Can I leave my puppy alone for 4 hours? The Ultimate Guide

Acclimate Your New Puppy to Your Routine

Getting a new puppy is exciting, but it also comes with new responsibilities and changes to your routine. To raise a healthy and happy dog, your puppy will need attention, exercise, and social interaction. In addition, a well-adjusted and thriving dog will need to learn how to be alone.

“When acquiring a new puppy, plan on some vacation time from work so your puppy can get acclimated to the new environment,” said Janek.

Use the time off to get your dog used to the house and their crate. Once they’re more comfortable at your house, you can leave them at home in their crate for an hour or more at a time. Janek recommends making arrangements for someone to let the puppy out at least once or twice after you return to work.

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Your dog is part of the family. While you may want to spend as much time as possible with your pet, that is not always possible. With responsibilities like work, family, and school, you’re forced to leave your dog at home — and that’s okay. But how do you prepare your puppy to be alone? How long is too long for a puppy to be alone?

We spoke with Mary Janek, Director of Public Training and Instructor of Competition Obedience at the Muncie Obedience Training Club for answers.

How long can you leave a senior dog alone?

Around two to four hours. The time you can leave a senior dog alone will depend on if they have any health issues and how often they need to pee (senior dogs will normally need to toilet more often).

Tips for Leaving a PUPPY Home ALONE (Puppy Training)

When it comes to the thought of leaving your puppy home alone while you’re at work, it’s natural to feel anxious and have a deep sense of guilt. After all, it probably seems like you can’t step out for five minutes without your little furball tearing up the house, making a mess on the carpet, or wailing mournfully at your absence. How are they going to cope when you’re gone for hours at a time?

However, it’s important to remember that it’s not bad nor dangerous to leave your puppy home alone for safe periods of time. On the contrary, it’s good for young puppies to learn how to self-soothe and be calm without their family constantly by their side. If you’re headed back into the office and can’t stop stressing about what to do with your puppy, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to learn more about how long you can safely leave your puppy alone and how to make the transition easier for both you and your canine companion.