How long can a dog be left alone?

It depends. How long your dog can stay home alone completely depends on your dog, their age, and their physical and emotional needs. Your dog’s physical needs and what they’re used to determines how long they can stay home alone. Your dog’s emotional needs Is your dog active or are they a couch potato. How long your dog can stay home alone also depends on what daily exercise and interaction they need from you. Young puppies and elderly dogs likely need more frequent breaks outside. Dogs are social and typically prefer to be with others. Some may always struggle with being alone. When a dog doesn’t know how to self-soothe or cope, they may turn to chewing or clawing stuff around the house, or barking or howling. If you notice a behavior change in your pet due to being alone too long, it could be a sign to take some action. Kenneled dogs can stay alone longer, especially if they’re properly crate trained. Working full-time or having a busy life and owning a pet is doable, you may just have to get creative to ensure their needs are being met. Before leaving your dog alone for more than a few hours at a time, consider the following. Try letting your dog out last thing before you leave for the day and first thing when you get home.