Introduction
Leaving dogs alone while their owners are away is a common issue that all pet parents face at some point. Separation anxiety affects about 47% of dog owners and 76% of dogs to some degree, which can make going to work, running errands, or taking a vacation extremely difficult. This article will examine how to determine if your dog can handle time alone based on their personality and needs. We’ll also discuss key ways to prepare your dog before you leave through providing mental stimulation, physical exercise, creating a safe space, and more. Lastly, we’ll cover signs that your dog may not be handling the alone time well and when it’s time to seek professional help. The goal is to provide comprehensive, practical guidance to help dog owners confidently leave their furry friends for reasonable periods.
Assessing Your Dog’s Personality
Before leaving your dog home alone, it’s important to assess their personality and temperament to see if they may struggle with separation anxiety. Many pet care facilities conduct formal temperament testing when dogs are first boarded or enrolled in daycare. According to Happypaws Pet Camp, this involves evaluating the dog’s reaction to social interactions as well as their ability to be left alone.
You can conduct an informal assessment at home to gauge your dog’s anxiety levels. The Preventive Vet website offers a free online quiz to help identify signs of separation anxiety based on your dog’s behaviors when left alone or separated from you. Warning signs include excessive barking, whining, pacing, destruction, house soiling, and more. If your dog frequently exhibits these behaviors, they may struggle with being left alone for extended periods.
However, the PetPlace notes that true separation anxiety is complex, and the underlying cause, based on your dog’s history and personality, should be carefully assessed. Their reaction to short-term absences may differ from being left for a full workday. Consider consulting a veterinary behaviorist if your dog shows signs of significant distress when you leave.
Preparing Your Dog
It’s crucial to gradually get your dog used to being left alone to prevent or minimize separation anxiety when you do need to leave them. Start by praising and rewarding your dog when they are calm and relaxed. Increase the duration and distance you move away from them while continuing positive reinforcement for calm behavior. You can also try the following tips:
Crate training can be very beneficial for dogs prone to separation anxiety or destructive behaviors when left unsupervised. Make the crate a positive space by feeding your dog meals and giving treats there. Start crating them for very short periods like 5-10 minutes while you are home. Slowly increase the crating duration and go in and out of sight. Reward calmness in the crate so they learn to associate it with comfort rather than anxiety (Crate Training a Dog With Separation Anxiety).
Provide interactive puzzle toys to keep your dog mentally stimulated. Place portions of their food inside puzzle toys or chew bones to make them work for their meals. The mental exercise can tires them out and make them less stressed when you leave (5 Tips for Crating a Dog with Separation Anxiety).
Practice short departures from your home, starting with just stepping outside the door for a few seconds. Slowly work up to longer absences of 15-30 minutes. Return home calmly without greeting your dog to reinforce that your arrivals and departures are no big deal.
Use calming aids like CBD treats, pheromone diffusers, or calming music to reduce anxiety symptoms while you are gone. These can help dogs relax and prevent panicked behaviors.
If possible, arrange for people to periodically check on your dog and take them for short walks to break up alone time. Even short visits can provide reassurance.
Providing Mental Stimulation
Mental stimulation is crucial for dogs left alone to prevent boredom and destructive behaviors. Puzzles and chew toys are excellent ways to keep your dog’s mind engaged.
Food puzzle toys like the Kong Wobbler or the Omega Paw Tricky Treat Ball are great for mealtimes. As the dog rolls and nudges the toy, kibble is dispensed as a reward. This mimics the mental and physical activity of foraging for food. See this video for DIY puzzle ideas: Food Puzzles for Dogs.
Chew toys provide mental stimulation through chewing and relieve anxiety. Durable rubber toys like Nylabone Power Chew and Benebone wishbone chews satisfy your dog’s natural chewing instincts. Rotate chew toys to keep your dog interested. Supervise chewing to avoid ingestion of pieces. Refer to this article for more smart gadgets to keep your dog stimulated.
Physical Exercise
It’s important to provide your dog with adequate physical exercise before leaving them home alone for an extended period. Exercise helps expend pent-up energy so your dog is more likely to settle down and rest while you’re gone. According to this source, “A tired dog is usually a good dog.”
Aim to exercise your dog for at least 30-60 minutes prior to departing. Take your dog for a brisk walk, play a game of fetch, or engage in other physically stimulating activities. Just be sure not to overdo it right before leaving, as an overstimulated dog may have trouble settling down. Aim for solid exercise followed by a short cool down period.
Providing adequate physical activity will make your dog more relaxed and content while home alone. They’ll be less likely to engage in problem behaviors like barking, chewing, or destruction out of boredom or excess energy.
You can also consider hiring a dog walker or taking your dog to daycare on days you’ll be gone for an extended time. This provides physical and mental enrichment so your dog stays happy while you’re away.
Creating a Safe Space
Dog-proofing your home is an important step to ensure your dog’s safety and comfort while you’re away. Make sure to put away any items your dog could get into and cause harm, like household cleaners, medications, or toxic plants. According to How To Help a Dog With Separation Anxiety in Your Apartment, clearing clutter like piles of paper can also help minimize stress.
Set up a designated safe space for your dog, like a cozy dog bed in a quiet area of your apartment. Place familiar and comforting items for your dog there, like favorite toys, treats, and worn clothing with your scent. Your dog will feel calmer in this little sanctuary you have created.
Consider activities like leaving a radio on with soothing music or looping dog relaxation videos on your TV, as advised by the ASPCA. These can further help your dog remain calm. Just be sure to keep electrical cords safely out of reach.
With the right dog-proofing and setup, you can ensure your dog’s environment remains hazard-free and comfortable while you are out.
Monitoring Your Dog
One way to ensure your dog remains safe and content while home alone is to monitor them remotely using a pet camera. Pet cameras allow you to watch your dog through a live video feed and even interact with them using two-way audio. Some pet cameras also have treat-dispensing features so you can reward your dog’s calm behavior from afar.
According to Wirecutter’s testing, the Eufy Pet camera is an excellent budget option under $50 that provides sharp 1080p video without a monthly fee (Source). For more advanced features like treat dispensing and pan/tilt controls, they recommend the Petcube Bites 2 which starts at $200 plus a monthly fee (Source). Key aspects to consider when choosing a pet cam are video quality, audio, mobile app control, treat dispensing, motion alerts, and monthly fees.
Using a pet cam can provide peace of mind while you’re away. You can check that your dog seems relaxed and content, interact with them to ease any anxiety, and reward calm settled behavior.
Maximizing Time Away
When determining how long you can safely leave your dog alone, there are several factors to consider including the dog’s age, breed, and temperament.
For puppies under 4 months old, it’s best not to leave them alone for more than 2-3 hours as they require more frequent opportunities for socialization, play, and elimination. Puppies 4-6 months can handle 3-4 hours alone. Most adult dogs over 6 months old can be left alone for up to 8-10 hours a day, provided their needs are met.[1]
Some breeds like Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers are more social and require more companionship than independent breeds like Shiba Inus or Greyhounds that can be left alone longer. Dogs with separation anxiety may only tolerate very brief periods alone.[2]
In general, the daily maximum alone time for adult dogs is 8-10 hours but less time is ideal. Hire a dog walker or provide interactive toys to break up longer periods alone. If leaving for over 8 hours is unavoidable, consider doggy daycare a few days a week.
Considering Daycare or Walkers
If your dog is unable to be left alone for extended periods, professional care options like daycare or dog walkers may be necessary. Doggy daycare provides supervision and socialization for dogs throughout the day, with prices typically ranging from $15-40 per day on average (https://luckydogbarkandbrew.com/blog-news/the-average-cost-of-doggy-daycare-and-how-to-know-if-its-worth-it/). Dog walkers can provide potty breaks and exercise for $15-25 per 30 minute visit (https://www.rover.com/blog/how-much-does-doggy-daycare-cost/). These services allow dogs to get their physical and mental needs met while owners are away at work or running errands.
When to Call the Vet
Although some mild separation anxiety symptoms can be managed at home, more serious cases require the help of a veterinarian. Signs that separation anxiety or another underlying issue needs medical attention include:
- Destructive behavior like chewing, digging, urinating, or defecating while alone
- Self-injury like licking, biting, or scratching resulting in wounds
- Aggressive behavior when owners prepare to leave or arrive home
- Depression, lethargy, appetite changes, trembling, and excessive vocalization
- Attempts to escape like scratching doors or chewing through restraints
According to the ASPCA, separation anxiety can lead to health issues like weight loss, skin irritation, and gastrointestinal problems [1]. Veterinarians can diagnose separation anxiety through physical exams, lab tests, and behavior assessments. They may prescribe medications or recommend training programs to help treat the underlying anxiety.
While mild separation anxiety may improve on its own, allowing serious symptoms to continue can worsen the anxiety over time. It’s important to contact your vet promptly if your dog shows signs of distress when left alone.