Changes in behavior or abnormal behavior can indicate mental trauma. If you notice your dog seems to be depressed or scared, is having accidents, or is shaking after returning home, book an appointment with the vet to eliminate a potential medical cause.
This is normal and to be expected. After all, the boarding environment is very different to what life is like at home and it can take your pet a few days to get back to normal.
If you haven't boarded your dog before, you probably don't realize that she may seem a little different for a few days after you collect her and bring her home. This is often completely normal and just a reaction to her readjusting to her surroundings.
After a holiday, your dog may suffer from return stress. The main reason for this is that dogs spend more time with their parents during the holidays than he generally does. Once he has returned to his normal routine, however, he has to stay alone for long hours, which can lead to a kind of separation anxiety.
Your dog will disconnect from their routine when they first return home from a care facility. They might eat, drink, or sleep a little more than usual, or they might seek your company more frequently. Do not worry; give them a few days to ease back in their habits, and they will surely get back to normal soon enough.
Every dog reacts and handles stress differently. After picking up your dog from a boarding kennel, you may see one or all of these five changes. Most will go away in a day or two. If it persists or is an extreme shift from your dog's standard for more than three days, talk to your veterinarian.
“Kennel stress is a generic term used for when dogs encounter a state of mental or emotional strain and tension during or after a kennel stay. It can manifest in a number of ways including aggression, fear, anxiety, shaking, whining, or other noticeable changes in behavior.”
What causes 'dog depression'? There are many factors that can impact on a dog's emotional state – these include changes to routine, environment, social group, or as a result of chronic stress or anxiety resulting from fears and phobias or lifestyle.
Do dogs miss their owners on vacation? Dogs usually don't miss us the way we miss them, and it's all down to how their memory works. However, they can grow depressed and distressed if you're gone for a long period. After all, you are the most vital part of your dog's pack.
It's normal to feel guilty about leaving your furry friend alone. But, as long as you're still getting their exercise in (especially before you leave) and don't make a big deal about leaving, then your canine companion should do just fine.
What did they find? That dog's can tell when we've been gone for a while! The study noted marked differences in the way dogs behaved (i.e. increased tail wagging, more face licking) when an owner had been gone for two hours relative to when they'd only been gone for 30 minutes.
Time passes
Owners often wonder if dogs have a sense of time passing and if our dogs miss us when we are gone. Well, the answer to that is a definite yes. When dogs in one study were left home alone for varying periods of time, they responded with differing levels of enthusiasm on their owner's return.
Kennel Syndrome is the behavior that a dog assumes in survival mode. That means dominant or aggressive dogs can turn sweet and submissive in order to get the food or shelter they need to survive, as well a submissive dog may turn dominant in order to gain respect or shelter.
Anxiety Caused by Separation
Yes, dogs can suffer from depression, and yes, it can be debilitating for them. Typically, your dog will go through a grieving period that can last anywhere from a couple of days to several weeks, depending on how long you are away.
Making travel plans and leaving your fur baby behind is never easy for them or you. With so many options and caring pet caretakers, you can feel good knowing they're well cared for in your absence. Even the best care can be stressful for your pet.
Dogs can experience sadness, separation anxiety, and even depression when left with a sitter or at a kennel away from their owners. That's why some dogs may act distant after you return from vacation until they readjust to you and their old routine.
In other words, dogs can start missing their Owners from the moment they part ways. After that, keep missing them more and more for up to two hours. Beyond the two hour mark, they begin a plateau of melancholy until they see their Owner again.
Don't worry about your dog while you're away.
Dogs don't have the same concept of time as humans. Whether you're gone for an hour or a week, your pup will greet you enthusiastically when you return. To them, it's not so much that you're leaving — it's that you're coming back.
Signs a Dog May Be Feeling 'Sad'
A depressed dog may stop eating and drinking, become lethargic and withdrawn, or their depression can manifest as anxiety, and the dog may become destructive. A depressed dog might also become aggressive, Inman says.
Being left in an unfamiliar place with strangers and other dogs is very stressful for your dog. They don't know why they are there or what will happen to them. He or she may become withdrawn or depressed, refuse to eat, or self-mutilate as a coping mechanism to help them deal with the situation.
A dog that's crated all day and night doesn't get enough exercise or human interaction and can become depressed or anxious. When crating your dog you may have to change your schedule, hire a dog walker or take your dog to a daycare facility to reduce the amount of time they spend in their crate each day.