How do I leave my dog alone for the first time? Surprising Answer

Here are my tips for leaving a dog home alone for the first time

Whenever anyone adopts a new dog, I recommend a long walk at least once a day, every day. Assuming the dog and owner are healthy and capable, this walk should be at least 45 minutes and preferably more than an hour.

Walking is a bonding ritual. It is something most dogs enjoy, and it helps them get comfortable with the new owner and a new routine.

It also helps the dog get rid of any pent-up physical, mental and emotional energy. The calmer you can get your new dog, the better.

Here are some of the most frequently asked to help your pooch prepare to be by themselves. Â

While teaching your pup that being on their own is alright, you’ll want to look out for behaviours that tell you if and when they are feeling stressed or worried. This could include:

panting

pacing

yawning (unrelated to tiredness)

lip-licking

vocalising

urinating

destructive …

…

Teach your dog how to be alone

Before leaving your dog home alone, you need to teach them that it is alright and that they will be able to cope on their own. The more you do this before you actually need to leave the house, the easier it will be when you do.

Here are a few ways you can do that:

make sure they have a comfy bed or build them a doggy den

teach your dog to settle down calmly when you are busy, rather than giving them attention when they follow you around

use baby gates across doorways to introduce time apart

leave them with a long-lasting treat or toy that releases food

slowly increase the time you leave them alone while you’re in the house

start to build up the time you leave the house for

factor some time apart into your daily routine.

It’s important to build up time apart very gradually and associate it with something positive, like a long-lasting treat. Monitor how your pup responds, and shorten the time left if they show any signs of anxiety.

It’s normal for dogs to want to be with us, but ultimately you want them to learn to enjoy being by themselves and to not follow you around and rely on your attention. That way, they will be able to cope better when you do leave the house and they are alone.

How To Leave Your Puppy Or Dog Home Alone

Find out how to prepare your dog for spending time alone so they can cope by themselves.

You want to ensure that your dog doesn’t struggle when you leave them home alone. Dogs are social and it’s not unusual for them to feel worried when they are left, especially for the first time. So, you need to teach your pooch how to spend time on their own and ensure they learn to feel relaxed by themselves.

Teaching a dog to cope when home alone should ideally start when they are still a puppy. It’s important to help prevent separation anxiety from developing, so the sooner you can prepare them, the better.

Is your dog already struggling to cope by themselves? Here’s what to do if your dog is showing signs of separation anxiety.