Dog has a very peculiar superstition everytime the family leaves him alone at home

They say it's faith when you believe in it and superstition when others do it; well, while humans have numerous ways to justify the unexplainable, it turns out that dogs, too, have their own set of unconventional and strange rituals. On a related note, an anonymous individual who goes by u/original_act_3481 on Reddit posted a viral screenshot where an owner talks about how their dog picked up a weird habit every time they left home.

The dog's owner shared that their beloved golden retriever left a shoe on the bed every time they left their residence together. "My theory is that she did it once, and we came home, so now she does it every time we leave to ensure that we come back. Like a doggy superstition," they shared. The golden retriever kept repeating this for years, and no one knew why, until one fine day, when the owner's wife left the state for a week. "My first day back from work, there was a shoe on the bed. Normal. After my second day back (my wife is still gone), there were three shoes on the bed," they shared. On the third day, when the owner returned home, they found every single piece of footwear they had in the house laid out on the bed and couches. Not only that, the dog had even collected their wife's dirty socks. "It may not be the smartest thing she’s ever done, but it really made me think about how she thinks," the owner said. 

While this isn't really clear why the golden retriever would cling to shoes or especially her mom's socks in her absence, this might hint at the poor pup's separation anxiety. As per a report by Companion Animals NZ, dogs, particularly those who are anxious about being separated from their owners, will often exhibit behaviours to try to relieve their stress. Now, carrying your shoes or biting on them may mean they're basically trying to find comfort around your scent. 

Meanwhile, reacting to the Reddit post, u/itsbritneysbrltches revealed, "I had a Great Dane who HATED it when we travelled; he once took a dump in my partially packed suitcase (laid out on the floor in a large laundry room). I still crack up just thinking about it. But he ALSO knew that if only ONE of us was out of town, he got to sleep in the bed, and his little happy dance was so precious (before he’d turn in circles for 20 minutes and then collapse half on top of you and your favorite pillows). Best damned dog I ever had. Miss him every day."

Another user, u/g11ling, shared, "Our dog does something similar. If we're all out, he picks a shoe and leaves it on our couch. I think it is a way for him to feel near us; he never destroys the shoe, just puts it on the couch, and he'll lie beside it. I think it's kind of cute." Echoing the sentiments, u/pm_me_ur_wastebin said, "I had a housemate whose dog would try and move her shoes to her bed if literally nobody was in. I had the theory that the little guy found the smell comforting. I'd come home to shoes knocked about and an occasional dropped shoe on the line between the shoe rack and her bedroom. It made me a bit sad to see, but I'd take him on an extra-long walk when it happened." u/mira_artistry commented, "This is the kind of gentle intelligence that makes dogs more than pets — they’re family, with feelings, patterns, and love so deep it humbles you. Absolutely beautiful."