Due to our stressful rhythm of life in which we must work, run errands and a host of other things, our dog may be forced to be alone at home for several hours.
And although there are dogs that end up getting used to even being eight hours alone, it’s not really recommended at all. Dogs are super sociable animals, they need company to be happy.
That is why we are going to explain to you how many hours a dog can only stay at home and what we must do so that this time is bearable for him. Prepared? It is very simple.
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Index of contents
- 1 Can I leave my dog several hours alone at home?
- 2 Can puppies be left alone at home?
- 3 How to groom my dog to stay alone and calm
Can I leave my dog several hours alone at home?
Yes, of course, but it is recommended that our dog has previously gone for a walk and played for a long time, before staying alone at home. In this way, you will have released your energy and stay at home much more calm, relaxed.
The number of hours each dog can endure without despair or suffering separation anxiety, It is very variable. While some dogs can only last four or five hours at most, others have become accustomed to being even eight hours alone at home.
The ideal is to gradually increase the number of hours so that he can get used to being alone at home, since it is not good to start directly leaving him six or eight hours alone, at once.
Can puppies be left alone at home?
No, puppies are too small to be home alone for several hours. They will start to cry and bark if they feel abandoned, alone. The ideal is that the puppy is always in company, if it is not ours or that of a family, that of another dog with which it gets along.
You have to understand that dogs are very sociable and familiar animals, they will always want to be with you, even when you sleep. An adult dog can gradually get used to staying home alone for a few hours.
But a puppy is too small to understand and learn to be alone, so we never recommend leaving a puppy alone at home.
How to groom my dog to stay alone and calm
There are a number of tips that can help you a lot, so that your dog gets used to being alone at home and does not despair. But keep in mind, not all dogs accept these guidelines the same way, while some will get used to it in a few weeks, others will take months.
- Take your dog for a walk before leaving him alone, a great walk where he plays, runs and expends a lot of energy. Don’t do it all in five minutes, spend at least an hour.
- Increase the hours you stay alone progressively, if you are going to be away from home for six hours, start with periods of one hour, two hours a week, etc….
- If you are alone for more than four hours, ask a family member or friend to come home to say hello to your dog. Let him play with him, take him out for a walk, etc… It is the best option for your dog. You can even hire a dog walker (highly recommended).
- At home, leave toys and teethers (skin bones for example) within reach of your dog, so that he can entertain himself. If possible, leave the TV or radio on, at low volume.
- Do not leave at home anything that could be dangerous within your dog’s reach, such as soaps, cleaners, batteries, a TV remote control, etc … Because if he gets bored and takes a bite of something, he can inadvertently poison himself.
- Do not leave your dog tied or locked in a room or terrace, leave the whole house at your disposal so that it can explore and investigate.
- When you get home, the first thing you should do is go for a walk with your dog so that it can relieve itself and use energy again. This is not optional, it is mandatory.
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