I hate to be the one to spoil your good mood, but in my experience, dogs can be very empathetic, and when they sense I’m troubled, they often try to comfort me, often with a bit of doggie frivolity.

So your wife may be right, and your dog may know what’s going on. What’s more, your dog may be pretending to be oblivious in order to avoid adding her own frustrations to yours.

If you’re looking for a “friend for the end of the world” you could do worse than a dog.

P. S. Trump now says the pandemic may last through August. Make sure you have enough dog food stockpiled if that’s available in your area.