Dogs are very sociable animals and do not appreciate being left alone. While dogs are loyal and can get very attached to their owners, this wonderful character can become a constraint. This is especially the case when you need to leave the house. Have you recently adopted a dog and are confronted with this issue? In this Letsgetpet article, you will learn how to teach your dog to stay home alone.
3 steps to teach your dog how to stay home alone
To begin with, teaching dogs takes a lot of patience. In order to ensure that your dog learns the correct and appropriate behavior, you need to teach them progressively. This is also the case when teaching your dog how to stay home alone. We will detail the three steps below to ensure that your dog does not get stressed when you are away.
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Prepare a room for your dog
Start by preparing a room for them where you do not mind them staying alone. This will help get them used to being left alone little by little. To complete this step successfully, you need to prepare a room that allows them to thrive and enjoy themselves. For example, you can place a comfortable bed and toys for them to play with in the room.
Once your dog is used to this space, they will start to spend most of their time there when you are not home. By preparing a separate room for them, you are preventing your dog from destroying other rooms in the house like the living room or kitchen. However, keep in mind that it is best to choose a room that is not too big. Dogs can get stressed if there is too much empty space around them.
Train your dog by starting with short absences
As soon as you notice that your dog has gotten used to the room you prepared for them, you can start the second step of the teaching process. This step requires you to teach your dog that you can leave them alone at any moment of the day. To do this, leave the room you prepared for them from time to time until they consider your absence to be a normal situation.
To make this training easier for your furry friend, prioritize moments when they are too concentrated on their toys to notice your absence. In addition, it is recommended to start with absences of less than a minute and to make these absences progressively longer. This helps your dog build trust when faced with solitude.
Get your furry friend used to longer absences
The third step is about getting your dog used to longer absences. This is easier if they are already used to the previous step. Now that they consider your short absences to be “normal”, you can now prolong your absences a bit more. To do this, close them in the room that is dedicated to them and let them stay there alone for less than 10 minutes. Observe their reaction. If they stayed calm, reward them so that they understand that this is the way they should behave.
If instead, they cry or get into mischief, open the door without punishing them. Do this again until they start to adopt the right behavior. You can then leave the room and even your house during longer periods of time, going progressively towards 45 minutes. Continue to reward them with treats or affection every time that they are calm and well-behaved when you are absent. They will have trust in you and will not be stressed during your absences.
When is the best time to teach your dog to be left alone?
In France, for example, the legal age to adopt a puppy is two months. During this time of their life, dogs generally still need affection from their mother. Therefore, you need to play this role so that your pet can thrive and build trust in you. While they need affection, you will still need to leave the house from time to time.
Consequently, we recommend starting to teach them to stay alone as soon as you adopt them. Put them in conditions that allow them to quickly get used to their new environment and you. Once this is done, you will be able to start the process of learning by observing their reactions. If your dog is already grown and is not used to staying alone, you will need to restart this aspect of their education.
Educating a dog to stay alone is a process that can seem complex. Begin with the the first step described above and proceed progressively so that they can gain trust in themselves. The time needed to teach your dog how to stay home alone can vary depending on various factors such as age, the breed, and the environment. Because of this, you need to be patient and avoid neglecting any of the steps to get there.
How long can a dog be left alone?
There is no fixed time during which a dog can be left alone. Dogs are sociable beings and some breeds are more sensitive to being alone than others. Their lifestyle, education, and environment are factors that can influence this time.
Therefore, we recommend educating your dog to stay alone according to your needs. Start by identifying the average time your absences are and teach your pet to get used to this amount of time. Make sure that they have everything they need to satisfy their needs during this time. For absences that are longer than usual that they are not used to, you need to find other solutions. For example, it is possible to hire a dog sitting service.
The dog sitter will take care of your dog and take them on walks during your prolonged absences. It is also possible to ask someone you trust to take care of your dog while you are not there.
Tips for your dog to learn to stay home alone
Teaching a dog to stay home alone is not easy. Here are a few tips to help out.
Change up the routine
Dogs are intelligent animals and can easily pick up on your intentions if you have established a routine. They will be able to tell when you’re going to leave them alone when you have to go to work, for example, as soon as you start getting ready.
This can create a feeling of worry or anxiety before you leave and this will cause your dog to have a harder time handling your absence. For this, we recommend changing up your routine. If, as soon as you wake up, you take a shower before having breakfast, try to inverse this routine from to time. Also, if possible, try to vary the time you leave.
Make your absences normal
If you are affectionate with your dog right before you leave every time, they will have a hard time getting used to you leaving. This is because they can start to feel anxious when they know you are about to leave. When you leave the room or the house, it needs to be done as naturally as possible, especially during the learning phase. In addition, it is recommended to avoid looking at them before you leave the first few times.
Keep your dog occupied during your absences
For your dog to handle your absences better, it is best to keep them occupied. An occupied dog with toys will not have time to cause damage in your house when you are not present. Before leaving them alone, give them toys and objects that will allow them to spend time playing without noticing your absence.
Educational toys are a great way to occupy your dog. Also, give them kibble that is suitable for their age. It is also possible to make them use up energy before you leave by playing with them first. If you do, they can spend time relaxing during your absence.
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