A walk twice a day is ideal. Also, games, puzzles and interactive toys are great for mental stimulation.” Here are some puzzle toys at Amazon to check out, for example. Some people leave the TV on to give their dogs some background noise, and there are videos made for dogs, including many, many on YouTube.
Leave your dog with a few toys to play with. This may include a Kong toy filled with his food, an interactive toy filled with treats, a plush toy to comfort him, a couple of chew toys to keep his mouth busy and a puzzle toy to keep him mentally stimulated. Here are some brain puzzles I highly recommend.
Preparing Your Dog for Your Return to Work
The length of the transition period—and methods—depend on the individual dog, but Ogata estimates it will take roughly a month to get your pup used to a new routine.
Adult dogs are generally okay on their own for 4-6 hours a day. But, many dogs are good at adapting to being alone for 8-9 hours while you are at work if they are provided with enough space to comfortably move around.
Some households have an easier time if there is another person in the home who has a slightly different schedule. It would appear that many dogs can adapt to being alone for 8-9 hours at a time provided they have a means to potty and have adequate room to move.
Most experts also agree that 8-10 hours should be about the longest period you can leave a dog alone, provided he has access to food and water.
Increases happiness—for humans and dogs
The converse is also true. Our dogs love that we're home and spend more time with them. Abikarram says “Having a puppy around while I work has definitely done wonders for my general happiness.”
In short, yes! Although owning a dog and working full time can sometimes be a challenge, many dogs do just fine at home during the day while you are working full time. However, all of your dog's biological needs must be met, otherwise you can end up with a destructive, frustrated, unhappy dog.
Dogs, it seems, can never get used to you leaving. After a while, they recognize certain cues of yours – walking towards the front door, looking for your keys, locking the bathroom, and so on – that notify them that you're about to disappear, and the panic begins to set in earlier rather than later.
If you're wondering what to do with a dog while at work to keep them entertained, you could look into the range of automated toys available for dogs. If your dog loves to catch a ball, a ball throwing machine can give them hours of fun out in the backyard.
Generally, dogs are expected to sit still in an office setting, which can be difficult for active dogs, leading to boredom (which, in turn, leads to problem behaviors like chewing up desk legs).
Dogs need social interaction throughout the day. Trainers and veterinarians generally agree that four hours is a comfortable amount of time for an adult dog to be left alone, according to Psychology Today, which can be problematic if you work full eight-hour shifts.
“Some dogs will do better with more alone time than others,” he says. That said, for a general guideline, dogs should get a minimum of two hours of dedicated social time with humans or other dogs on a daily basis, which can be broken up into chunks of time over the course of the day.
Most experts agree you shouldn't leave your adult dog alone for more than eight to 10 hours, but some dogs (especially ones with small bladders) can't last that long. DO prepare your dog before you go.
Don't leave your dog in the crate too long. A dog who's crated all day and night doesn't get enough exercise or human interaction and can become depressed or anxious.
But what we can do is replace their walks in the world with training, sniffing, chewing or indoor playtime. Having a rest day is often beneficial for the human-dog relationship as you tend to focus more on your time together, rather than completing the “chore” of a dog walk.
The generalisation from most dog experts is that dogs need about one to two hours of dedicated doggy time to maintain a strong Owner/dog bond. That can include feeding, playtime, training, grooming, and exercise, spread throughout the day.
Most dogs would choose to spend the majority of their time in our company. Some might actually prefer the company of their own kind, but what is certain, is that being alone just doesn't come naturally for most.
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. Learn more about treating canine separation anxiety.
There is some wiggle room, provided that your pooch has access to enough food and water, as well as a place to go potty if they need to. However, even if their basic needs are met, you shouldn't leave your pet alone and unsupervised for more than 8 hours a day.
Adult dogs shouldn't be left in crates for more than 6-8 hours. Puppies of 17 weeks and older can handle up to 4 or 5 hours in a crate at a time. Leaving a dog home alone in a crate longer than this can hurt their mental and physical health.