Four in ten dog owners believe that their pooch gets depressed when they themselves are feeling down in the dumps, new research has revealed.
According to research by insurance firm esure.com, owners claim that their canine exhibits classic symptoms of depression, such as going off their dog food and losing interest in play time, when their owners feel down.
Findings also reveal that 77 per cent of dog owners say their four-legged friend's mood is completely in tandem with their own feelings and emotions.
Nikki Sellers, head of pet insurance at esure, said: "If we wake up feeling jolly, happy and bursting with energy, our dog will be bounding around the house wagging his tail.
"But on the flip side, if we’re feeling blue, our pooch is likely to be hiding under the table or in another room, looking at us with sad eyes and showing little interest in his toys."
She added that dogs are highly sensitive and appear to be able to detect a full range of emotions.
