Can Dogs Stay Home ALONE? +5 Helpful Tips
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Every new puppy or dog owner should expect a certain amount of destruction from curiosity-based or tension-relieving oral tendencies of the pet. The solution to the problem lies in removing the environmental cause and guiding the dog towards the appropriate objects to chew. The above-mentioned preventive and corrective approaches will help to minimize and ultimately solve the problem while allowing the dog to develop a healthy relationship with you.
A dog with separation anxiety might try to escape from an area where he’s confined when he’s left alone or separated from his guardian. The dog might attempt to dig and chew through doors or windows, which could result in self-injury, such as broken teeth, cut and scraped front paws and damaged nails. If the dog’s escape behavior is caused by separation anxiety, it doesn’t occur when his guardian is present. A key aspect to curbing your dog’s destructive chewing is changing your own schedule to ensure they are properly exercised before your leave each day. A long hike or play session when you return home from work is wonderful, but cannot take the place of stimulation first thing in the morning. Like I mentioned above, a lack of mental and physical exercise is so commonly the issue behind destructive chewing.
Destructive dogs – Stop them destroying your home
This is helpful if your pet has separation anxiety as it gives them a sense of being close to you. Be advised, however, that this does not work for all dogs. You should try this method first by leaving them alone for a few minutes with your scent. If it makes their anxiety worse, remove the item right away. You will also want to provide your pet with other entertainment in their “confined” area. In fact, we recommend leaving a few toys and other items behind for them to play with so they do not become bored.
Normally with their human around, dogs are less likely to react to the stimuli. But left to their own devices, the sights and sounds going on in the world beyond the house may be too much for them to handle. So if spite or revenge isn't on your dog's agenda, what is causing him to act destructively when left alone in the first place?
#6: Give your dog a busy day
If it’s too vulnerable to be left alone, consider taking your pet to doggy daycare. In general, it’s okay to leave your dog home alone for a few hours, but not more than 5 hours at a time without someone checking in on them. If your dog isn’t potty trained or cannot hold it for 4-5 hours, it’s not ready to stay home alone. If you plan to leave your dog for more than 5 hours at a time, have someone check on your dog during the day.
Create the space, till it over, and bury some goodies in it that it’ll love finding. Find out which parks allow dogs and vary your schedule each week to visit different ones. This will be stimulating for both of you, as you see new sights and explore new places. And of course, give them a chew toy to help spend their excess energy. Give them toys that are different from household stuff. If your dog has anxiety, medications will help them calm down.
Can Dogs Stay Home ALONE? (+5 Helpful Tips)
Separation Anxiety – A solitary lifestyle doesn’t come naturally to a family-orientated pack animal, and it can cause a great deal of anxiety and stress to a dog. There is nothing more soul-destroying than seeing the fluffiest member of the family, ransack, chew and trash your house. Especially, if some of those valuable objects are of sentimental value. This happens for many reasons, including boredom, anxiety, lack of attention, or interaction.
With a commitment to these five steps you will get your dog’s destructive chewing under control. Some dogs can become anxious when left alone or when their family isn’t present. One common symptom of separation anxiety can be destructive chewing. While treatment can sometimes be tricky, here are tips that may help your dog feel more comfortable when alone. One treatment approach to this “predeparture anxiety” is to teach your dog that when you pick up your keys or put on your coat, it doesn’t always mean that you’re leaving. You can do this by exposing your dog to these cues in various orders several times a day—without leaving.
Set your dog up for success while you are away
They will teach dog parents techniques to change the undesirable behaviors. For a new dog parent or a seasoned one, a vet, a trainer, and an animal behaviorist are your allies. There are also chew toys that have ridges on the sides. This shows that a lack of exercise can lead to destructive behavior. But if their chew toys are not available, they’ll target other interesting stuff. The veterinarians also said that "a well-adjusted puppy should do well either alone or with the family and will be less likely to have separation anxiety in the future."
But this behavior is rooted in causes that can be easy to fix if you dig a little deeper. Some dogs’ house soiling is caused by incontinence, a medical condition in which a dog “leaks” or voids his bladder. Dogs with incontinence problems often seem unaware that they’ve soiled.
In most cases, a combination of training and medication will be necessary. Medication alone does not usually solve the problem. This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice.
Physical Exercise is also important for many dogs that are home alone. Make sure to a daily routine of a walk or run before leaving, or make sure someone can exercise your dog while you are out. However, punishing your dog is the worst thing you could possibly do, as it will only make the destructive behavior worse. It’s annoying, frustrating, and heartbreaking when you lose things to a destructive dog, especially if those things are sentimental and irreplaceable. Pets that claw at door frames, furniture, and carpets can do a lot of damage to their paws and nails.
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