How long can you leave a dog alone? 1 hour, 2 hours or all day long?
Having your dog around is awesome. But unfortunately, most owners can’t take their dogs with them 24/7.
So, understanding how long you can leave your dog home alone is really important. Not only that, but understanding how you can help him feel more comfortable when home alone will make life easier for both of you.
In this article, we’ll look at both aspects.
Table of Contents
How long can you leave a dog alone?
If you could, you’d spend all day with your dog. But you have to work and you have a life outside of your home, so that’s just not realistic.
That means that there will be times when you’ll need to leave your dog home alone. There are no two ways about it!
But how long exactly can you leave a dog home alone? And is it really okay to leave your dog by himself in the house at all?
If you’re wondering how long you can leave your dog by himself at home, then you’ve come to the right place.
Ideal scenario
In an ideal world, your dog wouldn’t need to be home alone longer than an hour or two while you run an errand. But that’s most likely not possible.
You have to go to work to pay for his food, toys, and all your own bills and needs, after all!
So what exactly does the ideal scenario look like?
The best-case scenario is for dogs to not be left home alone for more than four hours. As long as your dog has enough food and water, you can add or take away an hour or so there.
Of course, this will also depend on your dog’s age. Adult dogs should ideally not spend more than 4 hours alone per day. Puppies, on the other hand, should spend even less time alone, especially if they’re very young.
Can a dog be left alone for 8 hours?
The ideal scenario is to not leave your dog home alone for more than 4 hours. But what about those days where you need to leave him alone longer?
If you’ve got the classic 9-5 work schedule, you might be wondering if it’s okay to leave your dog alone for those 8 hours.
The short answer to this question is yes. The longer answer is yes, but this is the maximum amount of time he should be alone.
If you’re going to be leaving your dog alone for more than 4 hours, then you need to make sure you’re tiring him out beforehand. You’ll also want to avoid separation anxiety as much as possible. Here are some related articles on the subject:
- Do Puppies Grow Out of Separation Anxiety?
- 9 Signs and Symptoms for Separation Anxiety in Dogs
- How to Crate Train a Dog with Separation Anxiety
Is it cruel to leave a dog alone all day?
Even though you should never leave a dog alone for more than 8 hours, you can do it if absolutely necessary. However, you should try not to do it often.
Leaving dogs home alone all day can lead to separation anxiety. This can be a really challenging issue to deal with.
Dogs are social creatures that need companionship. So, even if you’re giving him enough food and water while you’re gone, he’s not getting companionship when you’re gone.
If you really do need to be away from the house for long periods of time, hiring a dog walker can help. You might also want to consider signing your dog up for daycare.
Can you leave a dog alone overnight?
You know you can’t leave your dog home alone during the day for more than 8 hours. But what about nighttime?
If you’re only leaving your dog home alone at night, that will most likely be okay. The 8 hours maximum rule still applies, but it’s still possible to leave your dog alone at night.
Dogs are diurnal, which means they’re up and moving during the day. Most dogs will sleep easily through the night.
If your dog struggles to sleep through the night, then you’ll want to check out these related articles:
- Why Do Dogs Bark at Night? Mystery Resolved
- Why Is My Dog So Hyper at Night?
- Help! My Puppy Won’t Sleep at Night
How long are you legally allowed to leave your dog alone?
You should try to leave your dog home alone as little as possible. But there are times where you’ll need to leave him alone for several hours.
So how long can you legally do that?
Well, the laws will vary depending on where you live. You should make sure to check your local legislations to see how long you’re able to leave your dog alone legally.
With that said, however, you should never leave your dog alone longer than 8 hours. If you need to, then it’s time to sign him up for daycare or hire a pet-sitter.
How to help your dog stay home alone
There will be times when leaving your dog home alone is inevitable. If you want to make sure your dog can stay home alone safely, make sure you follow these tips.
Get him used to being alone very slowly
When it comes to any type of training, slow and steady is the way to go. Don’t throw your dog into the deep end and leave him alone for 8 hours right off the bat.
Keep working your way up until your dog is able to stay home alone for a few hours. Remember, ideally you’re not leaving him alone for more than 4 hours or so. When you do leave, make sure he has all the food and water he needs.
It can take a bit of time for your dog to get used to being alone, but don’t try to rush him. Go at your dog’s own pace. This will keep him comfortable and help prevent separation anxiety.
Only leave for a few seconds at first
Starting slow is important for this type of training. But how slow exactly should you go? Well, the answer is very, at least at first.
If your dog isn’t used to being alone at all, then you shouldn’t leave him alone for more than a few seconds at first. Practice by going out the door and closing it completely. Wait a few seconds and reward your dog for being patient and quiet.
One thing you might want to consider doing as you’re doing this training is crate training your dog. Crating your dog will help make sure he’s safe and can’t get into trouble while you’re away.
For information on crate training, here’s how to crate train a dog easily in 13 steps.
Slowly increase the time you’re gone
If you’re able to leave and shut the door for a few seconds without your dog freaking out, you can start leaving for a bit longer.
Try leaving your dog alone for about a minute. If he’s quiet and calm when you come back in, give him a reward. If he starts barking or crying, then it might be time to shorten the duration again.
Keep working at your dog’s pace until you’re able to leave him alone for several minutes at a time. With patience, you’ll be able to leave your dog alone for a few hours.
Make sure he’s tired before you’re leaving
One of the issues many dog owners run into when leaving their dogs home alone is their dog becoming destructive. This is a major sign of separation anxiety. It can also be a sign of boredom.
If you’re going to be leaving your dog alone for several hours, then you need to make sure that you’re tiring him out enough. That way, he should just sleep and relax while you’re gone.
For some useful information of tiring out your dog, take a look at these articles:
- How Much Exercise Should a Puppy Get?
- 11 Tips to Keep Your Dog from Being Bored When Home Alone
- 11 Tips to Tire Out a Dog (Quickly)
How long can you leave a 1-year-old dog alone?
The amount of time that you can leave a dog home alone depends largely on his age. You should not leave puppies home alone for more than an hour or two.
But once your dog hits about a year old, he’s considered an adult. At this point, you can leave him alone for a little longer—with the proper training, of course.
Adult dogs can be left alone for between 4 to 6 hours a day, with 8 hours being the absolute maximum.
How long can you leave a dog alone in a crate?
Your dog’s crate is a great place where he can hang out alone. But how long exactly can you leave him in it?
You really shouldn’t leave your dog alone in his crate for longer than a few hours. Your dog needs to be able to walk around and stretch. If you need to leave him in the crate for the full 8 hours while you’re working, hiring a dog walker while you’re away will help.
How long can you leave 2 dogs alone?
One of the reasons you don’t want to leave a dog home alone is because they need companionship. But what if you have two dogs?
You still don’t want to leave them alone for much longer than 4 hours. After all, you’re an important part of their pack, and they both want to spend time with you!
Conclusion
You may not want to leave your dog home alone, but there will be times where you have to. When those times come, it’s important to make sure you know how long you can leave him alone. It’s also really important to make sure that you know how to leave him alone safely.
Work with your dog to teach him that being alone isn’t a bad thing. And remember not to leave your dog alone longer than 8 hours maximum.
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