Whether the kids are headed back to school, the adults are going back to work in-person, or you're continuing the stay-at-home lifestyle, it's important for your dog to get some alone time! Many of our dogs have adjusted to the extra walks, play time, and attention that comes with having their people home all day. We want to make sure they don't have any issues adjusting back to a 9 to 5 when the time comes! Here are some quick tips to help your dog stay calm when he's home alone.
1. Keep up with your crate training
Make sure your dog is comfortable being confined, whether that's with a crate, a separate room, or a baby gate! He should be able to have a calm mid-day nap away from the rest of the house. Use chews, meals, or food-stuffed toys to help build a positive association with the crate, and never open the door when he's whining or barking! Make sure some quiet "alone time" is part of his normal day.
2. Get up and exercise early
A tired dog is a happy dog! If your dog has boundless energy in the mornings, start taking a nice walk or a playing game of fetch to help tone down the craziness. After stretching his legs, it will be much easier for your dog to settle down without missing you too much!
3. Make it part of the routine
We love our dogs and we want to make sure they know it- but turning going to work into a huge ordeal, complete with tearful hugs goodbye, can severely increase your dog's anxiety about being left alone. Instead, leave the house calmly regardless of whether you're leaving for five minutes or five hours!
4. Start small and work your way up
If your dog is used to being loose and doted on 24/7, it'll be extra difficult for him to adjust back to long days alone. Start these steps now and build up slowly- from ten minutes in a crate to thirty, then an hour, then a few hours! Our goal is to create an easy, gradual adjustment back to "normal," whatever that might look like for your household.