A Guide To Teaching Your Dog To Stay Home Alone
When you first get a puppy, one of the things that will be a real struggle is leaving them alone in the home. The reason is simple — dogs can suffer from quite severe separation anxiety. That means that your pup may start to play up the very moment that you leave them alone. It’s not particularly fun to deal with but it’s something that every dog owner experiences. So, what should you do?
Affiliate links included below. Thanks for the support!
Well, luckily for you, there are ways in which you can teach your dog to relax when you leave. It won’t be easy but if you follow these tips, you should find that your pet starts to relax into the routine. Here are some of the ways you can teach your dog to be home alone.
Tip 1: Leave for short bursts
The very first time that you leave your dog alone, you don’t want to leave them for a long period. You need to ease your pet into things one step at a time. That means leaving for extremely short periods at a time. That way, your dog will know that it hasn’t been abandoned and that you will be home soon.
Related: 5 Signs your Dog Needs Obedience Training
Tip 2: Hide treats around the home
You will want to keep your pet busy while you’re out and about. One of the things that you may like to do is hide treats around the home for them to find. When you head out, your pet will be so busy trying to find the treats that they will hardly notice you’re gone. Genius!
Tip 3: Fill the house with noise
One of the major things that your dog will miss when you’re gone is the sound of you being nearby. This is a problem you can solve in an instant. Leave the radio or TV on in the next room when you leave. That way, your pet will think that someone is home with them and they won’t be so lonely.
Tip 4: Wear them out first
Another trick you may like to try is wearing your dog out right before you leave. You might want to take them for a walk or even a run! If your dog is tired out, they won’t have time to worry about where you are. In fact, they may even sleep through the entire thing!
Tip 5: Leave something that smells familiar
Your dog will, of course, miss your smell when you’re away! This is a major problem. You should leave something that smells like you so that they think you’re near them. You could leave a scarf in their bed, for example. This little trick really does work wonders.
Share your thoughts in the Comments section below, on our Facebook Page, Follow Our Twitter Account or Head Over To Our Pinterest Page!
