How do you train your dog to be calm when you leave?

Dogs are social and typically prefer to be with others. 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. Managing how your dog spends its time alone can help your pup feel more satisfied or fulfilled while you’re away. Some options include: Hire a dog walker, even a day or two per week. Doggy day care (one time a week can make a difference). Provide mentally stimulating toys such as treat puzzles. Leave on the TV or radio. Get another pet (only works if they get along). Crate train them. Kenneled dogs can stay alone longer, especially if they’re properly crate trained. Set a routine for your furry best friend that works for you both. Try letting your dog out last thing before you leave for the day and first thing when you get home.

Teaching a dog to cope when home alone should ideally start when they are still a puppy. 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. Make sure they have a comfy bed or build them a doggy den, teach your dog to settle down calmly when you are busy, rather than giving them attention when they follow you around, use baby gates across doorways to introduce time apart, leave them with a long-lasting treat or toy that releases food, slowly increase the time you leave them alone while you’re in the house, start to build up the time you leave the house for, factor some time apart into your daily routine. It’s important to build up time apart very gradually and associate it with something positive, like a long-lasting treat. Monitor how your pup responds, and shorten the time left if they show any signs of anxiety. Before you leave your dog at home, there are a few things you can do to help them feel calm and relaxed. Take your dog for a long walk before you go out, make sure they have everything they need, don’t make a fuss when you leave or return, don’t tell your dog off, don’t leave them on their own for too long. At first, you should increase the time you are away from your dog very gradually, a few minutes is enough to start with.