Yes, you can leave a puppy in a playpen while at work, as it provides a safe, contained space for them to play and relieve themselves, but it depends heavily on the puppy's age, bladder control, and the length of time you're gone, requiring frequent potty breaks and enrichment like Kong toys to prevent separation anxiety and accidents, ideally with a potty pad area in the pen for longer periods.
A crate, playpen, or puppy-proofed room are probably your best bets. These will let your puppy nap safely while you are out. A compromise would be a secure, covered outdoor dog kennel. There's nothing wrong with safely containing your puppy for a few hours when you can't supervise him.
She'll be fine. There are people who will say a dog can't be alone for this long, but they absolutely can. They spend most of their time sleeping. If it makes you feel better, get some cameras to keep an eye on her. Realistically, most dogs are alone 8-10 hours a day 5 days a week.
General Guidelines for Adult Dogs: Most adult dogs can handle being crated for about 4–6 hours during the day. Special Considerations for Puppies: Puppies need much more frequent breaks (every 2–3 hours) and may require a puppy pad setup with a playpen if you leaving them at home for work.
In general, you can leave a healthy puppy home alone when they are over 10 weeks old. However, this doesn't mean letting puppies roam free around your home. Before your puppy reaches this age, you can start crate training. This helps ensure that your puppy will be ready to handle being in a crate while you're at work.
The 777 Puppy Rule (or Rule of 7s) is a guideline for puppy socialization, suggesting that by seven weeks old, a puppy should experience seven different Surfaces, seven different Sounds, seven different Objects, seven different People, seven different Locations, seven different Containers, and seven different Challenges, all in positive, short, and safe ways to build confidence and resilience. It helps prevent fear and reactivity by creating positive associations with novel experiences during the critical socialization window (around 4-16 weeks).
Unlike the crate where you can't leave a young puppy for long periods; the puppy will be fine in the playpen and you can go out for longer periods. Just make sure your dog is ready before you leave for a long period so the puppy does not feel left alone form the start and associate that with the playpen itself.
You can hire a dog walker or pet sitter, entrust a family friend to stop by, or even shop around for doggy daycares in the area to keep your pup physically and mentally stimulated. If your pup stays home, consider dog-proofing the house, crate-training, leaving toys if safe, and investing in a pet cam.
The 10-10-10 rule for puppy potty training is a specific routine: 10 minutes outside in the designated potty spot, staying 10 feet away from the house/play area, followed by 10 minutes of focused supervision indoors to prevent accidents before the next potty break, creating a consistent cycle for success. This method ensures the puppy has ample time to eliminate and minimizes mistakes by closely monitoring them afterward, reinforcing good habits consistently.
If your pup is under 12 weeks, then you won't want to leave them alone for more than two hours. However, as soon as they hit the six-month mark, you should be confident leaving a puppy alone for 8 hours.
The 3-3-3 rule for dogs is a guideline for new owners, especially for rescues, showing a dog's typical adjustment phases: 3 Days (overwhelmed, decompression), 3 Weeks (settling in, learning routine, showing personality), and 3 Months (feeling at home, building trust, fully integrated). It's a framework to set expectations, reminding owners to be patient and provide structure, as every dog's timeline varies.
An hour for a dog feels much longer than an hour for a human because dogs perceive time more slowly due to their faster metabolism and heightened awareness of routines, so a 10-minute wait can feel like 70 minutes to them, and your hour-long absence feels like an eternity, though they don't grasp clock time but rather the intervals between events like meals, walks, and your return.
Dog breeds that tolerate being alone
The crate is to teach the dog where to sleep and where to not use the bathroom. It's hard for puppies to stay confined in crates for several hours so some people have a pen that provides more space. The crate is a tool for housebreaking, the pen is a tool to confine the dog but provide more space for movement and play.
Some lonely dog symptoms that are brought on by being home alone can include:
You might think your dog just sleeps all day, but they're also exploring, playing with their favorite toys, and keeping an eye on things out the window. You can keep your dog occupied with puzzle toys or treats to sniff out. It's also important to stick to a routine to help them feel less stressed.
12 Dog Breeds That Are Hard AF To Potty Train
Puppies poop far more often than adult dogs – in fact, up to three times more. Puppies are also more likely to poop directly after they've eaten, between 15 minutes to 30 minutes after feeding is the norm.
10 to 12 week old pups can usually hold it for around two hours. Three month old puppies can usually hold it for three hours. After six months, dogs can usually hold their bladder for up to six hours. Adult dogs shouldn't be home alone for much longer than six to eight hours without a chance for a bathroom break.
If your dog does not use a crate, gate them into a dog-proofed area. Generally, it's a good idea to keep your dog away from windows—especially if you live on a busy street. Observing passersby may cause your dog to bark anxiously and make their at-home environment more stressful.
First, crate train your puppy, and second, arrange for regular toilet breaks at appropriate intervals. Before leaving for work, play with your pup and take them out for a potty break. When they go, give the usual praise and reward. Then pop your pup into the crate with a safe chew toy.
How To Potty Train a Puppy
If your puppy is active and alert, it's far kinder to confine it in a playpen with pee pads if you must be away for longer than a few hours - that way, if they have a potty accident, it's no big deal.
Make sure the safe space you leave them during the day is filled with their favourite blankets and toys. Try a KONG toy, puzzle toy or a treat dispensing toy to keep them entertained while they aren't sleeping. You'll also want some heavy duty chew toys for your puppies teething period.
Teaching your dog that it's alright to be alone