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.
Once your dog reaches three months old, they can usually hold it for an hour for each month they've been alive. After six months, dogs can usually hold it for up to six hours. However, even adult dogs shouldn't be home alone for much longer than six to eight hours without a chance for a bathroom break.
After a certain period of time, it becomes cruel to do this. Puppies can't hold their bladders or bowels for very long. The maximum time they should be in their crate is 4 hours. You need to either take him out on your lunch break or find a pet sitter who will come by and help and let them have a potty break.
You'll want to schedule a few short training sessions each day to teach and practice their commands. With young puppies, you may only be able to hold their attention for 5-10 minutes at a time, and about 10-15 minutes with older puppies.
From 3-6 months, they should not be left longer than their age in months (for example, 3-month-old puppies cannot be alone for longer than 3 hours). If possible, dogs older than 6 months should not be left alone for longer than 4 hours at a time.
Yes, but the amount of time you can depends on the dog. The general rule of thumb is not to leave your dog alone for more than six hours, but it's even less for puppies or senior dogs.
Impawtant Note: While it's common for dogs to sleep in crates at night, we don't recommend that you keep your dog in a crate for more than a couple hours during the day. Before you go back to the office, make sure your dog is fully potty trained so they do not have to stay in a crate at all while you're gone.
Many families may have one crate that they use in the bedroom at night and in the living room or home office during the day. In this case it is absolutely fine to move the crate during the day. Your puppy will be more likely to fall asleep without whining if he is close to you and not by himself in a different room.
Why Do Dogs Whine In Their Crate? Dogs will whine in their crate for a number of reasons including boredom, loneliness, fear, anxiety, or they need to be let outside. All of these reactions are perfectly normal, and it is your job as an owner to make your pup feel comfortable and get used to their new crate.
The solution is to keep your puppy safe within a playpen, but in an area that's large enough to hold their bed, toys, and a corner for puppy pads. Encourage and praise the puppy to use the pads as a toilet.
If your puppy is 5 months old for example, then they will be needing 25 minutes of puppy exercise at a time, and up to two to three times daily.
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.
Interrupt Playtime
In some cases, letting out a loud noise will make your puppy even more excited, and they might continue to bite. At this point, ignore your puppy, stop any interactions and walk away. Stopping playtime abruptly is far more effective than yelling at your puppy or punishing them.
While your dog will remember you leaving the house, they most likely won't understand how long you were away. When dogs are left alone, sometimes they become stressed (stemming from their separation anxiety), indicating that they have an awareness of the passage of time.
Many dogs will consider the crate their bedroom, using it to sleep and enjoy some alone time. You can usually stop closing your dog into your crate when they are around two years of age.
Place the crate in an area of your house where the family spends a lot of time, such as the family room. Put a soft blanket or bed in the crate. Take the door off or keep it propped open and let the dog explore the crate at their leisure. Some dogs will be naturally curious and start sleeping in the crate right away.
Your dog shouldn't see their crate as a place of isolation.
Put the crate in a commonly used room during the day. If your pup is using the crate at nighttime, have it in your bedroom. Your pup will have the comfort of your sounds and scent, plus you can hear if they need to go out for a potty break.
My preference is to allow your dog to sleep out of a crate around 4-5 months and to be free completely before a year. Your dog should be housetrained; which means you know how long your dog can hold his bladder and he knows how to ask to go outside to go.
Teaching Alone Time
In the beginning, even one or two minutes might feel too long for your puppy, but over three or four days, you should be able to build up to fairly long periods.
Caged dog syndrome occurs when dogs are confined to small, cramped spaces without interaction for prolonged periods of time without any relief. This can lead to severe physical and mental trauma, including a lack of socialization, mental stimulation, and proper training.
They may also vocalize when family members go out of sight for short or long periods of time, such as to the bathroom or work. Also, the puppy may cry if they are separated from other dogs that they have bonded with in the household.
2 months: An hour or less. Yep, puppies really need us at this age, and they also need to go for wees far more often. 3 months: 2 hours tops – otherwise your puppy will likely leave puddles on the floor. 4 months: At this point, how long a puppy can stay alone can start matching their age – so 4 hours.
If you're wondering how to keep the dog entertained while you're at work, you can't go wrong with leaving out their favorite toys. This move helps dogs have fun and stay entertained as they await their owner's return. Pay attention to the toys your dog is always playing with and spread them out throughout their space.