How to Prepare Your Dog to Be Left at Home Alone

Getting a pet might be one of the best decisions you have taken in your life especially for dogs. Dogs are known to be one of the most loyal pets and the best companions. Getting a dog at home would never make you feel alone or lonely. They are good at heart and will always encourage you to move to play with them or spend some time with them. Keeping a dog at home is a great way to ease your stress and shed off depression. According to some studies keeping dogs at home also helps to reduce the risk of heart disease up to a certain extent. There might be occasions when you and your family members need to go out while keeping your dog at home. We all know that dogs are emotional creatures and very much attached to humans. Hence leaving them alone could affect them mentally and end up affecting their behaviour as well. There are a few methods through which you can prepare your dog mentally to stay at home alone when you are not around.

Make a habit

It is important to get your dog into the habit of staying alone for some time or else it would be a surprise for him if leaving all of sudden. Make him walk out of the door alone for a while or be inside the home while you get out. Start with a few minutes first then you can increase the time gradually once your dog gets habituated to it. Once you come back home make sure you compensate for the loss of time. Take your dog for a walk or a long drive for some time.

Try a new engaging activity

You might be playing the same kind of game or going on the same route for a walk. Dogs are gifted with a strong-smelling sense. Hence once they get habituated with any human or any location, they tend to stick to it and any changes in it can make them more irritated. While leaving your dog alone make sure your dog would be comfortable if you are leaving him at some other location or with some other people. Make sure your dog gets acquainted with other humans and other things outside your home as well.

Let your dog take its own space

Your dog might be lying anywhere in the house or at his favourite place all day. You might have never considered creating a special space for your dog but now it is the time. You can either get a crate if he loves to sleep over matters with pillows. If you think he loves to roam around free in the house you can keep the arrangements for his food and other essentials accordingly. This will make your dog feel safer and he can be at home without any worries even when you are not there. You can get some food quizzes which can keep him engaged for hours. Apart from this, you can also invest in a few toys which would be another activity to keep him busy when you are not there. There are many websites where you can get dog toys online.

Other activities

This attention method can work while leaving your dog at home. Generally, dogs are not prone to control the washroom activities and if they are alone at home then these things can affect their behaviour especially if they have a habit of you taking them out for such activities. Make sure you take your dog out for a walk for peeing activity. Getting some fresh will also keep him calm till the time you are back. Apart from this, you can also try implementing the praising activity including the verbal and a bit of stroking once you come back home after spending long hours outside. This will make him understand what he will get in return if you are outside and eventually it will not bother him. Another habit that you can implement is try making him sleep in another separate room. It may sound tough initially but your dog will get used to it in the long run. Hence leaving him alone during the night won't be an issue with him once he gets habituated with it. Last but not least is to never punish your dog. If he does anything wrong in your absence then make sure you do not scold or punish him.