Recently increase in working people living alone & adopting dogs as companions has led to Leaving Dogs Alone At Home.
While this is a good thing, there is
a downside to this that can’t be overlooked.
Many office workers, who are also dog
owners, have one big question in their minds that needs serious thought and
consideration.
“Is leaving the dog at home while at work okay?” is the question, they face as many have 9-5 jobs.
While you go out and work long hours
earning the daily bread, your dogs have to be at the home all alone.
Many people can’t take their dogs to
work due to some office policy or other reasons and have to leave them alone.
It is a major concern of many owners,
with many asking how long you can leave the dog alone.
We all know that dogs are social
animals with a great need to be around their owners or other humans.
These loyal animals need their owners
or family’s presence around them and you not being there is bad for them.
Leaving a puppy alone at home for the first time is the hardest thing a dog parent has to do with many being constantly worrying about their wellbeing through their workday.
They experience stress and anxiety
during separation from loved ones even a momentarily one.
When there is no one home with them,
they might sometimes even feel separation
anxiety .
Many owners feel guilty about leaving dogs alone at home and worry
about their safety and health.
It is advised to train the dog in
staying alone at home before leaving them for long.
While there are some dog breeds that can be left alone for 8
hours or more, like Akita Inu , Basset
Hound, most of the popular dog breeds can’t stand being alone for that
long.
Training them in staying alone helps
lessen their anxiety as they are assured of your coming back to them at the end
of the day.
There are some other things you can
do to minimize anxiety your dog experiences in your absence:
1. Leave > lass="wp-block-image">
It seems like
common sense but it is very important that they don’t go hungry or thirsty at a
stretch.
Leave them
food and treats though not directly in their reach.
Invest in the
toys and gadgets that can disperse treats and food at regular durations.
Also chewing
toys can be filled with their favorite treats like frozen peanut butter,
treats, a mixture of canned food and kibble.
Dogs will
take time to eat it whole while they can later play with those toys.
Toys should
break easily should be avoided otherwise they can break and swallow it.
Poisonous
food should be locked away.
You can make
a search game in which they have to find their treats all around the house.
It can
provide them necessary mental stimulation and some physical activity.
Tip : Doggy
proof your whole house as anything can be made a toy by
them.
2. Keep The> ss="wp-block-image">
Your pooch
gets bored staying alone at home as there is no activity and moment for a very
long time.
It is
important that you leave some sort of activity inducer so in boredom they don’t
destroy the house.
Some owners
leave their pets with some puzzle toys, plush dog toys, and chewable toys to
entertain them for hours.
Tip: Recycle their toys as they get bored fast with toys.
Always leave new toys out for some days then take them out only after 2-3 weeks.
There is a TV
channel for dogs that is solely for their entertainment and it’s a good idea to
play it on for them.
Other than
that, the animal-related channels also can keep them occupied for long.
Some owners
leave their favorite music and TV shows playing so their pooches don’t feel all
alone.
Leaving some
of your regular clothes on the bed can also work as dogs can lie on them to
relax and be assured of your presence.
Dog daycare is also a wonderful option
where they interact and play with other dogs.
This leads
them to develop canine social skills, nice manners and helps in their overall
development.
In case you
can’t afford it, a professional dog
sitter is a good alternative.
They come to
your home at allotted time schedules and take care of your dogs for around 20-30
minutes so they don’t spend the whole day in solitary.
Remember
always do your homework before letting someone unknown take care of your
precious friend.
Else ask your
family member or a friend to stay with them whenever you leave the house.
Always try to
reduce their lonely hours by giving them anything that engages their minds.
Remember a bored dog destructive dog .
Tip: It’s a good idea to search for activities that keep them occupied for
long and try to teach them new games.
3. Tire Them Out:
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3. Tire Them Out:
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It is a good
idea to tire out your dog before you leave so they sleep most of their alone
time.
Owners mostly
take them out for a morning walk, run or a game of fetch, Frisbee before going
to the office.
Dogs need, on
an average, 12-14 hours of sleep in 24 hours .
If your pup is
tired before you leave, they can catch some good quality sleep in your
non-presence.
Feed them
before leaving, for better sleeping experience.
Invest in a
good quality dog bed and keep it in a comfortable place, away from distractions.
After coming
back take them out for the second round of outside playing so they can release
their pent-up energy.
Make sure
your dog meets their daily exercise requirements for a better and longer active
life.
Tip: Remember a
tired dog sleeps better and even though they had a full night sleep, they will
sleep well.
4. Make Them Comfortabl> -image">
Every dog
deserves its own doggie spot inside or outside the house independent of
distractions and your presence.
Their place
should be comfortable, relaxing and soothing to them.
They can
spend their alone time here, with their bed and toys to spend their time in
peace.
To de-stress
them about your absence make your absent time a fun time for them.
Treat them
with good snacks that they can only have in your absence.
Make their
place far away from distractions with sufficient light, air and ambiance.
It is
advisable to train them using pee pads
or canine litter boxes in which they
can eliminate as they please.
Though place
them in such an area where stink won’t spread inside the whole house.
Routine
cleaning of them should be done so as to not invite bacterial and fungal growth
in them.
Or you can hire the services of a dog sitter who can take them outside for a pee and potty breaks and a walk.
In the case
of outside kennels, allow them to roam in the backyard, which should be safe
for them.
To avoid
outside intrusion install fences, either wooden or wire mesh, that should be
hard to infiltrate.
Install dog
doors so in case of rough weather or any unusual occurrence they can go in the
safety of the house.
Make the
backyard dog-friendly by providing them with shade, water, and enough play toys
so they have a good time.
Tip: Train them in
how to respond to unforeseen incidents to protect them from dognappers, wild
animals, etc.
5. Adopt A Companion For > mage">
The best
suggestion for the lonely dogs is to adopt another furry friend that keeps them
company.
They will
keep each other busy and entertained for hours with your absence going unnoticed.
These social
animals would love their furry companion better than the many toys they have.
It is
advisable to only adopt another pet when your dog gets well with the other dogs
and no problems can arise.
Check for the
compatibility of their breed with other animals and then only make move to
adopt it.
Two pets are
always better than one lonely bored one awaiting your return in front of the
door.
When there
are two they feel less anxious and lonely in their owner’s absence.
Owners can
slowly introduce them to each other and let them bond with each other on their
own.
It is extra
work to look after another pet but worth the effort for the happiness of your
dog.
Tip: To house
train the new pet, take help from your dog as they develop the order better
this way.
6. Install A Dog Camera: ge">
Utilize the
technology for the best by keeping a watch on your dog from your office.
Dog cameras are the best way to see what
your dog does when home alone.
They are many
available in the market with two-way video call options, motion capturing and
other attractive features.
There is a
wide range of pet cameras in the market, most of them fairly priced to suit
everyone’s budget.
They are also
sometimes equipped with treat dispensing mechanisms, either timed or according
to the owner’s wishes.
Most detect
motion happening inside the house and send updates directly to the mobile app.
Many of these
devices automatically capture images and add to a sense of security for the
pets.
Owners can
talk to their dogs and calm them down whenever they are anxious like during
thunderstorms, fireworks and such.
Most of the
pet cams also come with night detection in case owners are gone overnight.
Real-time
notifications and automatic saving of videos and photos are some added bonuses
that they also offer.
Buy the one most
compatible with you and your dog and be assured of their safety.
Tip: It is good to let someone reliable
and lives close, to know about your pets and arrangements so they can act fast
in case of emergency.
7. Make Your Absence Normal Eve>
Don’t treat
your comings and goings of the house as a big event in your dog’s day.
Your dog
learns from your behavior and acts accordingly in that situation.
This is a
type of training you give to your dog to deal with your non-availability.
Canine
Behavior Specialists and Vets suggest leaving them at short intervals and
slightly increasing the time periods of your absence.
Dogs pick up
your signs of going out very fast and as the owner; it’s your responsibility to
reduce their separation anxiety .
One way is by
giving them false going out signs, like picking keys, wearing coats and staying
back at home.
When your dog
sees that you’re not leaving they are assured and they learn to not associate
those activities with your absence.
Assuring them
you’ll be back and everything is safe is the most important thing for them.
While going
out don’t delay or extend your goodbyes as dogs associate it with their lonely
time in the house.
After coming
back home don’t give them warm greetings until they have calmed down to their
normal state.
When they see
the owners are calm and act normal they themselves see it as a daily occurrence
so they don’t panic.
Leaving a
puppy alone while at work is harder as they don’t understand the alone
time at home with many being confused and sad during that period.
As they grow up like that, they might develop low canine social skills
and a bad case of Separation anxiety.
Separation
anxiety in dogs is the anxiety, which arises due to being left behind
by their owners, permanently or temporarily.
Its signs are:
– continuous whining, barking, and howling after or before your departure
– chewing or
destroying household items in your absence
– pacing
inside the house and trying to escape through doors or windows
– urinating
and defecating inside the house though house trained
– Coprophagia i.e. eating of
excrement
These signs are only seen when people they are attached to aren’t near
them.
There are many separation anxiety solutions, treatments, medicines
available nowadays for this is a serious concern for all.
We have explored everything about this problem in another blog. Read
about it here.
There are some things owners can do for their dogs when they are left
alone at home.
These will only reduce the stress and anxiety on them but nothing is
better for them than the company of their owner and family.
Try to spend as much time as possible with your dogs as you have a
limited time together that should be enjoyed to the fullest.
If you spend your weekdays sitting in an office, your dog also spends
that much time without your company.
On weekends devote your time to your dog by taking them out hiking, a
long game in the dog park or relaxing in a dog spa.
You can also schedule their vet and groomer’s appointments on weekends.
This is all from our side about leaving
the dog alone at home .
If you have anything to add, leave a comment below.
Happy Petting To You!
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This is Lubhavani Singh, an introvert who likes books and pet animals. Former owner of 4 cats.
[…] shepherds are generally very affectionate with the family it is brought […]
[…] them words like ‘No’, ’Stand’, ’Sit’ and basic house training would […]
Hey Lubhavani Singh,
You share good words for me and also for my lovely dog.
I had left my small puppy at home for my complete working day. It feels me very guilty about my care for my puppy. He stays all day alone with no one present.
Now I bring a girlfriend for him, he stays always with her and plays with her. Now I feel somewhat happy with it.
Thanks for sharing your tips for such type of owner…