Do dogs really pine?

[Onewildandpreciouslife]

We have a 1 year cocker spaniel. He’s not been his usual self since the weekend- seems to have lost his bounce. He’s eating and drinking ok, but not as keen as usual. We’ve taken him to the vest on Tuesday and again today as he hasn’t improved- the vet has taken bloods, but hasn’t found anything on a physical exam to explain it.

Thing is, my DS is away, and he and the dog are best pals. We were all away for a couple of weeks recently, dog stayed with his usual dogwalker no problem. Is it possible that our holiday plus DS’s absence now has just made him sad?

I brought down DS’s pillow yesterday and the dog was notably perkier, but seems to have gone back to being glum this morning.

Of course, something may show up in the bloods, but I just if this was a thing?

Well, my dog is apparently sick every time I go away overnight. I've been assuming the rest of the family feed her things she shouldn't have, but it seems more than coincidence.

So, I'd say it's possible.

Yes. An old lady died and left her Yorkie behind. My sister gave it a home. It never stopped crying. Never. It was very upsetting.

Ddog1 pines for ds if he is away. He's ok if we are all not there, but if we are at home he needs ds.

Yeah, it's most definitely a thing. Our beagle pines for DH if he's away overnight. I stayed away for work when he was younger so he's used to me being away, but DH never went away overnight until recently, so he's not used to it and he hates it

Got my dil beagle here at the moment. For the past 2 hours all she has done is whine. Jumped up on the sofa to look out the window
Won't eat or drink
And just look me straight in the eye as she pissed on my rug.
This is despite the back door being wide open.

Of course. There's a statue up in Edinburgh!

www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofScotland/Greyfriars-Bobby/

And let me add, her best doggie mate is here. She won't play with my dog. Instead snaps at here, climbs back on the sofa whining at the window.
With me telling her off as my own dog isn't allowed on the sofa

Yes, the dog is pining for your son. Dogs are pack animals, as you know, and your son is part of the pack and isn't there.

So I have another week of this to come?? Any tips for easing this?

Ha - beagles are known for separation anxiety unfortunately. They connect really closely to their pack/family and hate being away from them.

Your DS will just have to come home then. That is the only reasonable solution

Yes my mums dog gets like this everytime she goes on holiday.

It usually starts when he sees the suitcases in the living room ready for her to go😂

Do you have an old t-shirt of your DS that the dog could sleep with. It might help.

Our spaniel pines for DS whenever he goes back to university. He's now going to be living away.

Yes. My little Lakeland terrier pines when DSS goes home. They are best friends and always together when he's here.

For 24 hours after he goes he's very subdued and just sits on DSS's bed.

Next day he's back to normal.

yup pack not together so pine and sulk massively mines a lab/springer cross and even if you are out for a few hours you get the welcome back of the Gods when you arrive home - cute but frustrating if one of you away for a while. Christmas Day is her favourite as we all sit on our big kingsize bed and open presents and for her thats like a big massive pack pile.

It absolutely is a thing. I've seen it with all our dogs. One in particular makes the connection between packing and someone in the family being away.
And it takes a few days to really get back to normal routine once the 'pack' is complete again.

I took my dog to uni in the 2nd year because he pined so badly when I left for the first year.

He lived as a house share dog and loved it.

Yes my WCS pines when ds goes back to university. Only ds throws the ball as far as he likes it and only ds plays with him in a more rough way than we do which he totally adores. He always sleeps on his bed when he's gone (never when he's here) as if to still stay close with him.

After about a week or so, he cheers up a bit and then when he comes back, it's total hysteria. We always try and make him wait to greet people but when ds comes back, our spaniel jumps into his arms and rubs himself all over him!!

My spaniel.got depression when the old dog died. So yes, they do pine.

Yes they definitely pine, bless them. It is one of my great worries having a multi dog household for when one passes.

Years ago we adopted an older Lakeland who never got over losing his original owner, who had died. He used to follow grey haired men in the street and once in the pub he got up on a bench and cuddled an old man who was sitting there.

I'm away at the moment and DH tells me the dogs don't come downstairs to sit with him in the evening as usual but stay upstairs in their bed, even the one who's really 'his' (adores him, tolerates me). Pining? Don't know. But not their usual behaviour.