Dogs shouldn’t be left alone for too long (Image: Getty)
Leaving your dog home alone isn’t a decision anyone wants to take, whether it’s for work or nipping out to visit a friend. Healthy adult pets can typically be left alone for 4-6 hours, with the absolute maximum being 8 hours.
Now one dog trainer has revealed a ‘big thing to consider’ when leaving your pet home alone. Heading out without your dog can leave you feeling concerned about how your four-legged companion will cope in your absence.
Dogs are naturally social animals, so it’s entirely normal for them to feel anxious when left by themselves, especially if it’s a new experience. Sometimes owners simply have no choice but to leave their dog at home – making it vital to teach your pet to feel comfortable when staying home alone at times.
Sarah Hodgson is a dog trainer, podcaster, pet behaviour consultant and author of several books, including Dog Anxiety for Dummies. She offers dog training services both in person and online, as well as regularly sharing guidance on social media.
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In a TikTok video, Sarah explained: “When thinking about leaving your dogs home alone, here is a big thing to consider. When you leave the house you want them to be relaxed. You don’t want them to feel agitated, anxious, aggressive.”
She outlined if you leave dogs in a room with wide open windows overlooking the hallway or street, they will “assume the role of border patrol” – meaning every time something passes by or they hear a noise, they’ll “react in a territorial fashion.”
The dog trainer explored how dogs naturally behave, especially those with guarding instincts. Offering three steps, Sarah advises that when leaving your dog home alone, creating a secure and soothing environment for your pet is essential, such as a crate or designated room, ensuring it feels “comforting” to them.
She also suggests employing sound-cancelling music or audio to eliminate noises from outside your home.
The dog trainer then encouraged owners to stay calm when arriving home. She added: “When you come in you want it to be a joyous occasion but keep your energy level calm and they’ll mirror what you’re modelling.”
In the caption of her TikTok video, Sarah noted that establishing a “calmer home alone routine means a more relaxed dog throughout the day”, which proves beneficial in numerous situations, such as receiving guests or going out for walks.
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Reinforcing her advice, Dogs Trust, the UK’s foremost dog welfare charity, provided its own recommendations on helping dogs adapt to being left alone.
It stated: “Before leaving your dog home alone, you need to teach them that it is alright and that they will be able to cope on their own. The more you do this before you actually need to leave the house, the easier it will be when you do.”
Dogs Trust advocates several practical steps, such as providing a comfortable bed, establishing a “doggy den”, utilising baby gates to gradually introduce your pet to periods of separation, and encouraging your dog to settle calmly while you are busy, rather than rewarding them with attention each time they follow you around.
The charity further recommends gently getting your dog used to spending increasingly longer periods alone, both while you remain at home and when you venture out.