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7 Steps To Improve Your Dog’s Alone Time

A dog is sleeping with white blanket and text "Improve Your Dog’s Alone Time"

A blog post on 7 Steps To Improve Your Dog’s Alone Time.

It takes lots of time, patience, and positive reinforcement to train dogs with separation anxiety to live on their own, but it is not impossible. As a result, you need to teach your dogs to be left alone. Ensure they learn how to be comfortable with being in their own company.

You will spare your dog undue stress or anxiety later on in life if you take the time to teach them that being alone is not something to fear.  

While working on the 7 Steps To Improve Your Dog’s Alone Time described below. It helps if your dog is never left alone for extended periods. You must be able to leave your dog alone for some time. So making sure that your dog is comfortable and happy being left alone is essential.

1. Help with separation anxiety

Dog lonely alone
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To help with separation anxiety, your dog might need more time to adjust to being left alone. As well as more training, before being left home alone. If your dog has never learned to be calm while at home alone for different amounts of time. He or she could be developing separation anxiety – it is a difficult condition to treat. 

Learning to stay home alone is a crucial part of dog training. It will help to keep your dog from ever becoming anxious when left alone — otherwise known as separation anxiety.

2. Tire them out before going

Man looking at his dog holding ball in mouth
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When you do leave your dog home alone, he or she is likely to go to sleep. Provided that they are physically and mentally tired enough. The best thing you can do before leaving your dog home alone is to make sure that your dog has had a little bit of activity beforehand. 

When you get your new dog home, begin this process by leaving him or her alone in your house for just five minutes at a time.

3. Solo Training of your dog

Sad and thoughtful little puppy of basenji breed lays on bed, on lazy sunday morning, looks down and frowns.
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With regards to solo training, you should be working at your dog’s struggling speed. This is going to be the dog who is having the hardest time. It is best if you get them halfway through the dog’s solo time. So they can go outside to relieve themselves, helping them burn off some energy and relax. 

Taking the training at your dog’s pace and maintaining regular checkups with your veterinarian will also minimize fears about being alone.

4. Increase time and distance gradually

Close up on beautiful dachshund dog with chewing toy
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As your dog becomes more comfortable with the routine, gradually increase the distance and duration you move away. Don’t reward or reprimand your dog if he or she reacts or moves. 

You should have no problems leaving your dog for extended times once you’ve gotten to the point where they are fine to be left for up to an hour.

5. Make your presence known

Cute and little doggy posing cheerful in comfortable soft plaid
Image by master1305 on Freepik

Being the only dog, or having your dog sleep on your bed, does not present any problems in alone time, either. Since we cannot be around our pets twenty-four hours a day. It is important that you help your dog get used to being alone at home sometimes. 

Your dog will appreciate your presence, even if you’re not there in person. One way to make sure he feels your presence is to place one of your old t-shirts or sneakers on his bed so he can smell you. This has been shown to be a comforting scent for many dogs.

Puppies must gradually learn how to be left alone while their caregivers are leaving them longer and longer. 

6. Crate Training

various types of toys and food for dog
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The secret to successful crate training is making the crate a desirable place for your puppy. You can do this by making it a fun and comfortable space. 

While your puppy is in the crate, provide him with some chew toys and lavish him with praise. Make sure you never use the box to discipline your dog. Only positive reinforcement will help him learn to love his crate. 

Allow your puppy to go in and out of the crate as he pleases at first, so he doesn’t feel trapped. Once he’s familiar with his crate, start closing the door for 10-15 minutes at a time.

7. Dropping off at Doggie Daycare or Grooming Center

Young couple picking up their furry friend from dog care center
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If you must be away from home for a longer time, you can Improve Your Dog’s Alone Time by considering dropping off your dog at doggie daycare. Even in the modern, work-from-home economy, there are times you need to leave your dog at home on his own.

With over 5 years of experience working with dogs, the Supervet grooming center is a boarding center that caters to your pets in Kota. We at Supervet believe our furry friends deserve the very best. Therefore, we offer them organic food and grooming products to keep their furs healthy and shiny.

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