything about French Bulldogs so I can't help there. However I have got two dogs and they both greet us when they come in quite excited.

I would be a bit sad if they didn't. I'm sure your dog loves you though. Is he quite playful and happy?

Is your dog actually a cat?

I have the opposite that mine won’t be quiet for at least the first half hour and sometimes if I’ve been gone for say a week or more will pee herself with excitement.
I’d much rather a bit of sulking

I went on a business trip and a close family member was cat sitting. Each day I'd Skype but the cat took one look at me when shown the iPad and turned round and showed me her bottom. That's all I saw of her in the time I was away.

Got home and she was like 'so what' however after 15 minutes she couldn't contain herself any longer and come to me for fuss and cuddles. She was just showing me how pissed off she was I was away.

I'm the one who's around most for our dog but DH and both DDs get better welcomes than I do. If she gets let in the bedroom in the morning, she jumps on DH and ignores me.

However, if she's unsure of something or scared, it's me she looks to for reassurance. Her recall is better for me and she chooses to sit by me when we are out.

It's better than knowing your dog is really suffering being away from you. My boy spends time in a beautiful house with lovely people but is always miserable whilst I'm away (spends most of the time staring out the window whining). He mows me down when I come home but it makes me feel guilty/shit!

My dog sulks for a couple of days after we get back from holiday.

I think he's sulking because you've been away too long. My DGM's dog would be all over her after a short time away and ignore her after a long time away.

Our 8 year old dog does this whenever we leave her; she stays at the dog walkers house who is genuinely a better dog mother than I am, and our dog adores her, but the first couple of days home she'll stare at me with hatefire in her eyes and on walks will do exactly the opposite as I tell her, just for a laugh and to show me she hates me.

The younger dog is still in the "ohmygodyouputthebinsoutImissedyousomuch" phase so is always pleased to see me no matter if it's been two days or two minutes. He's quite a stupid one, though, so he'll probably always be like this.

Most of mine are quite calm when I come home after a trip. Very unlike when I come home at the end if a work day. Do you notice a happy greeting when you come home just from being out for a few hours? I did have one who once famously gave me a fabulous greeting after being away. I walked in and she literally dropped her mouth in a "oh what?" fashion and then wriggled crazily. I take the calm responses post holiday to show that I've left them in good hands, someone they've known for years and love, and that it takes a moment for them to adjust. They then usually help me unpack!

My kids are like that.

Better than him pining for you, OP.
He sounds happy and secure.

I get screamed at for a solid four hours in absolute fury. I choose to take as a sign of affection

My dog loves me , I know he loves me but frankly if it was.a choice of me or stranger he would go stranger purely because he knows that I love him so he likes to spread his love about , he’s got nothing to prove to me IYSWIM .

He's upset with you for leaving him. Our dogs all did this after being away, even though we left them with my parents who loved them, also when collecting them from vets after ops, etc.

I am with the dog most often, so I dont get anything when I walk through the door, my partner takes the bins out and he gets greeted like he has been missing for years.

I actually get more attention from the cat

French Bulldogs are not ones for much affection if they have come from dodgy lines.

Get a labrador.

I've had two dogs - one used to go ballistic when I got back from a trip, the other sulks when I've been away and will pointedly go and lie on my OH while looking daggers at me. But she cries if I go to the loo with the door shut usually so I think she likes me ...

My dog gets excited for everyone which I take as a good thing because then if God forbid he ever has to go to a new home he wont pine.

I wish my dog was more like this to be honest. Instead he is annoyingly clingy and riddled with separation anxiety.

So you consider your dog to be your best friend, but you're getting another dog.

What's going to happen if your new dog fits what you expect from a dog better than your current dog? How are you going to hide your favouritism?