Ever Wonder Why Your Dog Waits by the Door? Here’s the Reason

Dogs love spending time with their humans the most and cherish every moment they spend with them. The one time of the day that the dogs dread is when they see their human leaving. Owners also have a hard time leaving the house when their dogs give them an adorable droopy look. After returning home from the tiring day and seeing the dog wait by the door breaks their heart and at the same time cheers up their mood.


Science says dogs have emotions close to what a two-year-old child feels. They may not speak the language but they understand the tone, touch and smell. When their owner goes out then their scent slowly fades and the dog starts to miss it.Dogs also have a sharp internal clock. They sense when it is time for their human to come home. Some studies show dogs’ brains react with joy when they hear or smell their owners approaching. That is why they rush towards the door even before the owner walks in. Waiting by the door is a dog's way of showing love and loyalty.
The dog gets sad when the owner picks up keys or puts on their shoes as it is a sign that they know that their favourite human is about to leave.

• After seeing their owner leave, they may sit close to where they last saw them. Some dogs even carry their item like a sock or T-shirt to comfort themselves with the scent. These are small ways they hold on to their human's presence.
• When dogs miss their owners, they show it in many ways. Some start whining or barking as soon as the door closes and others may lose interest starve themselves until their owners return. Some start licking their paws or pacing around the room.
• Sometimes dogs chew on shoes or scratch the doors to cope with their sadness and confusion. It is not bad behavior. Dogs just do not understand where their humans go or when they will be back.
• Dogs are routine lovers. When the owner is not around then their routine gets disturbed and they do not feel normal without their human.

Sometimes waiting by the door is not just love but also a sign of separation anxiety. This means the dog feels stressed or scared when alone. Some dogs bark loudly, chew things or scratch the door trying to find their owners.
Separation anxiety happens in pets who spend a lot of time alone or had gone through big life changes. Even moving houses or changes in the routine makes them anxious.
To avoid this, the owners need to understand their dog’s emotions. They wait by the door because they have no other way explain their feelings.


Make the dog feel more comfortable before leaving the house. Give them a calm goodbye instead of long hugs or baby talk. Maintain the body language so they do not sense worry.
Give them a toy or a chew bone. This keeps them busy and helps them feel less lonely. Also turn on some soft music and a light before leaving so they do not feel the silence too much.
Slowly help them learn that being alone is safe. Start with short times apart and overtime increase the duration. The dog will start to trust that their humans will always come back.

When the dog waits by the door then it is not just habit but it is love in its purest form. It shows how deeply they care and how much they value their bond with their owner. Every time the owner returns, those happy tail wags and excited wait by the door. Understanding why the dog waits helps see their heart more clearly. People should treat these moments with kindness, patience and love because to the dog, their owner is their whole world.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why is my dog laying by the door?By sleeping near the door the dog knows they have a full view of who comes and goes in the house.
2. At what age do dogs develop separation anxiety?Separation Anxiety appears in dogs before the age of 2.
3. What not to do with dog separation anxiety?The owners should never punish their dogs for having separation anxiety.