{"id":2536,"date":"2023-06-14T10:27:59","date_gmt":"2023-06-14T10:27:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/?p=2536"},"modified":"2025-10-31T12:24:46","modified_gmt":"2025-10-31T12:24:46","slug":"guide-for-working-dog-owners-leaving-your-dog-alone-at-home-safely","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/pet-care\/guide-for-working-dog-owners-leaving-your-dog-alone-at-home-safely\/","title":{"rendered":"Guide for Working Dog Owners: Leaving Your Dog Alone At Home Safely"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Juggling a job and personal life is tough enough. When you add a four-legged friend into the mix things often become chaotic beyond measure. If the very thought of leaving your dog alone at home gives you separation anxiety, this is the right article for you!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep reading to find out how to manage your job and dog successfully.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Challenges of Leaving Your Dog Alone<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2538\" src=\"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/WhatsApp-Image-2023-06-14-at-15.08.27-2.jpeg\" alt=\"Golden retriever sitting on a beige rug with a torn up cushion by his side, cotton stuffing and toilet paper flying all around him. Leaving dogs alone can result in zoomies, chewing and destructive behaviour.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"899\" \/><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first obvious challenge is leaving your dog alone at home while you go to work from 9 to 5 (at least).\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your dog will be free to roam the house and wreak havoc whenever they desire.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your pet can fall sick while you are at work.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They may <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/pet-health\/common-injuries-in-dogs-at-home\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">chew or eat something toxic<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Or, get a foreign object lodged in their stomach or intestines.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your dog may even get hurt while doing dog things, such as jumping off the couch, climbing stairs or simply climbing under the furniture.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leaving Your Dog Alone At Home: The Solutions\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are a few tips and tricks for working dog owners to ensure their pooch remains happy and healthy staying alone for long hours.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pick The Right Breed Of Dog<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you want to leave your dog home while you are away for 8+ hours, you need to pick a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.womansday.com\/life\/pet-care\/g29124972\/dogs-that-can-be-left-alone\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">breed that\u2019s less prone to separation anxiety<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Choosing a dog with a low energy level and less necessity for a workout is also a good decision.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, if you live in an apartment and need to leave for work 5 days a week for 8+ hours you should NEVER pick a working breed like shepherds or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/pet-parents\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-beagle-breed\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hounds (including beagles)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Go with calmer breeds like the Chow Chow, Chihuahua, French Bulldog or Lhasa Apso.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2539\" src=\"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/WhatsApp-Image-2023-06-14-at-15.08.27-1.jpeg\" alt=\"A Chow Chow puppy sitting at an angle. Chow chows are calmer and they are more-or-less alright with their owners leaving them alone for a short while.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"899\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the same time, train them since their puppyhood by leaving them alone for at least 10 minutes every day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do not leave puppies younger than 7-8 months alone for longer than 20 minutes!<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Give Them The Right Training to Prevent Separation Anxiety<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As our patrons say they have always begun separation training when their dogs were really young. Once your dog is old enough, try leaving them alone for 20 mins. Increase the duration gradually as your dog grows older.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Introduce them to crates when they are new in your household. Make a positive association between your pooch and their crate to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/pet-health\/how-to-cure-anxiety-in-dogs-medication-and-behavioural-training\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">rule out separation anxiety in dogs<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They should not see the crate as a punishment or confinement. Put their favourite toy and blanket inside the crate, and encourage them to enter the crate on their own.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Drape a blanket or bed sheet on the crate to create a cosy nook.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Make it a habit for them to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.petmd.com\/dog\/general-health\/crate-training-puppies\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">enter and stay inside the crate<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> every time they come back from a walk. It should make it much easier for you to leave your dog alone for longer periods.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Remember &#8211; a tired dog is always a happy dog<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They should expend a large part of their energy while walking, running or playing before you leave for work. Once they are tired, they will go to their crate and you can expect them to remain asleep for the larger part of the 8 hours you are at work.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Get At Least One Camera To Monitor Your Pet\u2019s Activities<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not knowing how and what your pet is doing can drive you nuts, especially since they can indeed fall sick or hurt themselves.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s a good idea to invest in one or more cameras that you can monitor remotely. Some pet parents prefer cameras that also have a separate remote speaker feature.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2540\" src=\"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/WhatsApp-Image-2023-06-14-at-15.08.27.jpeg\" alt=\"A fawn labrador with striking yellow eyes looking up at the camera. the dog is outside the main house, but within safe boundaries. He has food and water bowls, near his kennel, with nothing breakable in sight. If you are leaving your dog alone, you may consider such a set-up.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"899\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Studies have shown, most pets will stop destructive behaviour once they hear their owner\u2019s voice commanding them from the speaker. It is indeed a doodad worth purchasing and installing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can see what they do when you leave them alone right on your phone or laptop. If you see anything out of the ordinary you can always return home and take care of the problem.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep the contact details of the best <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vetic.in\/pet-emergency-care-near-me\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">emergency and critical care vet clinic<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> near you handy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep Everything \u201cInteresting\u201d Under Lock And Key<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You will need to puppy-proof your home when you get a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/pet-parents\/a-guide-for-new-pet-parents\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">new four-legged member<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. As they grow you will need to move things around so they cannot reach toxic things such as coffee, chocolate and plants.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some breeds such as the Dachshund and French bulldog are small, but they can go to great lengths to get on the dining table or kitchen counter for forbidden treats.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So you need to keep things your dog finds attractive inside locked cupboards. This may include anything between sandals and chocolates. Keep your plants on the balcony or hand them from your windows.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep laundry baskets and garbage bins locked inside the bathroom and the fresh laundry inside your wardrobe. Since socks and underwear are definitely extremely attractive for some dogs. And with bad luck, these get lodged in the dog&#8217;s intestines.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Follow a proper puppy-proofing and dog-proofing guide to make your home a safe haven for your dog while you are away.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rearrange Your Home To Make It Safe While Your Dog Is Alone<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even after <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluecross.org.uk\/advice\/dog\/wellbeing-and-care\/how-to-puppy-proof-your-home-and-garden\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">puppy-proofing or dog-proofing your home<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, you might find your dog trying to leap off couches, tables and beds. It\u2019s especially risky if you have a small breed dog.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2541\" src=\"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/WhatsApp-Image-2023-06-14-at-15.08.26-1.jpeg\" alt=\"A husky sitting on a green carpeted floor looking up at the camera surrounded by a mess of TP. Leaving a dog breed such as a Husky alone can lead to devastating circumstances.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"899\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Think about arranging your furniture that gives them easy access to their comfort zone without the risk of falling off.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Well you may have trained your dog to stay off your bed and couch, but we all know what happens when you leave home! You can totally expect your pup to be a little naughty and curious.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some dog owners install tiny dog stairs for their fur babies to access their beds.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remove any breakable items from their reach. Rearrange your home as if you have a highly energetic and naughty toddler!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Doggy Daycare Is a Viable Option<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you already have a dog who simply hates staying alone while you are at work, you need to look into pet-sitting services and doggy daycares.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dog daycare is a viable option for you and your fur baby as long as they are <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/dogs\/essential-vaccines-for-dogs-and-puppies\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">completely vaccinated<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and protected from ticks and fleas. That way they will have other pups and dogs for company and you don\u2019t need to feel guilty about leaving your dog alone.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While hiring a pet sitter, look for personal contacts, references and recommendations. It is wise to install multiple cameras just to see how your pet sitter is interacting with your pooch.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Juggling a job and personal life is tough enough. When you add a four-legged friend into the mix things often become chaotic beyond measure. If the very thought of leaving&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":2542,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[119,65],"tags":[8,114,6],"class_list":["post-2536","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dogs","category-pet-care","tag-dog","tag-dog-behaviour","tag-dogs"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2536","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2536"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2536\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6598,"href":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2536\/revisions\/6598"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2542"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2536"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2536"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2536"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}