- Begin by encouraging your dog to go to their bed and stay there for a short while with you present. …
- Ask your dog to stay, while you move away. …
- Continue this routine, moving progressively further away and for longer periods of time.
Many people have been working from home over the past year, but their pets aren’t accustomed to being left alone at home like they once were. In fact, new puppies might have never spent the entire day by themselves at home.
Pet adoptions in 2020 and 2021 have been astounding, clearing shelters across the nation. In fact, more than 12 million households reported getting a new pet by the end of 2020, according to the American Pet Products Association (APPA) COVID-19 Pulse Study.
As COVID-19 vaccinations ramp up in the U. S. is your dog prepared for the transition back to “normal” life as pet parents start to consider their return to work plans, or perhaps a better question to ask is: Are YOU prepared to be apart from your dog?
If your response is, “I can’t imagine ever being away from my fur baby all day again,” the Daily Paws team has created a free 14-day plan that will help you get your dog back on track after the pandemic. The plan was created by a certified professional dog trainer and is supported by animal behavior experts.
To keep track of your progress, print a copy of this chart here and hang it on your refrigerator.
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There is a lot to do when you first get a puppy to acclimate them to their new home. You may feel as though your hands are full with everything from potty training to puppy proofing. But there’s one crucial step you shouldn’t skip: teaching your dog to enjoy being by himself. While it may be tempting to spend every waking hour with your new puppy, this isn’t in their best interests. Eventually, you’ll have to leave them on their own. Additionally, because dogs are such social animals, it can be difficult to leave a puppy alone. However, you can make sure they are at ease and self-assured whenever they are alone with a little time and effort.
It’s likely your new puppy has never been alone before. It’s unfair to expect them to transition from constant company to being alone for the entirety of an eight-hour workday. While you are still at home, begin by teaching them to be by themselves. For this, a secure confinement space like an exercise pen or crate works perfectly. They will view their confinement area as a place to unwind rather than as punishment if you use a crate or exercise pen properly. As an alternative, you can use baby gates to confine your puppy to a compact, secure space.
Feeding your puppy inside will help them learn that this area represents good things. You can also play there with your partner if the space is big enough. Set aside special toys that your puppy can only get in their crate or pen to entice them. You can begin alone-time training once they are content to enter the confinement area on their own.
Start by locking your puppy in the pen with a chew toy or another helpful object, then quietly leave the room. Return immediately and reward them with praise and a treat. Repeat the procedure, progressively extending your absence each time. Even one or two minutes may seem excessively long to your puppy at first, but after three or four days, you should be able to gradually increase this to fairly lengthy intervals.
Return to periodically check on your puppy as the time period grows. If they remain calm and quiet, reward them with a small compliment and a treat before continuing the countdown. Don’t make too much fuss when you check on them. When you leave the room, you don’t want your dog to be without you.
Your puppy may be crying in their confinement area because you started the training before they learned to associate it with positive things or because you left them alone for too long. Avoid letting them out frequently when they cry. If you don’t, you’ll teach them that complaining gets you attention and opens doors. Instead, limit their time in the isolation area to what they can handle and gradually increase the time.
Keep in mind that while you are teaching your puppy to spend time alone, confinement in the exercise pen or crate is only temporary. One room at a time, you can start granting your puppy access to your house while you are away once they are self-assured, knowledgeable about potty training, and obedient. The aim is to produce an adult dog who is calm, confident, and capable of being trusted with more freedom.
Trouble can result from leaving a puppy in their safe area alone and unoccupied. Instead, provide them with constructive activities whenever they are confined. This will teach them to be happy on their own. Chewing on a chew toy stuffed with food is the ideal pastime. Toys like Kongs are great for this since the food that comes out of the toy will encourage chewing behavior. You’ll eventually have a chew toy addict who prefers to chomp on their toys to the baseboards.
Other methods of keeping your puppy occupied when left alone include giving them edible chews like bully sticks or yak milk chews, hiding food throughout the confinement area, or giving them puzzle toys that release food. However, only give your puppy toys or chews that you are certain are secure when you leave them unattended. Smaller objects, such as those that your puppy can completely fit inside of their mouth, pose a choking risk. Or, if swallowed, objects that can splinter or break into small pieces can harm or obstruct the intestinal tract. Consult your veterinarian for safe alternatives, and always keep an eye on your puppy when using any new toys until you are certain they can do so safely.
When leaving a puppy alone, you can also use a sound machine or heartbeat pillow to provide company. The noise can cover up other sounds that might be more distressing, like honking cars or the garbage truck. In fact, a study from Colorado State University found that music influenced the behavior of dogs in a shelter. However, the effect was dependent on the type of music. Heavy metal music seemed to increase the dogs’ anxiety, whereas soothing classical music like Moonlight Sonata increased the amount of time the dogs spent sleeping. So, select your background noise with care, and watch your puppy to see how they react to your choice.
Instead, ignore your dog for ten minutes prior to leaving, and when you depart, simply say, “Take care of the house,” which is code for, “I’m going out and I’ll be back.” Then, go about your day while ignoring your dog once more for ten minutes, turn around, and come back after 30 to 60 seconds.
This article’s information is not meant to diagnose, treat, or cure your pet, and it is not a replacement for veterinary care given by a qualified veterinarian. Contact your veterinarian for any medical or health-related advice regarding the upkeep and treatment of your pet.
While you’re gone, keeping your dog occupied with interactive toys can help them focus their attention on something other than their feelings.
Avoid leaving your dog with rawhide, or other chew objects that disintegrate or be swallowed, however, because they can cause digestive blockages. If your dog is busy nosing and chewing safe objects, they will be less likely to chew on the sofa or a doorway.
The process of teaching dogs with separation anxiety to be alone requires a lot of time, patience, and positive reinforcement, but it can be done!
Teach your dog how to be alone
You must first teach your dog that it is okay to be left alone at home and that they can manage on their own. The more you practice this prior to having to leave the house, the simpler it will be once you do.
Here are a few ways you can do that:
It’s crucial to gradually increase your time apart from your partner and link it to something enjoyable, like a special treat. Watch your dog’s reaction and reduce the remaining time if they exhibit any signs of anxiety.
Although it’s natural for dogs to want to be with us, you ultimately want them to learn to enjoy being on their own and stop hounding you for attention and following you around. They will be better able to handle being alone when you do leave the house if you do this.
FAQ
How long will it take for my dog to get used to being alone?
Even one or two minutes may seem excessively long to your puppy at first, but after three or four days, you should be able to gradually increase this to fairly lengthy intervals.
How do I get my dog used to staying home alone?
- Step 1: Encourage Your Dog Relax In Their Bed. …
- Step 2: Gradually Move Away. …
- Step 3: Increase the Distance and Length of Time. …
- Step 4: Leave for 5 Minutes. …
- Step 5: Gradually Lengthen The Time.
Do dogs eventually get used to being left alone?
Puppies must gradually learn how to live alone as their guardians leave them for longer periods of time. They discover that nothing bad happens when they are left alone, and that their guardians will eventually return. They learn how to entertain themselves and thereby gain confidence.
What to do with a dog that doesn’t like being alone?
Try adding an extra walk, playing fetch or tug-of-war, signing up for obedience lessons, or giving your dog a variety of safe dog toys if they show signs of separation anxiety. If boredom is the cause of the misbehavior, you should notice a significant shift in your dog’s behavior.