Tips to keep in mind when leaving your dog alone at home

We appreciate all the moments when we have time to sit, love, play and spend quality time with the furry family pet. But sometimes there are times when the dog must be left alone at home because, no matter how sociable, obedient and calm, we absolutely cannot take it everywhere with us. 😞

Inevitably, in those moments, it is not only the puppy who is affected, but so are we as adoptive parents, since the thoughts and worry that something could happen to our furry friend are always present.

We already know that every single dog needs affection, care and attention to feel good, and when the little furry friend finds himself alone at home, if he is not used to it, he can develop behavioral problems, such as aggression or anxiety, or he can exert energy on objects in the house, causing real disasters.

Luckily there are some precautions which can be taken when leaving a dog alone at home, which gives the necessary peace of mind but also guarantees the safety of the four-legged friend.

What are these?

First of all, it is important to make sure you store, in an inaccessible place, all the objects to which the quadruped should not have access.

• To avoid accidental ingestion of something harmful, both dangerous foods and objects that pose a risk must be out of sight of the furry friend.
• Great attention must also be paid to the garbage bin, which the quadruped will try to reach, either out of boredom, or out of curiosity, or because of the smells. So, make sure it is also placed in a place where the dog cannot reach.
• Naturally, cables and electrical wires can also represent a great temptation for a dog who has the whole house at his disposal and no one to spend time with. Therefore, to give safety to the small quadruped, and prevent it from starting to gnaw on the cables in the house, isolate them with special covers, hide them as much as possible or limit access to them.
• Another temptation for four-legged friends can be to discover new places or things in the house. The problem is not curiosity, but rather the objects that they can find, if the cupboards are not closed enough, objects that can harm the little quadruped. Try to limit its access, especially to cupboards or places where cleaning products, medicines or other products containing substances harmful to the animal are stored.

If the separation from your four-legged friend requires a longer period of time, the idea of ​​a pet sitter is not so bad because, by turning to a reliable, passionate person dedicated to animal care, you will be able to feel at ease even on the days when you are not together. Another advantage why it is advisable to contact a pet sitter or a person close to him is that, in this way, you will be able to maintain the dog’s routine to a certain extent. We already know how beneficial routine is in a dog’s life, both in terms of health and mental health, right?

Last but not least, when your dog is left alone at home, you need to make sure that he is active. Otherwise the dog will tend to seek alternative forms of entertainment to keep him occupied until his owners return. So when you leave the house, don’t forget to leave behind your dog’s favorite toys, dog-friendly chew accessories, or interactive reward toys. This way the dog will be engaged and will not give up until he has “earned” his delicious snack.

Another thing you need to consider is related to windows. To give him maximum safety, make sure you don’t leave the windows open because although cats in general have this habit, the dog could also jump out the window and start looking for his owner.

How can you make life easier for your four-legged friend when he is home alone?

Here are some useful tips, which will surely help the little furry friend to better overcome the period of loneliness:

• Make sure, before leaving, to prepare a safe place for him where he feels comfortable. Whether it’s his crib, your bed or your favorite rug, they need to be free for the furry family member. Also, where you know is his favorite place, we recommend leaving a t-shirt or any clothing that contains your perfume to make him feel safe.
• leave the TV on: it’s not a myth, it really works. A dog that is home alone but has the noise of the TV, radio or music in the background will be a calmer and more patient dog. In this way the dog will not feel truly alone and external noises will decrease.

What other tactics do you use when leaving your dog home alone?

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