Remember, when you bring a new dog to your home, you’re committing to a very close and long-term relationship. Be sure you have enough time to dedicate to your new family member.

Even if we are completely devoted to our dogs, there are times when we need to leave them alone. We go for work, shopping or have social commitments.

There is no set time which is  acceptable for owners to leave their dogs home alone. It depends on the specific dog, his age, and physical and emotional needs.

But it is very important to bear the basic rules in mind:

  1. Bladder control. Like humans, dogs also need to go out to a toilet. If they are properly house trained, it would be extremely stressful for them to empty their bladder in the house. They feel guilty doing something they know is not correct and next time you are leaving, it will be even worse for them.

It’s advisable to take your dog out just before you leave and then again the first thing when you come back. It is not surprising that puppies and senior dogs need to go out more often.

  1. Emotional needs. If you have a very active dog, he may suffer being home alone for hours without any activity. In that case make sure he is properly walked and played with before you leave, otherwise you may find your flat or house in a serious disorder when you come back and it would not be that much of his fault.

Some dogs love social interaction, others are couch cuddlers and all these differences should be taken in the consideration to determine how long they should be left alone without stressing them too much.

  1. Separation anxiety. This is unfortunately a very common condition and the covid pandemia did not help at all. Nowadays there are many more dogs, even those previously managing well, who suffer with separation anxiety. The reason is that we changed our routine dramatically and spend a lot more time with them at home. Separation anxiety is difficult to deal with and it causes depression, destruction behavior or barking and howling. Not only it is a seriously devastating condition for a dog, it is also very stressful for the dog owner. If you think you cannot deal with it alone, please ask a good dog behaviourist for help.

To summarize, there are some little tricks to make the time alone easier for your dog.

As mentioned before, take him out before you leave and make sure he is not hungry and has plenty of water. He should get access to his favourite toys. Mental puzzle toys to make him busy are also a good idea. Some dogs are happier to keep a piece of clothes of his owner they can smell. It could be an old T-shirt or a sock. Some of the dog owners also recommend to switch on the radio or TV.

You may have a crate trained dog and he may feel comfortable in his own little house. However, we at Feligos are not supporters of cages so we will not comment on this option more.

If you have a new dog, never leave him alone for too long at the beginning. Try shorter period of times so that he knows you always come back. This is especially important if you have a rescue dog who might already have a bad experience of abandoning.

Working all days outside your home? Consider hiring a reliable dog walker or research your local doggy care centres. Your dog will have friends for endless happy plays, humans to interact with and opportunity to go out for toilet. You will get back a happy, mentally and physically stimulated dog, which is, together with your love, all they need.

Dogs home alone