A Houston woman discovered what her dog really thinks about her leaving, and it happened by accident

Working from home has gotten really popular since COVID-19 started in 2020. Right now in 2025, about 32.6 million Americans work from home, which is around 22% of workers. People like it because it gives them more freedom and helps them save money, but it’s doing something unexpected. It’s changing the way pets act too.

A TikTok user named Megan, who posts as @megan.kemper, put up a video from her place in Houston that shows what happens when she starts getting ready to leave. Her dog Milo has a very specific reaction, and a lot of people who work from home say they’ve seen the same thing with their own pets.

As per Bro Bible, Megan talks in the video about how she barely does her hair or makeup these days since she works from home. “And when I do, my dog knows that I’m going somewhere, and it’s the saddest thing ever,” she says. The camera shows Milo just sitting in his crate, looking at her with big sad eyes. She tries to comfort him by saying, “I’m not going anywhere, Milo. You can come out.”

Dogs can struggle when routines change 

Having their owner around all the time might seem great for pets. But experts who study animal behavior say that when a dog’s daily routine gets switched up suddenly, it can really stress them out. This is especially true when it has to do with whether their owner is home or not.

Studies have found that around eight out of 10 dogs have trouble being left by themselves, but they don’t all show it the same way. Some will bark a lot or howl, while others walk back and forth, shake, or won’t touch their food when their owner walks out. The tricky part for people who work from home now is that they might not notice these warning signs for a while. It only hits them when they need to go back to an office or just head out to do something quick.

People who work with animals say it’s a good idea to record your dog sometimes when you step out, even if you’re only gone for a couple minutes. Your dog might be whining, pacing around, or yawning way too much, and these could be clues that they’re feeling anxious about being alone. 

When a dog is clearly upset about being left alone, talking to a vet or someone trained in animal behavior can really help. They can figure out what’s going on and come up with ways to fix it. 

The best approach is usually to train the dog bit by bit, showing them that being by themselves is okay and nothing bad will happen. You can even make it feel like a good thing for them. This way, dogs can get used to their owners having different schedules without getting worried or upset.