What my dog does when I leave

December 21, 2014 2:28 AM

So, my buddy got a GoPro. We decided to put it on my dog to see what he does when we leave.
posted by Foci for Analysis (49 comments total)

Heartbreaking!

(and why we have two dogs, to keep each other company)
posted by greenhornet at 2:36 AM on December 21, 2014 [7 favorites]

*forlorn cry at dark side of the moon ceiling poster*
*licks gopro*
*buries head in blankets*
posted by naju at 2:38 AM on December 21, 2014 [8 favorites]

Poor thing. :(

During my loneliest moments I've acted the exact same way.
posted by rancher at 2:57 AM on December 21, 2014 [19 favorites]

Came expecting to see a dog sitting in an armchair smoking a pipe and reading Heidegger.

Left disappointed, and feeling sorry for the dog.
posted by chavenet at 3:01 AM on December 21, 2014 [26 favorites]

Oh, god. Does every do go through this every time its people leave? I just... Oh.
posted by Mister Moofoo at 3:17 AM on December 21, 2014 [6 favorites]

That's sad and expected by these yokuls. At least use a typical command to tell your beloved companion that you are leaving, like 'Goodbye.' Just walking out with a stupid grin on your face is how too many people treat others.
posted by breadbox at 3:23 AM on December 21, 2014 [10 favorites]

1. CLEAN THE HANDPRINTS AROUND YOUR DOORKNOB BEFORE YOUR MOTHER OR GIRLFRIEND COME TO VISIT!!! SHEESH!

2. Not every dog acts like this. Part of dealing with the separation anxiety dogs feel when left alone is teaching them that you're going to return. I was with my pup pretty much 24/7 for her first 4 years, she went to work with me each day and sleeps on the bed, we were seldom more than 10 feet apart. I changed jobs and she could no longer come with me, that meant she had to stay home for about 6 hours a day between when I left and the wife returned, I was really concerned about how she would handle the new arrangement.

We worked up to it... I would leave for a few minutes and come right back... We continued to lengthen the time... I also installed web cams throughout the house so I could make sure she was OK... Now, when I leave, she basically finds a cool spot in the house and takes a nap or spends her time snouting the cats to make sure they aren't getting complacent about the fact she hasn't eaten them yet. But, there's absolutely no indication that she's in any emotional distress while we're gone...
posted by HuronBob at 3:32 AM on December 21, 2014 [48 favorites]

Yeah my dog just goes straight to the "sleeping on the human bed" part of this routine.
posted by fshgrl at 4:39 AM on December 21, 2014 [12 favorites]

I think they edited out the part where he eats the yummies in the cat box and then washes it down with long drink from the toilet.
posted by Thorzdad at 5:25 AM on December 21, 2014 [14 favorites]

Yes, this is sad. I agree, poor communication with the dog. But I'm sorry for dogs in general, who could use more from us than we're usually prepared to give.
posted by Miko at 5:53 AM on December 21, 2014 [10 favorites]

I've never set up a camera to watch, but ours is usually still asleep in the exact same place when we return. I worry about it because I'm a big softie but as far as I can tell the dog sleeps all day whether or not people are at home. There isn't any whining when you leave and not much excitement when you come back, unless someone has been away on a long trip.
posted by Dip Flash at 5:59 AM on December 21, 2014

Yea, no "You stay home now and be a good dog"? (reference sorry can't find a better link)
posted by achrise at 6:15 AM on December 21, 2014

I think the dog is just irked that he can't get comfortable with the stupid camera around his neck and all the clothes piled on the bed.
posted by phearlez at 6:34 AM on December 21, 2014 [4 favorites]

YouTube says its "Category" is "Entertainment" :(
posted by Flunkie at 6:35 AM on December 21, 2014 [2 favorites]

This was awful and so sad.
posted by discopolo at 6:37 AM on December 21, 2014 [1 favorite]

Great. This made me cry.

I've had my dog for two weeks. Got her from a rescue society. Before that, she was due to be put to sleep.

She goes absolutely batshit insane with excitement when I get home, whether I've been out for 10 minutes or 2 hours. She wants to be with me and know where I am at all times. I love her to bits and pieces.

I can't stand the thought of her doing this when I leave. :((
posted by Salamander at 6:42 AM on December 21, 2014 [4 favorites]

So, this dog is in actuality Paul Greengrass?
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 6:51 AM on December 21, 2014 [7 favorites]

Poor pup. My dogs don't do this... *unless* I take Older Dog somewhere and leave New Rescue Pup at home. Then she wails with the agony of a dog cruelly abandoned... even if my husband is still in the house.
posted by deludingmyself at 6:53 AM on December 21, 2014 [1 favorite]

The star of the video.
posted by newpotato at 6:57 AM on December 21, 2014 [4 favorites]

It's okay, dog owners. You don't need to use a dog camera. If you leave your dog alone and he or she starts howling, you'll know, because you'll almost immediately get an note from me.
posted by maxsparber at 7:16 AM on December 21, 2014 [5 favorites]

I know my dog doesn't howl enough for the neighbours to hear, because I talk to them.

I just don't want her to be sad.
posted by Salamander at 7:21 AM on December 21, 2014

I didn't get the impression they left the dog all day with the go pro- just a few minutes.
posted by zutalors! at 7:22 AM on December 21, 2014

I am grateful for the comments that kept me from actually watching this, which apparently would've made me cry like a baby.
posted by obfuscation at 7:36 AM on December 21, 2014 [4 favorites]

I also don't like to practice my singing when there are people around.
posted by Jode at 7:52 AM on December 21, 2014 [6 favorites]

Yeah, I kept waiting for the "be a good boy, I'll be back!" and when the dude threw the bone and skedaddled without a word I was like "OMG JERK" and just knew the poor dog would have separation anxiety.

I always explained to my dogs growing up (since as early as I can remember...) that I'd be back from school. As HuronBob says, it's what you do...

Even my cats get a "be good, I'll be back" from me every time I leave. I add "soon" when it's to take out the trash, and "this evening" when it's going to work. They get pretty pissed when it's "I'll be back tomorrow," but at least it's reassuring to see they do indeed get the differences.

Talk to your pets, people. Poor pup.
posted by fraula at 7:55 AM on December 21, 2014 [5 favorites]

I have a dog with mild separation anxiety. The trainers I've worked with all strongly suggest not to say goodbye when you're leaving a dog with SA alone. The dog hears the sadness and anxiety in your voice (you're anxious that he'll be disruptive or destructive while you're away) and then it's all "Oh shit Mom/Dad agrees it's Bad and Dangerous for us to be apart from each other omg omg omg" down the rabbit hole.

So I'm OK with the guy offering his dog a chew toy and then quietly walking out. Goodbyes are helpful to humans, but not to dogs.
posted by workerant at 8:05 AM on December 21, 2014 [19 favorites]

The dog hears the sadness and anxiety in your voice (you're anxious that he'll be disruptive or destructive while you're away) and then it's all "Oh shit Mom/Dad agrees it's Bad and Dangerous for us to be apart from each other omg omg omg" down the rabbit hole.

That's why my dog gets the "OK, buddy! I have to go to [destination], so you're in charge here while I'm gone! Now you be a good girl!" in the sort of we-can-do-it tone you'd use to send someone off to war in a movie. On occasions when I've had to duck back in to get something, she's generally sitting there with a smug look on her face like she just got crowned Queen of the Condo.
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 8:57 AM on December 21, 2014 [18 favorites]

So: why does a goodbye have to be all sad and anxious or even serious? Why not just give the pooch a treat or a toy and say "We'll be back, be a good puppy/boy/girl" in a happy voice and that's that? That's what we do. Doesn't have to be either "Tell your dog goodbye in an anxious voice" or "Don't say anything at all, ever." Does it?
posted by blucevalo at 9:17 AM on December 21, 2014 [3 favorites]

When my dog knows I'm leaving without her she doesn't flip out or anything, but she does sulk and go hide in her bed and not let me pet her good-bye.
posted by Camofrog at 9:31 AM on December 21, 2014 [1 favorite]

Eesh, that was sad. Fascinating, though.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 9:42 AM on December 21, 2014

I was a foster parent for an Australian Cattle Dog a few years back. So sweet, so smart. The first time I had to leave her alone, when I came back she kind of freaked out, like I had left her alone to die or I had died. She calmed down a lot after the first time, but she wouldn't let me out of her sight.

I am so happy I found her a good home, on plenty of land and another cattle dog to keep her company.

Now, my pets are plants. They don't have hearts to hurt.
posted by SPrintF at 9:45 AM on December 21, 2014

Why we love our dogs.
posted by Oyéah at 10:19 AM on December 21, 2014

Pretty sure my dog has a side job as a bookie when I'm out. He doesn't like to just sit around.
posted by theora55 at 10:31 AM on December 21, 2014 [6 favorites]

I played this video and it upset my cat so much to hear the dog crying that she came to get in my lap and reassure me that it was all okay (and be reassured of same).
posted by immlass at 10:33 AM on December 21, 2014 [6 favorites]

Oh God. We've been fostering a dog for about a month and I was worried enough about leaving him alone all day that I went to AskMe. I was reassured that he'd be fine and just sleep most of the day. Now I'm back to wanting to weep when I close the door behind us. (I do a brief, cheery "Bye Rubbal *scritches* see you soon" every time.) I'm just going to have to quit my job. I'm sure my SO will understand.
posted by billiebee at 12:26 PM on December 21, 2014

Couldn't watch the video... It was hard enough for me to recover from Fraula's comment: "I kept waiting for the 'Be a good boy, I'll be back!" and ... the dude threw the bone and skedaddled without a word ... ."

I always said, "You be a good kitty, I know you will," to Marty (March 9, 2000-Nov. 11, 2014) on my way out the door. It still feels weird to exit the premises without a word to anyone.
posted by virago at 12:39 PM on December 21, 2014 [4 favorites]

I had to teach my husband to say goodbye to his dog before he leaves - and let the dog see him leave - because otherwise the dog would mope and pace and cry and try to go look for him, while I'm shouting I'M RIGHT HERE AND I GIVE YOU TREATS ALL DAY, ASSHOLE.

i used to have a greyhound who I don't think actually suffered any distress when I left, but I felt so guilty about going back to work after nearly a year of unemployment that I started giving him a big cookie when I left. So...I basically trained him to be overjoyed at any indication I might leave (like the click of my laptop closing, or zipping up my bag). His dance of "don't let the door hit you on the way out" was so traumatic to me that I stopped with the morning cookie.
posted by Lyn Never at 2:22 PM on December 21, 2014 [20 favorites]

The takeaway: keeping dogs as house pets is cruel.
posted by 256 at 2:46 PM on December 21, 2014

My cowdog loves to go, and she has a very hard time when we leave.

It's very hard to decide whether to sleep on the guest room bed, my bed, the couch...all the places she's not supposed to get up on. Or maybe she'll play the game of dragging all the toys out of the basket and booby trapping the front door, or the bathroom door, or in front of the fridge if she thinks we might have gone grocery shopping. We've proved she's too bloody busy to howl.
posted by BlueHorse at 2:47 PM on December 21, 2014 [1 favorite]

My dog sleeps unless I am walking him. His day looks like this:
6am: WALK & EAT
7am: SLEEP
12pm: WALK
12:30pm: SLEEP
5:30pm: WALK & EAT
6:30pm: SLEEP
8:30pm: WALK
9:30pm: SLEEP

His routine is the same if I'm there the whole time or if I go to work, thank heavens. Separation anxiety is hellish for everyone.
posted by winna at 3:27 PM on December 21, 2014 [2 favorites]

There are three big dogs at my house so they have company when we go out. They occasionally get into mischief but are pretty good most days. The worst was when I came home and it looked like there had been a wild party in the living room. Pillows and blankets were off the couch, stuff knocked over and the worst, my lap top on the floor, across the room from where I had left it on the dining table. The screen was smashed.

I knew something was wrong as soon as I walked in the door. None of them were there to greet me. The usual greeting, no matter if I've been gone for 10 mins or all day, is three dogs, yapping and wagging, jumping and bumping so it's hard to even get in the door. That day they all kinda hung back at the door from the kitchen to the living room and were just sorta 'Oh hey, yeah your home. We're all just chillin and being cool here.'

Yep that's my party dogs.
posted by Jalliah at 3:45 PM on December 21, 2014 [7 favorites]

It does say it's edited down. Not sure why you would edit out the part where the neighbor dogs came over and played poker, but whatever.
posted by ckape at 6:54 PM on December 21, 2014 [3 favorites]

blucevalo: "So: why does a goodbye have to be all sad and anxious or even serious? Why not just give the pooch a treat or a toy and say "We'll be back, be a good puppy/boy/girl" in a happy voice and that's that?"

Don't believe you can lie to your dog, ever. You can't, if your dog has a mind for the truth. If your dog is distracted by cheerful tones, well, you're lucky. My dog with separation anxiety can read me like the daily paper and knows better than I do if I'll be gone five minutes or five hours, regardless of what I say with my mouth.

My dog with SA is my "less intelligent" hound dog, who is nonetheless a qualified therapy dog who specializes in working with disabled children. My "more intelligent" Border Collie mix is a nightmare around kids, but is my best friend and trusted companion in the backcountry of the Smoky Mountains and I absolutely trust her judgment. This has led me to a pretty nuanced understanding of "intelligence" as a general concept.
posted by workerant at 10:02 PM on December 21, 2014

I could only watch two minutes before it got too sad. Thank god I have cats that could mostly care less. Although I guess we'll have to GoPro them just to doublecheck.

I don't ever think I'll be able to get a dog now.
posted by Sayuri. at 11:22 AM on December 22, 2014

The recent Budweiser ad is a nice anti-version of this.
posted by headnsouth at 1:11 PM on December 22, 2014

I don't think there's much wrong with the people or the dog here, but with the society both live in. Dogs should be free to hang out with their pack all the time. Whether at work, school, or play having your dog with you should be okay.
posted by Fezboy! at 5:58 AM on December 23, 2014 [1 favorite]

@phearlez the clothes piled on the best are probably his favorite part. It smells like his human.
posted by e40 at 10:17 AM on December 24, 2014

Wow. It took a few days but I just realized that this is a friend and bandmate of mine. We rehearse at his house and the dog is always hanging out and running around in the backyard with us. I can tell you from personal experience it is quite well trained and seems to be very well-adjusted. Some of his sads may stem from the fact that for the past several years he has had a roommate with a large British bulldog, but that roommate moved out and he is now without his dog-buddy.
posted by sourwookie at 7:42 AM on December 27, 2014

wow, cats with gopros seem to have much more fun
posted by Redhush at 10:07 AM on December 28, 2014