Do dogs get sad when they change owners?
There are some things we can do to help them settle and feel safe in those first few days. Keep in mind though, that it generally takes about three weeks for a dog or puppy to start to feel 'at home' and to show their true nature.
Most dogs do not simply forget about their previous owners when adopted by new ones, at least not immediately. The longer a dog lives with someone, the more attached they tend to become. Some dogs may seem a bit depressed at first when suddenly uprooted from their familiar surroundings.
Dogs have a special chemistry with humans and often form an attachment relationship with their caregivers, so it's not surprising that they may feel anxious or experience stress when separated from them.
Dogs with separation anxiety exhibit distress and behavior problems when they're left alone. Some of the most common ways they do this: Digging and scratching at doors or windows attempting to reunite with their owners. Destructive chewing.
The Kind of People Dogs Love Like humans, dogs are especially impressionable as their brains develop, so puppies up to 6 months old are in their key socialization period. Like their human counterparts, dogs develop favorite people over time based on positive experiences and positive associations with that person.