how long can you leave a dog alone in the house?
how long can you leave a dog alone in the house? Dogs are pack animals – so many of them don’t like to be alone. In everyday life, it is different but sometimes simply not possible. How long can you leave your dog alone with a clear conscience, such as going to work or going shopping?
First of all: A uniform answer to this question is unfortunately almost impossible in practice. A dog trainer said to “ Psychology Today ”: “A dog should be left alone as little as possible.” This is, of course, a very vague and individually interpretable statement.
Whether and how long your dog can stay alone depends on various factors. According to the ” Animal Humane Society, “this includes his age and his emotional and physical needs: For example, some dogs need more exercise in between to empty their bladders. Depending on age and health, some dogs need this more often than others. Your puppy or old dog will likely need to be let outside very often to relieve themselves.
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Some dogs are better at being alone than others.
The character of your dog also influences whether you can leave him alone. Is he more active or lazy? Can he run around for hours, or does he prefer to cuddle on the sofa? Dogs need different amounts of exercise and attention from their two-legged friends.
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But how do you know if you are leaving your dog alone for too long? A good indication of this can be behavioral changes in your darling: If he suddenly appears lethargic and depressed and no longer shows interest in his favorite activity, this is a first warning signal.
In behavioral changes like these, you should also consult a veterinarian to rule out medical causes.
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This is how your dog shows his loneliness.
On the other hand, your dog can also show that he feels neglected through destructive behavior. Dogs are social creatures; some of them cannot cope with loneliness.
If you don’t know how to calm yourself down or deal with it, this manifests itself, for example, by …
… nibble on furniture or other objects,
… scratch things,
… howl or bark.
The fact that dogs react stressed to being alone is completely natural. From an evolutionary point of view, this makes a lot of sense: If dogs were separated from their pack or mother, it often meant certain death for them. This is why many people still have this primal fear when they are abandoned. So be sure to show understanding for your dog’s reaction, no matter how irrational it may seem to you.
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Experts recommend these times of being alone.
Of course, you should, first of all, develop a feeling for how long you can leave your dog alone. Without an approximate guideline, this is particularly difficult for new dog parents.
Do you have a young dog? Then experts recommend leaving them alone for a maximum of two hours a day. Especially in the first few weeks in the new home, you should generally avoid leaving the puppy to itself for a long time.
For adult dogs, however, a rule of thumb is more difficult. According to “A Heart for Animals,” some believe that an otherwise busy dog sleeps four hours alone. Others even justify eight hours if the animal can guard its own garden that long. And two dogs that get along well and keep each other busy can be left alone for up to six hours.
Photo: Monique Wüstenhagen / dpa-tmn
Important: Regardless of whether you leave your dog alone at home for one or several hours – make sure that he has enough exercise in the remaining time. The four-legged friends must be able to let off steam to be fully utilized and adequately challenged.
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This is how you avoid your dog being alone.
Can’t prevent your dog from staying home without company for a few hours a day? Then one of the following options might be a good solution for you:
- Hire a dog sitter
- Give your dog to a dog boarding house.
- Keep the radio or television on
- Get a second animal – provided your dog gets along with it.
