Training Your Dog To Be Left Home Alone

Written by Ella White

UpdatedAug 18, 2023

An important aspect of responsible dog ownership is training your pet to be left at home alone. As much as we love our furry friends, it's essential to strike a balance between their need for independence and their longing for companionship. In this article, we uncover the key considerations that will ensure your dog is happy during their solo hours. From understanding their unique needs to fostering engagement and exploring the crate vs. no crate dilemma, join us in unraveling the art of leaving your dog home alone with care, compassion, and an informed outlook.

When you’re ready to start leaving your dog at home alone, two major factors must be considered: their breed characteristics and individual temperament. Different breeds come with distinct traits – some are more independent and are happy to be alone, while others thrive on constant interaction. Just as important is your dog’s unique nature including their disposition, anxiety levels, and social inclinations. By understanding their personalities, you can tailor their alone time to suit their nature, and ensure that they will be content while you’re gone.

Gradually building independence in your dog helps to develop their confidence and emotional well-being. This approach will prevent them from suffering any overwhelming anxiety during alone time, and allows them to adapt at a comfortable pace. By incrementally extending the periods that they are left alone, and using positive reinforcement, you can cultivate a sense of security.

This method helps your dog to understand that being alone is manageable and even enjoyable, and can prevent stress around separation. Ultimately, this gradual approach will lead to a more resilient and self-assured dog that is able to stay calm while alone, reinforcing the bond between you and your furry friend.

How long you leave your dog alone depends on their age and their stage of life. While puppies will need to be trained in alone-time incrementally, older dogs will likely be calmer when left alone as long as there are no anxiety or behavior issues. However, very senior dogs might need more care and will therefore be less able to thrive alone for long periods.

Puppies

Puppies require close supervision and limited alone time due to their need for constant care, training, and socialization. Gradually introduce short periods of solitude, slowly extending as they mature, to prevent separation anxiety. This will all depend on their unique and breed-specific needs but, as a general rule of thumb:

8-10 weeks: Puppies should not be left alone for more than 1-2 hours as they require frequent bathroom breaks, socialization, and attention.
10-12 weeks: Puppies can manage about 2-3 hours alone, gradually increasing in 1-hour increments as they grow.
3-6 months: Puppies can handle around 3-4 hours alone.
6-12 months: Puppies can tolerate 4-6 hours alone, but still need regular opportunities for exercise, play, and bathroom breaks.

Adolescent dogs

Adolescent dogs are more self-reliant but should still not be left for more than 4-5 hours alone, even with mental stimulation. They will need regular exercise and positive reinforcement of their good behavior to help them settle into being left alone.

Adult dogs

Adult dogs handle longer periods alone, around 4-6 hours, with sufficient exercise and mental enrichment. If you plan to leave your adult dog for hours at a time, be sure to maintain a consistent routine to prevent anxiety and increase their comfort.

Senior dogs

Like adult dogs, senior dogs may tolerate 4-6 hours alone. But health considerations play a larger role. If your dog has any mobility or medical issues, you might need to reduce this time accordingly, or adapt your home environment to suit their needs.

Tailoring alone time based on breed and individual needs

Some breeds or individual dogs handle solitude better than others, while those who suffer with separation anxiety may struggle to be left alone even for half an hour. Assess your dog's comfort levels, and keep training them while you adjust their solo time to promote a balanced and stress-free experience for both you and them.

Engaging activities combat boredom and anxiety, promoting mental stimulation and emotional well-being. They prevent destructive behaviors arising from pent-up energy, fostering a contented and well-adjusted canine during solo hours, ultimately strengthening the bond between you and your pet. Some of the best ways to keep your dog entertained while they’re alone include:

Mental stimulation like puzzle toys and interactive feeders
Physical exercise like a walk or playtime before you leave
Enrichment activities like a Kong toy or frozen snacks for dogs

If you’re weighing up whether or not to use a crate while leaving your dog at home, it’s important to understand the real benefits and potential disadvantages to make an informed decision that aligns with both your dog's well-being and your lifestyle.

The Benefits Of Using A Crate

Using a crate for your dog can offer a range of benefits that improve their well-being and your peace of mind.

A crate creates a safe and secure den-like space where your dog can relax, providing them with a sense of comfort and security.
It helps with house-training by encouraging bladder control, as dogs naturally avoid soiling their sleeping area.
It keeps them safe while traveling.
It’s a controlled environment for dogs that are healing or recovering from medical issues.
It can be a useful tool for overcoming separation anxiety.
While training your dog to stay home alone, a crate can prevent destructive behaviors and stop them from accessing any hazardous objects or areas.

Potential Drawbacks Of Using A Crate

While crates offer several advantages, there are potential drawbacks to consider. In some cases, improper crate usage or prolonged confinement can lead to anxiety, isolation, and stress. This is because dogs that associate the crate with punishment are likely to develop negative feelings towards it.

It's also essential to choose the appropriate crate size, because one that's too small can cause discomfort, while a too-large crate might encourage them to use part of the space as a toilet.

If you overuse crate time, it can limit your dog's freedom and social interaction, and in turn affect their mental and physical well-being. So it's important to strike a balance between crate time and exercise to ensure your dog's overall happiness.

Proper crate training, positive associations, and monitoring your dog's comfort are key to avoiding these drawbacks and maximizing the benefits of crates.

The most important consideration when leaving your dog home alone is their health and safety. Even the most content solo dog can suffer if the environment they’re left in is inappropriate or unsafe.

Always leave your dog with access to fresh water and make sure they will receive a balanced diet throughout the day. If you’re out for long periods, frozen dog-friendly treats or a stuffed Kong toy can help ensure they won’t go hungry.

You should also make sure that any toxic objects like cleaning products, plants, human foods, or small objects that could be ingested are safely locked away. It’s also important to ensure that your home is a comfortable temperature, with enough ventilation but not too much draft.

If you can, exercising your dog before and straight after long periods of alone time will help prevent any physical or mental ailments. And if you’re worried about leaving them for too long, make sure someone else like a friend, neighbor, or family member is around to check in on them, or even arrange a dog sitter. This is especially useful for dogs with anxiety, while those who are happy to be left alone will likely be content with chewing toys and puzzles to keep them entertained.

If you’re hesitant about leaving your dog at home alone or they are struggling to adapt, speak to your vet or enlist a professional dog trainer to help. It’s important for the wellbeing of both you and your pet that they are able to gain independence and be left alone without stress. Trainers can also help you to stop your dog from barking when left at home alone/learn/dog-training/how-to-stop-dog-barking-when-left-alone, which can cause distress for both your pet and your neighbors.

Factors To Consider When Leaving Your Dog At Home Alone

Building Independence Gradually

Guidelines For Leaving Your Dog At Home At Different Ages/Life Stages