2 days ago
Heartbreaking Moment Dog Wakes Up, Tries To Find Owner—Then Has Realization
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
The daily rituals we share with our pets often go unnoticed until they are disrupted.
Such was the case for one dog in a viral TikTok video; the canine's confusion and apparent sadness was palpable when his morning quest to greet his favorite human ended in disappointment. His owner was away on a work trip. Since the clip was posted, it has received over 106,000 views.
"My dog going to say good morning to my husband, but he is gone on a work trip," the creator captioned the video. "I'm just the secondary human." The pet's initial excitement quickly gives way to a desperate search as he realizes his primary human isn't where he is supposed to be.
Viewers were deeply moved by the dog's visible confusion and longing.
"She was so excited to tell him good morning!" one TikTok user said.
The emotional response from the online community was strong, with many wishing they could outline the situation to the pup. "I wish you could just explain to dogs, and they'd understand," another person wrote. "But then look at the excitement when he returns, I guess."
"Get your husband home right now," a third commenter posted.
Stock photo: A Jack Russell terrier rests in bed in the sunshine.
Stock photo: A Jack Russell terrier rests in bed in the Dogs Really Miss Us?
The canine's reaction in the video raises a common question among pet owners: Do dogs truly miss us when we are gone?
A blog post from Rover, a platform connecting pet owners with dog walkers and sitters, says that the answer is a resounding yes. The post adds that "dogs do miss their owners when they're gone. This is because dogs associate owners with fun memories and happy feelings."
However, Rover says that canines don't think about missing someone the way humans do. "Instead of feeling sad, they notice we're not there," the post reads. "When we come back, they show us how happy they are."
Pups exhibit various behaviors that indicate they miss their owners. Some, like the dog in the video, might actively seek out their absent human. Others might show "zoomies" upon their owner's return, or bring toys, or lick faces as signs of happiness, as noted by Namita DigheShetty, a dog behavior consultant and trainer at Pawsitive Cultr+, cited by Rover.
While dogs don't perceive time in the same way humans do, they can definitely sense routines. This makes sudden changes, like an owner departing for a work trip, particularly noticeable. Jenny Efimova, dog trainer and founder of Dogminded, summed up for Rover the simple truth: "Dogs are social creatures and want to be with you."
Newsweek reached out to @ for comment via TikTok.
