As a dog owner, it's a good idea to train your dog to be home alone from the time they're a puppy. Some dogs cope well with being left alone, while others may express their displeasure with heartbreaking howls when you're at work. If you feel like your dog is getting separation anxiety when you have to leave the house, it's a pretty normal response. Of course, your dog would prefer to be with you! These four-legged furry friends are social pack animals, and a dog without a pack is very exposed to dangers from nature. But what do you do when you have to go to work? If you have to commute a long way to work, you could risk leaving your dog home alone for up to 10 hours. Is that too long? In this article, we'll take a closer look at how long you can leave your dog alone, destructive behaviors that can occur when they feel anxious or lonely, and how you can deal with separation anxiety in your dog.
How long can a dog be home alone?
In Norway, we don't have specific rules about how long a dog can be left home alone, like they do in Sweden. But even though the dog seems to take to the house guard job with flying colors, it's not recommended to leave the dog alone for too long. According to the Norwegian Food Safety Authority's guidance on keeping dogs, most adult dogs can be trained to be left alone at home for 6–8 hours a day. Outside of these hours, the dog should be allowed to be with the family. Puppies under 4 months old should not be left alone for more than a few minutes at first. Read more about when your puppy should be home alone here.
5 tips on how to train your dog to be alone at home
Training your dog to be home alone requires good routines and even better patience. Here are 5 tips that can help you on your way, whether you have a puppy or are going to do "home alone training" for an adult dog.
1. Teach the dog that you can be together separately
The first step to teaching your dog to be home alone is to practice being together – but separately. Just because you’re both home doesn’t mean your furry friend has to sit on your lap all the time. Start by putting a puppy pen or dog gate between you while you’re cooking or drinking coffee, and don’t make a big deal out of being apart. Over time, you can practice not having each other in sight all the time. For example, go to the bathroom while you make your dog stay in the living room.
2. Alone for short periods
Try being away for short periods of a few minutes, and make sure your dog has a place in the house where he can feel safe while you are out. Again: Don't make a sad farewell with exaggerated hugs, just go out as if everything is normal. Feel free to listen through the door. If your dog whines a lot, you can wait until he has calmed down a bit before you go back inside as usual. Feel free to give him a small treat when he is calm. Then you can start to increase the period you are away. If you are away for a long time, it is completely normal for heartbreaking howling and barking to bother the neighbors. This is just the dog's way of communicating its feelings. It may be a good idea to let the neighbors know in advance, or get help walking the dog if you are going to be away for many hours at a time.
3. Physically and mentally tired before time alone
We recommend going for a long walk in the morning before you leave the house for the day. You can also throw out Fido's favorite treats so he has to use his head to find them during the walk. This way, he will be stimulated and have an outlet for his energy, making it easier for him to calm down and relax after the walk.
4. What should Fido do alone at home?
While you are away, you can keep your dog occupied with stimulating dog toys or a sniffing mat. Some dogs also like to have the TV or radio on in the background to feel less alone. Remember not to leave things out in the open that your dog could eat and that could pose a potential choking hazard.
5. When you get home
When your dog has been home alone for several hours, it's important to give them attention when you return. This means that other leisure activities or an afternoon nap on the couch must give way to spending time and activity with your dog. Go for a walk together - this is what your best friend has been looking forward to all day!
Separation anxiety in dogs
Some dogs can develop separation anxiety when you are away from them. That is why it is important to gradually train your dog to be alone from a puppy. A dog with separation anxiety is afraid and stressed when left to its own devices. This can lead to destructive behavior that is demanding for both parties.
Thunderstorms and destruction - are dog cages the solution?
The puppy has eaten half of the stuffing on the sofa, and the cushions in every room are lying like rags on the floor. It can be frustrating to come in the door and see that your dog is not behaving when he is home alone. Many people believe that dog crates are the solution when you are away. But small crates, such as transport crates, are not a suitable place to stay while you are at work. Remember that when we buy a puppy, we must be willing to accept the negative consequences as well. Being in a crate every time you go to work is not a natural part of a dog's life. Your four-legged friend needs enough space for natural movement, such as stretching and choosing different surfaces to lie on to regulate their temperature. Therefore, your dog should be able to walk freely at home. Instead of keeping your dog home alone in a crate, you can better define its area by closing some doors or using child gates.
Separation anxiety and unwanted behavior when your dog is left home alone can be difficult to deal with. If you are away for several hours each day, there are several things you can do to improve your dog's quality of life. Take your furry friend to work, get someone to walk you in the middle of the day, or leave your dog in a doggy daycare. You can also contact our veterinarians for good support and advice if you see that your dog is not doing well.
