So What Does The Research Say?
Dogs can’t just tell us if they know how long we’ve been gone, so researchers have to run experiments to see if dogs can really tell time.
There are surprisingly few actual studies of whether dogs can differentiate between lengths of time, but one experiment in 2011 conducted by Swedish researchers placed hidden cameras that recorded how dogs reacted when their humans were away for a half hour, two hours, and four hours.
The experiment showed that dogs reacted more enthusiastically when their humans left them two hours versus a half hour, which suggests that dogs can, indeed, tell the difference between these times.
However, dogs did not react differently when their humans were gone for two hours versus four hours. So is there a limit to how long dogs can tell time?
This is a question for further research.
Right now, it seems that there aren’t many scientific measurements of whether dogs can tell the difference between us being gone for, say, a day versus a week or a month versus a year.
All we can conclusively say from the studies we have is that dogs can tell the difference between some lengths of time.
But we may be able to use our own experiences as dog parents, as well as the experiences of others, to form some guesses that we can test in the future with new science and research.
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.
To better understand how our dogs can get on just fine without us, we must understand how they experience their memories, and how they stay in the present moment.
Do Dogs Get Lonely at Night?
Yes, dogs can get lonely at night, especially if they are young and have not gotten used to sleeping on their own. Dogs are pack animals who instinctively prefer to sleep together in a group. As you are the pack leader, your dog will prefer sleeping near you and may become lonely and anxious if it cannot reach you during the night.