Dog depression: 9 signs your dog is sad

We like to think of dogs as happy-go-lucky creatures that are quick to show joy, but sometimes we notice an expression of sadness or a change in their normal dog behaviour that has us wondering: do dogs cry? Do they develop dog anxiety? Do they develop dog depression? While your pup does experience a range of emotions, including sadness, it doesn’t experience depression the same way humans do, says Dr Linda Simon.

Your dog isn’t staying up at night worrying about the economy or climate change. Still, the things that make your dog sad are often the same types of things that make you sad, like physical pain, loneliness, loss of a loved one, abuse and neglect, Dr Simon says. While most canine sadness is brief, sometimes dogs can experience very deep and long-lasting sadness that may turn into dog depression. There are plenty of dog stories that highlight such deep doggy emotions, like one about a loyal pup who guarded his deceased owner’s grave for three years.

Your dog may also seem depressed if you are depressed, Dr Simon adds. Dogs are very perceptive of their humans’ feelings, and when you’re sad, your pup may express sadness as well, even if it doesn’t understand why you are upset. Dogs have unique ways of expressing their sadness, so to help you understand your fur buddy better, we asked experts to share the top dog depression symptoms.

Like humans, dogs are complex creatures. And like humans, they can become sad for a number of reasons. When considering whether your pup has canine depression, ask yourself if your pet is dealing with any of the following scenarios.

Don’t ignore these warning signs that your dog is in pain.

You’re not the only one mourning the loss of a family member or another pet. Your dog needs to grieve, too, and might go through a blue period. You can’t really speed up the grieving process, but you can give your dog what it most wants: comfort. Shower your pet in attention – think extra cuddles and treats – while it gets used to the loss, Dr Simon says.

Read on for some strategies for coping with the death of a loved one.

Don’t be surprised if your dog has been acting strange ever since you moved homes. Change can be tough for animals, and your dog might feel depressed while it gets used to its new environment, says Dr Simon. With a little time and attention, though, your pet should snap out of it and warm up to its new surroundings.

Your dog probably gets lonely when you’re gone, so if your job constantly keeps you out of the house for long periods of time, your pet might stop jumping up to see you the minute you come home. Dogs are social beings, and they’re not content with being alone for many hours.

Do what you can to make sure your dog isn’t left solo for too long – hire a dog walker or ask the usual walker to add another walk to your pet’s schedule, suggests veterinarian Dr Katy Nelson.

Find out which dog breeds can be left alone here.

Dogs need space to run around and might become sad if they haven’t been given the chance. Staying indoors all the time, away from nature and sunshine and friends, can take a serious toll on both human and canine mental health, says Dr Simon.

Know how much exercise your pup needs. Then take the time to bring your dog on long walks or to the park – it’s good for both of you! Once your pet starts getting the freedom it craves, it might slowly get its energy back.

Learning what makes your pup upset is a good first step. From there, it’s important to recognise the signs of depression in a dog. Keep reading to learn the most common dog depression symptoms, according to our experts.

Here are the best low-maintenance dogs for busy people.

Not every dog loves throwing a Frisbee or going for walks, so lack of exercise might not be the only tell-tale sign of dog depression. The key is to notice if your sad dog has had an unexplained behaviour change or stops enjoying activities it used to love, says veterinarian, Dr Kelly Ryan.

“Maybe every day your dog waits by the door for your kid to come home from school,” she says. If your pet is still moping in its dog bed after the bus drops your kid off, it might be depressed.

Here are some things you do that your dog actually hates.

Every animal is different, so there’s no set number of hours your pet will sleep per day if it has dog depression. Just pay attention to whether your dog is spending more time in bed than usual.

“If your 15-year-old dog normally sleeps 14 hours a day, and now it’s 20, that would be a big difference,” says Dr Ryan.

Canine depression manifests in a manner similar to human depression, so just as you might lose your appetite when you’re feeling down, your sad dog might not feel like eating either. If your dog doesn’t show its usual eagerness for its favourite food or even loses weight, it might be experiencing depression, says Dr Simon.

Sadly, dog depression is a very real issue. A depressed or sad dog won’t have the same energy levels that it used to, and it won’t be as excited about playtime or exercise. “It could be that their favourite thing in the world was to throw a tennis ball, and all of a sudden, they don’t want to do that,” says Dr Nelson.

If your dog usually goes wild for its favourite squeaky toy but now only regards it with mild curiosity, it may be too depressed for play.