Puppies are social animals so they don't respond well to being alone for long periods of time. Having a pet sitter or someone you know, such as a friend or neighbour, spend time with your puppy when you're working is a great way to lower the risk of boredom or separation anxiety.
Their young bodies and brains are still developing, and leaving them alone for too long can lead to behavioral issues and conditions like separation anxiety. No dog should be left alone for a full 8-hour workday.
Conclusion: If you work full time but want a dog, go ahead, but make sure to proceed with care. Try to get a more independent breed, the younger, the better, or a rescue that's used to being alone.
While it is definitely more of a challenge to raise a new dog or puppy while you're working full time, it isn't impossible. Puppies have a lot of needs, so you need to be able to make adjusts to your lifestyle and routine to successfully raise the new dog.
Eight hours should always be the absolute maximum you leave your puppy home alone – and only once they are over six months old. However, if your pup is outside or has access to the yard for a bathroom break, they may be okay being left alone for eight hours from a younger age.
Young puppies under six months shouldn't really be left alone for more than two hours. And it's a good idea to build up the time they spend alone gradually to prevent separation anxiety from setting in. When you do leave your puppy alone, it's a good idea to crate train them, or leave them in a puppy-proofed room.
At what age will the puppies be able to leave their mother to go to their new homes? No puppy should leave their mother until they are at least eight weeks old. Some breeders will keep the puppy for slightly longer if they think it is a benefit to the puppies' social development.
Consider doggy daycare
If your dogs don't do well at home alone or you work long hours, doggy daycare is an excellent option. Even if it's just a few times a week, daycare can make a huge difference — your pup can socialize with other dogs, play, and get the exercise they need.
The study was able to demonstrate that dogs were more excited and less frustrated when they were performing tasks, rather than just receiving a random reward. They also showed a preference for food over the other rewards.
Having a pet sitter or someone you know, such as a friend or neighbour, spend time with your puppy when you're working is a great way to lower the risk of boredom or separation anxiety. If possible, have someone stop by every couple of hours while you're gone if your puppy is younger.
How long is it okay to leave a dog in a crate? 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.
Up until your puppy reaches the age of four months, it should not be left alone for longer than two hours.
A good rule of thumb is that puppies can usually hold their urine for their age in months plus one, converted to hours. In other words, a 3-month-old puppy can generally go four hours without urinating.
Pooches with this type of personality are eager learners and don't rely on their owner to keep them company throughout the day. Dog breeds that can be left alone for long periods include Labrador and Golden Retriever, Beagle, Peekapoo, or Shiba Inu.
Pick a room of the house for your dog. If your dog isn't comfortable in a crate or you don't want to use one, but you also don't want your pup having free run of the house while you're out, consider making up a room just for them or penning off a portion of your room with a pet fence.
Ability to Hold Urine – 12-week-old puppies can generally hold their urine for about 4 hours. This means you will need to take them out at least every 4 hours to get them “housebroken”. Intelligence – 12-week-old puppies are very interested in their environment.
Take the age of your puppy in months and add one, and that is the maximum number of hours that your puppy should be able to comfortably hold it between potty breaks. A 3-month-old puppy plus one equals 4 hours that they should be able to stay in the crate without a mess.
10-12 weeks: Bladder capacity is increasing, but 2 hours is still the longest that most puppies can hold it at this stage. 3-6 months: At this point, consider the one hour per month rule. Three-month-old puppies can wait for three hours, four-month-old puppies for four hours, and so on.
A dog can also complement a single's lifestyle, and even help their personal life. “It's a great booster for your self-esteem, a great way to get out in the world, walk, exercise, and be social,” she says.
It's not uncommon for new puppy owners to experience a period of regret about getting a dog. This is because puppies are really hard work – something that often takes new puppy parents by surprise. A survey of first-time dog owners commissioned by Our Family Dog found that most people struggle with their new puppy.
Stage 5: Adolescence (6 – 18 months) This can be the most difficult time during a puppy's development – adolescence. Your cute little puppy is becoming a teenager and will start producing hormones which may result in changes in behaviour.