Pups are social creatures, leaving them unattended can be stressful, text Team Buddy Life Magazine.
When you first get a pooch, there is so much to do to make them comfortable in their new home. From potty-training to puppy-proofing, there is so much on the plate. But there is one critical step you just can’t miss — teaching your pup how to be alone. Although it’s tempting to spend every waking minute with the fur ball, eventually you’ll have to leave them on their own. Since dogs are extremely social creatures, leaving a puppy alone can be disturbing. However, with a little time and effort, you can ensure they’re calm and confident whenever they are home alone.
Build a safe space
Your new puppy is used to constant companionship and may struggle with being alone, especially for extended periods like an eight-hour workday. To make this transition easy, start by teaching them to be alone while you are still at home. A safe confinement area, such as an exercise pen or crate, is appropriate for this purpose. When used correctly, these play pens become a place of relaxation rather than discipline. Alternatively, you can create a safe area using baby gates.
Create happy moments
To help your puppy associate this space with happy experiences, feed them treats inside it. If the space is large enough, spend some playtime together there. Offer special toys that the pup only gets inside their crate or pen to make it more appealing. Once your fur baby is comfortable entering the play pen on their own, you can begin training them to be on their own and alone.
Keep them busy
Leaving a puppy alone with nothing to do in their safe area can lead to trouble. Instead, provide them with something constructive to engage with whenever they are in confinement. This will teach them to be content on their own. An ideal activity is chewing on a food-stuffed chew toy.
Toys like Kongs are excellent for this purpose, as the food that comes out of the toy reinforces the chewing behaviour. Over time, your puppy will develop a strong preference for chew toys over items like baseboards, becoming a dedicated chew toy enthusiast.
Here are some ways to keep your puppy occupied when they are alone:
1. Provide edible chews like bully sticks or yak milk chews.
2. Hide food around their confinement area for them to find.
3. Offer food-releasing puzzle toys.
Make sure to leave your puppy with toys or chews that you know are safe. Avoid small objects that could be choking hazards or items that might splinter or break into pieces, which could cause intestinal damage or obstruction if swallowed. Consult your veterinarian for safe options and always supervise your puppy with any new toy until you are confident, they can use it safely.
When leaving a puppy alone, you can also use a television or music system to provide a sense of companionship. These sounds can help mask other potentially distressing noises, such as honking cars or door bells. A study from Colorado State University revealed that music could influence the behaviour of dogs in a shelter, though the effect varied with the type of music. Heavy metal music seemed to heighten the dogs’ anxiety, while soothing classical music, like Moonlight Sonata, increased the time dogs spent sleeping. Therefore, choose your background noise carefully and observe your puppy to see how they respond.
Ask for help
If you can’t spend time at home with your puppy, consider finding a puppy sitter to assist with their alone-time training. You can hire a professional pet sitter or ask a neighbour or friend to relax in your house while your puppy rests in their confinement area. A puppy sitter can also help with potty training and provide attention between confinement sessions.
When your puppy’s alone-time training has progressed but they can’t be left alone for a full eight hours, a dog walker can be an ideal solution. Schedule a walk in the middle of the day, giving your puppy company and a potty break. Even adult dogs benefit from the exercise and companionship a dog walker provides during a workday.
Additionally, consider giving your puppy a physical or mental workout before leaving them alone. A walk, energetic playtime, or a training session can tire them out, making them more likely to nap once you’re gone. Be sure to engage in these activities at other times as well, so your puppy doesn’t associate them solely with your departure, which could cause anxiety instead of promoting relaxation.
Benefits of teaching to be alone
Dogs that haven’t learned to appreciate being alone can develop problematic behaviours when left by themselves. At best, an untrained puppy might find their own entertainment, often in ways that are destructive or disruptive. At worst, they can develop separation anxiety, a serious condition where the dog experiences severe stress from the moment you leave until you return.
Conversely, teaching your puppy that being alone can be enjoyable helps them handle not being the centre of attention, even when you’re home. They should learn to look forward to alone time because they associate it with positive experiences like chew toys and treats. Most importantly, by teaching them to be comfortable alone even when you’re in another room, they won’t equate your leaving the house with being alone. This means you can head to work or the grocery store without worry.
" >
" >