They already know. Even before the carry-on suitcase comes out of the closet, they know.
I’m leaving town for a few days.
Is it the extra laundry? The new sneakers set by the door? The way I’m preparing and setting out my senior dog’s medication, in a foolproof organizational fashion for my husband, who is staying behind?
It’s likely all these things – certainly the cumulative effect of all of these things. The more things I do to prepare to leave town on a business trip (I’m going to Kansas City for Petfood Forum), the more depressed and glum-looking my dogs get – especially on these work-related trips where I leave my husband behind to take care of the dogs.
When the two of us take a trip together, often one of the first steps I take in preparation for leaving is to deliver my two dogs to their respective favorite caregivers. Senior Otto usually goes to my sister’s house, where he gets to play 70-pound Gulliver in the land of Lilliputians (my sister has three small dogs). Six-year-old Woody is the same size as Otto, but his playful demeanor and exuberant body language makes him a better fit with my friend Leonora, who owns Woody’s best puppyhood friend, 5-pound Samson. They are mismatched in size, but perfectly matched in energy and interests.
Both of my dogs begin looking joyful when we approach their respective caregivers’ homes. They leap out of the car with joy, and barge into their temporary homes as if they’ve just returned from their own too-long vacations.
But this is a work trip; they are staying behind with my husband. All they have to look forward to is mealtime. My husband’s motto? “Food is love.” Even though he never feeds the dogs when I’m home, he enjoys preparing lavish meals for them when I’m gone. The last time I left town without him, I came home to a refrigerator that contained none of the eggs, lunch meat, or bacon bits (which I enjoy sprinkled on my salads) that were there when I left three days prior. He had mixed all of those ingredients into their food while I was gone!
But these meals are clearly not on their minds (yet) as I pack my bags. It seems as if they are focused solely on conveying how much they’d like to come with me (as evidenced by their following me from room to room, or parking themselves by the door and following me to the car with every piece of luggage) or demonstrating how miserable they are going to be while I’m gone (demonstrated with glum, sad-sack expressions and deep sighs every few minutes).
Do your dogs care about your vacation preparations or react to the sight of your briefcase being packed for a trip?
When I adopted Diana pawPrints my traveling days were over. I have no one to leave her with now that my parents are both turning 92 next month. My sister’s dog does NOT get along with Diana and I shudder to think how she would be treated on Sandy’s home turf if Sandy acts that way at my parent’s house. Now that I have Freyja, there is not only no traveling, but I don’t even leave the house for long period of time. Neither dog has witnessed the packing of the suitcases. Bad enough I head to the back gate and then don’t allow them to go in and me put their harnesses on before exiting the alley gate. I’ve watched them on the security cam and they still patrol the yard and do whatever it is they do all day. It’s not like they mope and bark and are devastated until I return. They just want to be with me. They get over it but a long trip is out of the question. I would have to put them in an overnight boarding doggy daycare situation and while Diana would probably adjust Freyja would probably freak. She was returned to the shelter twice before I adopted her and would probably lose all of the progress I have made with her. So for as long as she is alive, there will be no traveling for me. And she will likely outlive Diana.
My dogs can tell by the shoes I am wearing. They can tell the difference between work, shopping and walking shoes. As for work I tell them the night before that “Mommy has to go to work tomorrow”. They have learned to accept the work situation but seem to be depressed when I have to run errands on the weekend.
Awwww….Your poor husband tries so hard!
Oh my Harley knows!! He looks me up and down and flows me with that doom and gloom look. It kills me! But he mainly focuses on my feet! When I put on my sneakers he knows its on. It amazes me just how much attention to detail he is. When I come back home and take off my shoes he get really excited and nibbles at my shoes like its their fault. Lol
I am a Petsitter and stay with dogs while their owners are away. They certainly know when the owners are going away – but are quite satisfied to be left with me. It probably helps that I have a number of regular clients which means the dogs know me. I’m also inclined to spoil them…
But, while they may enjoy my company, they are usually overjoyed when the real owners return!
My previous dogs all knew when I was leaving because I would stop in the powder room on the first floor and put on the minimal make-up I wore to work. Those girls are now gone, sigh. I retired during the pandemic and adopted a smallish and timid creature who came all the way from Texas to New England. Because I’m home now, he is glued to my leg. He begins whining when I change from my yoga pants into regular pants because he knows I will be leaving for shopping or errands. Some friends are planning a weekend get-together out of town and I have warned them that I have to bring the dog. Unlike my hardy and jovial girls, I think he is too fragile (in spirit) to kennel. He has come a long way in the months he has been with me, but I think he will always be a bit vulnerable.
My dog knows the difference in the clothes I wear. I’m home most of the time and wear pants. If I put on a skirt, she knows I’m going to work. If I put on shorts, she knows we may be going somewhere together which means a ride in the car and she will follow me everywhere.
She gets anxious when I get out a suitcase, but I think that’s because she’s a rescue and she was left behind somewhere. Actually she was dumped down my road and we really haven’t been apart in the last few years since I’ve had her. Usually my husband is home if I go to work. When we visit relatives she goes with us and has her own suitcase full of food, treats, and toys.
Oh, it’s heartbreaking. It was a major factor in why I got so weary with traveling.
One dog would fake a limp on a walk before I left. Called the vet and she asked if anything ‘different’ was happening (suitcase by the door) and to watch him carefully. The limp came and went and he even used different feet!
Another dog peed in my open suitcase. I learned to pack day of leaving and not the night before.
A friend told me about her dog who limped when she (the friend) was preparing for a trip. I thought perhaps my friend was anthropomorphizing. Now I’m not so sure!
That is hilarious. Faking a limp and even switching legs?
Mine recognize the suitcase. I guess because i go to work every day and „leave them behind“ with my husband , it‘s not until the suitcase comes out that the sad faces appear…especially one of my older dogs, Daisy gets depressed?