When can the puppy be home alone?
Summer is coming to an end – and you’ve got a new puppy in the house. The holidays are over – and now you need to start teaching your puppy to be home alone. But let’s be honest – it’s not always easy. Puppies are social creatures and want to be with the whole pack all the time.
Puppies can start getting used to being home alone from around 8-10 weeks of age – but it’s important to do this gradually to avoid separation anxiety and other behavioral problems. Here are some tips to help your puppy adjust to being alone:
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Start in good time
Before you leave the puppy to his own devices for several hours, you must start the training in good time. The puppy must get used to you and feel safe in the new surroundings. Before you go out on your own, make sure your puppy is ready. Start with short periods: Start by leaving your puppy alone for short periods of time – like 5–10 minutes – and gradually increase the duration as your puppy becomes more comfortable.
Create a safe environment
It may be a good idea to make a plan for how you will proceed. Here is a suggestion: Start by getting your puppy used to lying quietly alone on his blanket – preferably with a small chew bone next to him. Then you can start by closing a door behind you and coming back in. If your puppy is lying quietly and relaxing, you can, for example, go to the kitchen and get a cup of coffee. Close the door behind you and come back just as quickly. Gradually you can increase the time you are away.
Let the puppy have something to do
Give your puppy toys or chew toys to keep them occupied while you're away – but make sure they're large and sturdy so there's no danger of swallowing or getting something stuck in their mouth.
Take it gradually
In the beginning, you should not be away from your puppy for more than ½–1 hour. Gradually increase the time each time you go out. If your puppy starts to get restless, it is important to ignore it. For barking and howling, you can try DAP spray or DAP collar. This is a pheromone that the mother secretes when she is nursing – and it gives the puppy a sense of security.
Do not lock the puppy in a cage for several hours
It is important not to lock your puppy in a crate for hours. Some dogs can develop separation anxiety – and then they can panic and start chewing on everything they come across. This can be difficult to get rid of.
So be patient – stick to your plan and give your puppy time to adjust to being home alone. With a little training and love, your puppy will soon be confident and happy to be home alone!
Make sure the puppy has gone to the toilet
Make sure your puppy has had a chance to relieve himself before you leave him alone – to avoid accidents.
Consider using a camera or another form of monitoring
This can help you monitor how your puppy is doing when he's alone – and give you a better understanding of his behavior when you're not around.
Every puppy is unique – so it may take some time to figure out what works best for your puppy. Be patient and consistent – and remember that housetraining a puppy is an important part of their upbringing.
