School Blues

School is starting back all over the country. While there are a lot of tired parents out there who are relieved about this, there are probably a lot of pets going into mourning. It's a simple fact. Pets love summer...they love time at home with their humans and their "kids."

I have one friend who tells me that every start of the school year is very hard on their family dog saying "she mopes around the house acting all depressed and sad like she's doesn't know what to do." Do you think that pets get "depressed" when the children in the family go back to school? Are animals capable of this emotion?

At our house, I think my dogs are quite bummed that my kids are back in school. Now, they're stuck with just me and I can't even begin to match the energy level of my two healthy, active, and adventurous children! Oh well, they'll just have to settle with taking naps with me instead! (photo from bigstockphoto.com)

--Dana

Comments

[Laurel]

When we had an entire pack of dogs (4), I never noticed any sadness on their part that we were all leaving in the morning. It was just a normal daily occurance. Now that we have only 2 dogs, my Chessie, Bear, seems particularly bummed out when I leave. He's a very smart dog and gets bored easily. I think he simply puts himself "on hold" the entire day while we're gone and considers the day a lost cause. He is uber happy when we come home and comes alive...it pains me to leave him...pet parent guilt is almost as bad as the regular kind of parent guilt!

[turtlecookie]

I absolutely believe that dogs (and other animals) can experience depression. My dog is glad when we're home, and when we leave she lies down on the floor with her head on her paws. I don't necessarily think she is depressed, but she knows she is going to be alone for a little while.

Turtlecookie

[Dana]

Those sad eyes are just killer aren't they?