How Do I Leave My Puppy Alone When I Go To Work?
Puppies bring joy to your life. They are fun to be with and can be great stress relievers. It's not all about having fun with your puppy. You need to care for it and give it a safe home.
If your circumstances change, do you need to go to the office? The pup you have been with 24/7 at home needs to be home alone. There are several things to try.
We have put together some options that will have your puppy entertained and safe while you are away, not to mention your home will be in one piece when you arrive home to the absolute delight of your little furry family member.
How Do I Leave My Puppy Alone When I Go To Work?
Leaving your puppy alone when you go to work may sound quite daunting, especially at the beginning.
Making a safe space in your home for your puppy will have you and your puppy feeling more confident about leaving each other for any length of time.
Create A Safe And Designated Space For Your Puppy
The last thing you want to find when you come home is to see your puppy run around the house, creating a mess.
A puppy that is left alone is more likely to do this. Therefore, crate training is essential if you plan to leave your dog alone when you go to work.
The crate creates a safe confinement area for your puppy. Add their favorite toys, blankets, and even a t-shirt that needs a wash so they have your scent while alone. Add their food and water. No spill bowls work great in this environment. You can also purchase many food toys to add treats to keep them busy. Also, remember your pup is growing; they will sleep a reasonable amount of time. You will worry far more than they will fret. You’ve got this.
Identify Your Breed's Behavior
A dog's behavior differs according to its breed. Some breeds, including French Bulldogs, Greyhounds, and Basset Hounds, are less active and are happy to lounge around more than other breeds.
Others, including Oodles, Terriers, and Shepherd breeds, are the more active, and to leave them alone, you need to ensure their active minds have something to occupy them.
You chose this breed, know your pup, and understand what will occupy them and what your little one prefers. Not all dogs of any one breed behave the same. Still unsure? Read on.
Take Things Slow
If you have been working at home for a long time, leaving your dog alone suddenly could be challenging. Can you leave your pup briefly before the eight-hour day arrives? If so, you can start by leaving your dog in the crate for short periods while at home. Crate them during dinner time, when you go to the shops. On your return, a small treat will help teach your dog to associate your absence with treats and rewards.
Set A Regular Routine
Try to keep mealtimes, bedtime, and walks consistently; dogs of all ages love routines. When crate training, routine is a valuable tool. Pups often go to their crate when they, too, want alone time; being so cute is very tiring.
Give Your Puppy A Workout
Taking your pup out for a walk in the morning, or if they are not there yet, playtime before you leave for extended periods, is also very practical; wear them out. Exercise releases feel-good endorphins in dogs, similar to humans. When you are ready to leave for work, they will probably be settling down for a nap.
Provide Suitable Toys
It's essential to keep your dog entertained while you're at work. It keeps it from getting bored and becoming destructive inside the house.
Invest in quality toys for your dog to keep it from getting bored while you're at work. You can even use interactive puzzles to provide mental stimulation.
Hiding treats inside these toys can keep your dogs from getting bored and make them happy.
Play Background Noise
Playing background noise is an excellent way to help keep your dog from feeling lonely. It could be some sound coming from the television or radio.
The background noise helps keep your puppy distracted while you're off work. It also blocks out any outside noise that could make your puppy anxious.
Ensure Your Puppy Goes To The Bathroom
Dogs usually need to go to the bathroom three to five times daily. It can vary according to breed and age.
Puppies need to go to the bathroom more often than healthy adult dogs. Puppies can hold going to the toilet for one hour per month of age. So, a three-month-old puppy can keep going to the bathroom for up to three hours.
Dogs older than one year can hold going to the bathroom for up to six hours.
You can leave pee pads or grass pads, which can be the designated place to go to the bathroom when you're not home. Another option is to add a dog door to your house so your dog can go to the backyard.
Come Home At Lunchtime
If you're crating your puppy while off, you must come home midday to let it out. Even older dogs need to stretch out their legs and go to the bathroom after staying for hours in the crate.
Even if you're using pee pads for your puppy, you must come home to check on it during your lunch break. If you can't do it, you can ask a friend to check up on your puppy to ensure everything is going well.
Hire A Dog Walker Or Pet Sitter
It's always a good idea to have the contact details of a dog walker or pet sitter saved on your phone.
Your friends may only sometimes be able to check up on your dog. There could be instances when you're stuck in traffic or at an important meeting in the office.
You can call a pet sitter or dog walker to check up on your puppy. Get a pet sitter that you can trust. You can ask your family and friends for any recommendations.
Monitor Your Puppy
Installing a pet camera at home is best if you're constantly worried about your pet while away.
It will keep you from getting anxious about your pet, and you can monitor what it's doing back home.
Another good idea is to get a GPS-tracking device known as a pet tracker. The best pet tracker will let you detect where your dog is and alert you when your dog leaves the perimeter of the boundaries you have set.
A pet tracker is helpful in case your puppy tries to leave the house in any way.
Leave Quietly In The Morning
The best way to leave for work in the morning is to make it as quiet as possible. You may bid your dog farewell and show it affection.
Such displays of affection will only make your dog more anxious about your departure. It is worse for dogs who have separation anxiety.
So, try to leave as quietly as possible. Then your puppy will not be significantly impacted by your absence.
Address Nuisance Barking
You must address the problem of barking before leaving for work. It could be a distraction for your neighbors. It could also be distressing to know that your dog is barking, whining, or crying at home while you're away.
You need to train your dog the 'speak' and 'quiet' commands to do this. The 'speak' command should indicate to the dog when it is alright to make some noise.
The 'quiet' command is vital to keep your dog from making noise when you're away. Use the 'quiet' control before leaving for work in the morning to let your puppy know it shouldn't make noise when you're away.
Wait outside to see if your puppy is barking, then leave for work.
Address Separation Anxiety
Separation anxiety is a common issue in puppies. Your dog may have continuous accidents when you're away, indicating that it has separation anxiety.
You need to address these symptoms right away before they get worse. The best thing is to get someone to call and check on your puppy. You should also drop by during lunch break and have a look.
All of this will help keep your puppy from getting anxious and fearful. You can also use monitoring devices to check on your puppy, talk to it, and even dispense treats.
Therefore, your puppy will feel comfortable between when you leave and return home.
Expect Accidents To Happen
Accidents could still happen no matter what measures you take to keep your puppy comfortable and safe. Expect accidents to occur mainly during the first six to eight weeks.
Puppies may experience a period of regression when they are left alone regularly. Therefore, plan and keep a stock of cleaning supplies.
Reward Your Puppy On Your Arrival
Once you return home, your puppy will be very excited to see you. Wait till it calms down before you greet it.
Remember to give it treats as a reward for being a good puppy while you were away. Also, provide them with a lot of attention once you return home.
Other Options
If you still feel anxious about leaving your dog alone at home while at work, here are a few other options you could consider.
Have Someone Take Care Of Your Puppy
If you cannot be with your dog because of your busy schedule at work, you can get someone to do it.
You can first consider having a family member or close friend care for your puppy while you're away.
If that isn't an option, you can always get a pet sitter to check on your dog when you're not home.
Adjust Your Work Schedule
Another thing you can do is adjust your work schedule. Speak to the management about shifting to a work-from-home option.
If that isn't work, consider getting some flexibility in your working hours, like an extended lunch hour.
Consider A Pet Care Facility
A pet care facility is also an excellent choice to avoid keeping your dog alone at home while you're away.
Check on some good pet care facilities that are responsible and will adequately care for your puppy.
You can ask for recommendations from family and friends to ensure your puppy's safety.
Consult Your Vet
Sometimes, your dog may have separation anxiety or other health problems. So, it's always a good idea to consult your vet about any concerns about leaving your puppy at home.
Your vet can advise you on how to proceed concerning leaving your puppy at home.
How Long Can You Leave Your Puppy Alone For?
A new puppy who is very young can become distressed when you leave it alone. So, you mustn't leave new puppies that are very young alone for an extended period. You must spend as much time as possible with them at the beginning.
As puppies grow and can control their bladders, you can start to leave them alone. Here is a guide on the maximum time you can leave your puppy alone based on age.
8 - 10 weeks: 1 hour
10 - 12 weeks: 2 hours
3 - 6 months: 3 hours
6 - 12 months: 4 hours
Final Thoughts
Leaving a puppy alone and going to work can be distressing for any pet owner. You will constantly want to know what your puppy is up to and will be worried about it.
As you learned, there are several ways in which we can address this issue and ensure your puppy is safe and comfortable alone at home.
Follow the above tips to create a safe and designated space for your dog.
Frequently Asked Questions
At What Age Can I Leave My Puppy Alone?
You can leave your puppy alone once it's three months old.
Is It Okay To Leave A Puppy Alone For 8 Hours?
Most experts believe the maximum number of hours to leave a dog alone is six to eight hours. You should leave your dog alone for at most eight hours.
Can I Leave My Puppy In A Crate While At Work?
You are leaving your puppy in a crate while at work is alright, but only if it is crate-trained.
PLEASE CONSULT YOUR VET OR A PROFESSIONAL DOG TRAINER WITH ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS.
