Leaving a Puppy Home Alone For The First Time 4 Simple Steps
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As a guideline, new puppies up to 10 weeks old typically can’t hold their bladder for more than an hour. Dogs between 10 to 12 weeks old can usually hold it for around two hours. AKC is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to akc.org. If you purchase a product through this article, we may receive a portion of the sale. Just remember how many times you’ve wondered why your dog has been sitting in the shade in the yard chewing the same toy for hours. Distract him with his favorite chewing toy and use that moment to leave the house.
This will help create a positive association between leaving the house and being rewarded for it when you come back. Make sure that your puppy knows when you are leaving and returning, so they can adjust their expectations accordingly. This will help them learn the pattern for when you will be gone and make it easier for them to cope with being left alone. For older, well-trained dogs, crating may not be necessary, as they generally do better when left in a secure area with familiar items such as beds and blankets.
Leaving a Puppy Alone at Home for the First Time: 22 Tips to Prevent Issues
Your dog has learned over time not to play with your clothes and shoes, although it took you a long time to let him know that something like this can’t work. Just remember how your dog used to like your socks or any other part of your clothing! He is not that skittish pooch anymore but your dog still loves to sniff you and always recognizes your scent. Your favorite moments of the day are when you see how happy your puppy is and how eager he is to see you. However, when you leave, instead of a happy face, it is more likely that the dog will say goodbye to you with whining or barking. For example, you can leave your dog alone for only 10 to 15 minutes on the first day, but be careful not to get too far away.
If you’re feeling creative, here are some fun ways to repurpose old T-shirts you no longer need. Before you leave, take out the Kong, give it to your pup, and walk away. Not only will it help to soothe his swollen gums, but it will also keep him physically and mentally active while you’re away. Therefore, you want to seek out a toy that’s specially rated for his age. Chew toys have different textures and materials that help to provide stimulation to the gums while minimizing discomfort.
A newly adopted dog from a shelter
Some beds can even reduce separation anxiety, helping your puppy sleep better at night. Once a puppy is 12 weeks old, he can withstand being alone at night. Not all dogs are the same, and your puppy might not be comfortable sleeping alone. But don’t worry, you can help him feel safer and train him to sleep where you want. Puppies cannot hold their urine for too long that’s why they have “accidents” in the house when you’re away.
In general, puppies can only hold their bladder for an hour per month of their age. This means that a two-month-old puppy, for example, can hold it in for up to two hours. Ensure he gets ten minutes of exercise before leaving the house. Leave the toys your puppy loves to play with so that he can continue to entertain himself whilst you’re gone. It’s best to avoid using toys with treats inside them as these can increase the risk of untimely defecation. The availability of food and drinking water is another factor that must be addressed before leaving your puppy alone.
How long can a puppy stay on its own?
To do so trains your puppy that when you come back it is highly exciting, and you can unintentionally train your puppy to over react when family members come home. Remember, this should be a non event as you only just left the room. This is a dog who was not crate trained, and therefore, not taught to be alone. Additionally, he was left unsupervised when the client was home and chewed up the legs of the coffee table. Everyone knows that a tired dog is a good dog, so make the effort to wear your puppy out before you leave him alone. Take him for a brisk walk and even play with him or he will find other ways to release his pent-up energy.
Take your dog out for a potty break before you leave the house and consider taking them for a walk or a little play time. If you’re having trouble leaving your dog alone, don’t hesitate to seek the help of a professional. Dog trainers and behaviorists can provide valuable advice on how to make the process easier for both you and your pup. Physical exercise is also important for a dog’s overall health and wellbeing.
An important note about crates
That is unless you work night shifts and get your pup used to that type of schedule, in which case the other rules apply. Leaving a puppy alone during the day is doable, but you have to do it right. Lisa Marie Conklin is a Baltimore-based writer who writes regularly about pets and home improvement for Reader's Digest.
NOTE – Investing in baby gates can be a great idea when raising a puppy. A simple way of doing this is leaving them in a good-quality puppy pen. This is much nicer than a crate as they have more room to move about, stretch out, or play.
Puppies must stay on a leash with another person while their owner walks 10 steps away before returning. That’s great preparation for the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen test, the gold standard of behavior for dogs in our society. The supervised separation part of the CGC test requires an owner to leave their dog with a trusted person for three minutes while they are out of sight. This will be a piece of cake for the dog that has been trained to enjoy being alone. Schedule the walk in the middle of the day, when your puppy is ready for company and the time is ripe for a potty break.
When you see them again, don’t make a big deal of leaving or returning. Start increasing their time alone incrementally, building up the separation time to 30 minutes. Continue to repeat the training task throughout the day leading up to leaving your pet home alone. We just went over how giving your dog access to your yard is essential for mental stimulation, fresh air and potty breaks.
Her published works also cover relationships, gardening and travel on various websites. Rushton holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Utah. Before bringing a new pet into your home, it's really important to find an animal that fits your lifestyle. Remember not to rush the steps and to go back a step if your puppy is showing too much stress.
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