While You Are Out…6 Tips For Leaving A Dog Home Alone

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Of course, we’d love to be able to take our dogs with us wherever we go but unfortunately, this just isn’t always possible.  There will be times when your dog will need to be left at home alone.  Be sure to prepare your dog for these times.  Here are some tips to keep your dog safe while you are out, leaving your dog home alone.

Tips For Leaving Your Dog Home Alone

1. Crate train your dog.

Crate training your dog is one of the best things that you can do for him.  Done in a positive way, a crate can be a pleasant and safe place for your dog.  Especially when your dog is young, a crate is the safest place for him while you are not with him. It prevents him from developing bad habits like chewing things or destroying things. It keeps him safe while avoiding developing bad habits.

There are some things to keep in mind, though, when your dog is crated:

• Never wear a collar on your dog when he is in a crate. 
• Never put anything in your dog’s crate that he could destroy and swallow. 
• Also be careful of anything that could be a choking hazard. 
• Never use your dog’s crate as a form of punishment. 

It is very important to keep your dog’s crate a happy and safe place.   It’s a good idea to have a friend or family member check in on your dog and let him out for a pee break through the day, especially when he’s young.

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2. Hire a dog sitter or a dog walker. 

If you are going to be gone for long periods during the day, it would be a good idea to interview dog walkers or hire a dog sitter to stay with your dog.  This would help to break up the day for your dog.  It would keep him from becoming bored while you are out.

Be sure to interview your dog walker or dog sitter and check references as well.  You want to make sure that your dog’s safety and well being is the number one priority of anyone who is taking care of your dog.  Make sure that you hire someone with experience who truly loves dogs and someone that your dog likes and responds well to.  Make sure that your dog walker or dog sitter has a set schedule so that way your dog can have a routine even when you aren’t able to be there.

3. Dog proof your home.

Dogs can get bored quickly when left alone.  Things that they normally wouldn’t bother look very interesting to them all of a sudden.  When leaving your dog home alone it is very important to take a look around your home to make sure that there isn’t anything within your dog’s reach that could harm him. Make sure anything toxic is locked up, garbage cans are securely shut and make sure that anything that could prove to be a choking hazard is outside of his reach.  Conceal electrical cords and make sure that they can’t reach any blind or curtain cords.

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4. Go high tech!

If you are concerned about leaving your dog at home alone you can install cameras in your home.  There are cameras available now that allow you to talk to your dog. There are also cameras that can allow you to dispense treats to your dog!  How awesome is that!  You may not be at home with him but it’s the next best thing to actually being there with him.  You can confine your dog to the room that has the camera in it or install several cameras throughout your house so that you can keep an eye on him.

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5. Provide your dog with some entertainment.

A bored dog can become a destructive dog.  Prevent that from happening by taking your dog for a long walk. A good session of fetch before you leave will also work.  A tired dog is a good dog!  Providing some background noise for your dog by leaving a TV or radio on for them will help prevent anxiety about being alone.  Make sure that your dog has a chew toy or an interactive dog toy to entertain him while you are gone.  A kong with some peanut butter or a treat dispensing toy are good options. They will help to entertain him for a while. Never leave a toy out for your dog that he could chew up and potentially choke on though.

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6. Never leave your dog outside alone while you are gone.

If you have a kennel or outdoor run, your dog may enjoy some outdoor time with you in the fenced in area.  When you are gone, your dog should remain safely inside of your home.  Even if your fence is high enough that he can’t get over it and secure enough that he can’t dig under it, there are many other risks when leaving your dog unattended outside.  The biggest risk is that he could be stolen from your yard.  He may also develop some negative behaviors such as barking or lunging at the fence if someone walks past.

Final Thoughts

Most dogs will eventually get used to being left home alone while you are at work or if you have to go out to run errands.  The key is to start off with short periods of time home alone and work your way up.  Make sure that he get lots of exercise when you are at home with him.

If you work long hours each day, look into other options besides leaving your dog home alone all day.  There are many reputable doggie daycares now.  If you work long hours or if your dog doesn’t do well left at home alone, this would be a good option to check out.  You need to research several daycares to see which is the best fit for your dog. A low dog to employee ratio would be ideal. You will also want to find a doggy day care that has employees that are trained in dog behavior.

Find out what works for your dog

You know your dog best.  Choosing the best option for him while you are gone is something that you can experiment with. Find out what works best for you and your best friend!

How do you entertain your dog when you are gone out? Let me know in the comments below.

Related article:  5 EasyTips To Prevent Dog Boredom