“Has it been 10 minutes or 10 days since my human left?”
For most dogs, it’s a non-event when you leave for brief periods of time. However, this is not the case for those with a condition known as separation anxiety, Simon says. “Some dogs find it hard to cope when they are left alone in the house and you can tell they are thinking anxious thoughts by exhibiting behaviours that may include barking, panting and even furniture chewing,” she says. “We can assume that these dogs are unhappy, bored or lonely. They may even be fearful that we are not coming back.”
“I love eating things that smell like your feet!”
Smell is a dog’s primary sense and they love nothing more than to smell… you, James says. This means they will be primarily attracted to items that are particularly odiferous, like your socks, shoes or underwear, and may chew them to bits. “Will he feel guilty about keeping himself busy chewing your things? Nope,” she says. It’s a sign of his love and affection. Instead, give your dog plenty of chew toys.
“This is the way to the dog park!”
Your pup likely has a good sense of direction and combined with a regular routine, will learn how to get to their favourite spots, James says. “I know my dog understands we are going to the dog park because he’s always so enthusiastic on the way there,” she says. “I walk him to different parks for variety and sometimes I let him decide which route to take and which park to go to. You can try it with your dog, let them choose the route and see where they lead you to. Maybe they’ll surprise you by leading you to the pub instead!”
