When can I leave my dog alone? | .de

Dogs are pack animals that prefer to be with their families. Unfortunately, in everyday life it is unavoidable to leave a dog alone. So that this works well for a longer period of time, you should get your four-legged friend used to being alone from an early age. In the following, we explain what you have to pay attention to and when you can leave your dog alone.

Puppies must not be left alone

Breeders typically release puppies to their new owners at around eight weeks of age. For the little four-legged friends, the resulting loss of their mother and the unfamiliar surroundings mean a big change. They feel insecure and suffer from separation anxiety.

For this reason, it is best not to leave your puppy alone at all in the beginning. Even if you only leave the house for 20 minutes, your young dog can be very unsettled during this phase. Therefore, make sure that at least one member of the family is always at home for the first five to six weeks after moving in and can take care of the little one.

Gradually introduce young dogs to being alone

After the acclimatization phase, you can start to get your dog used to being alone. When to start and how long your dog can be left alone initially will vary from puppy to puppy.

While some four-legged friends get along well and even enjoy the quiet, others find it difficult without company and tend to express their loneliness with loud barking and howling. It is not uncommon for the owner returning home to even find tattered cushions or other damaged furnishings.

If this is the case for you, you should start the training a little more slowly and only leave your dog alone for a few minutes at the beginning. It’s important that puppies don’t directly associate being alone with bad experiences. Because that can mean that your dog will still cause problems for you in adulthood if you have to leave it alone.

Proper preparation for being alone

There are a few things you can do right from the start so that your dog can get used to being alone as easily as possible. One of the important things in this context is that you start socializing the puppy at an early age. Help your little four-legged friend to get used to other people. This will make it easier for him later if you ever have to put him up with friends.

Additionally, no matter how cute a puppy may be, it shouldn’t be cuddled and petted 24/7. Even young dogs need some time to themselves in which they can calm down. If you give your little four-legged friend some freedom, it will pay off at the latest when you leave him alone for the first time.

First, leave your dog alone in the room

To gradually get your puppy used to being alone, we recommend starting small. Before you leave your dog alone in the apartment, you should first practice with him without staying in the room.

To do this, do the following:

Wait until your tired dog retires to sleep.
Leave the room without sneaking and leave the door ajar.
If your puppy immediately runs after you, ignore them.
Try the same thing again once your dog has turned away from you.

The first time alone in the apartment

It may take a moment for your dog to break the habit of following you when you leave the room. But as soon as this exercise works without any problems, you can go one step further and leave your dog alone in the apartment for the first time. Here, too, it is best to wait until the little four-legged friend has laid down. If he tries to accompany you, send him back to his seat.

After you’ve closed the door, you should wait a moment and hear how your dog reacts to you leaving the apartment. Perhaps everything will remain quiet and your puppy will bear the first solitude with composure. However, it can happen that his reaction consists of loud barking and howling.

But even if that’s the case, you should at least stay away for a few minutes. Because if you turn back immediately, you are signaling to your dog that he is behaving correctly.

Build up slowly

After you have mastered the first hurdles, you can now leave your dog alone longer every day. Stay away about 15 minutes longer every day so that your four-legged friend gradually gets used to it.

Also, try not to respond directly to his boisterous greeting when you come home. In this way you show your puppy that your comings and goings are something completely normal that is part of his everyday life.

If you implement the tips in this article, you will soon be able to leave your dog alone without having to worry about him or your facility.