15 Aug How to Leave Your Dog at Home While Working

How to Leave Your Dog at Home While Working

Regardless of how much time you spend with your dog, dog-parent guilt exists. One of the reasons we adore them so much is that we are the center of their universe.

We can’t bring them wherever we go, even if we wanted to. So for how long should you leave your dog alone?

Depends, is the reply.

It is not a yes-or-no inquiry. The length of time a dog may be left alone at home entirely depends on the dog, their age, and their mental and physical needs.

Consider the following before leaving your dog alone for longer than a few hours at a time.

The bladder control of your dog

Based on their bladder control, your dog will need to go outside more or less frequently. Similar to people, your dog’s frequency of bowel movements depends on factors including age, hydration, and physical make-up. Young pups and older dogs may require more frequent outside breaks.

How long your dog can home alone depend on their physical demands and what they are accustomed to. Create a schedule for you and your animal best buddy. Consider letting your dog out both right before you leave for the day and right after you get home.

Pet’s emotional requirements

Is your dog a couch potato or an active pet? Do they like snuggling on your lap more than playing fetch for hours on end? Do they need to engage with others or do they prefer to be alone?

The amount of daily exercise and human connection your dog need from you will also determine how long they can be home alone. Perhaps they like spending the long hours curled up on your bed while you’re gone. Or perhaps they require safe chew toys and daily two-mile walks.

Grab hold of the necessities

When you leave your dog home alone, make sure they have food and water. Ensure that your dog has a sizable dish that can hold a day’s worth of water. To prevent spills and thirsty pups, some pet parents use a spill-proof dish.

You could choose to feed your dog in the morning before you leave for work and provide them dinner after you get home in the evening when you return to the workplace. Get an automated feeder if that isn’t the case so you can manage when and how much Fido eats.

Your dog may be able to have access to a bowl of food all day, but this might result in overeating and other undesirable behaviors. Try out several feeding strategies while you’re still working from home to determine which is most effective for you and your dog.

Additionally, your dog will want amusement throughout the day! Some toys that they could adore are:

• KONG toys keep your dog entertained as they attempt to bite into a goodie!
• Dogs benefit from the mental and physical stimulation that homemade snuffle mats offer, and crafty or frugal dog owners will love them.
• For dogs that need to monitor their weight, food-free toys are a wonderful option, such the Outward Hound Hide A Squirrel!

Fur fans love a good, old-fashioned, nearly empty jar of peanut butter as long as it doesn’t include the hazardous to dogs artificial sweetener xylitol.

Pet cams, which are essentially fur baby monitors, are popular among pet parents even though they’re not a need. These webcams allow you to keep tabs on your dog while you’re gone and make sure they’re alright without you.

Even better, some cameras allow for two-way audio and video communication so your dog can see and hear you. This enables you to correct their poor conduct or console them if they’re displaying signs of stress. A pet cam could be a wise investment if you’re going from spending all day with your pet to being apart from them for long periods of time.

Make a quick trip to the pet store so you have all the items you and your furry friend will require later.

How to make their alone time better

You may make your dog feel happier or more pleased while you’re away by controlling how it spends its alone time. Additionally, it gives you some mental stability.

Several possibilities are:

• Hire a dog walker, even for a few hours each week.
• Canine daycare (one time a week can make a difference)
• Distribute toys with cerebral stimulation, such as treat puzzles.
• Keep the radio or TV on
• Get a new animal (only works if they get along)
• Train them in crates. Dogs in kennels can be alone for extended periods of time, especially if they have been effectively housebroken.

Conclusion

Finally, keep in mind that you are entering into a long-term partnership when you bring a new dog home. A time commitment to your new family member should be made. It is possible to have a hectic schedule, a full-time job, and a pet; you may simply need to be resourceful to meet their demands.