As a pet parent, one of the most important skills you can teach your puppy is to feel safe and secure when left alone. Experts emphasize that learning to spend time alone is crucial for a puppy’s development and overall well-being.
Creating a safe environment, gradually introducing moments of solitude, and incorporating enriching toys and treats can help your furry friend build confidence and reduce the risk of separation anxiety.
With consistency and positive reinforcement, puppies can learn to embrace alone time, leading to happier and healthier lives for dogs and their owners.
Before you decide how to train your puppy, you need to learn what motivates your puppy.
Know your puppy to teach alone time
For food-motivated dogs like Labrador Retrievers or Golden Retrievers, treats work best as rewards.
But if your dog isn’t food-motivated, you can try other techniques.
Instead of food, try using play or praise. If your dog is nervous, try using sound, a cozy place, or toys to distract him.
Puppies, like children, are curious. They like to put everything in their mouths, so before you leave your puppy alone, take time to puppy-proof his space.
Ensuring he can’t be injured is essential if you leave your puppy alone.
Although leaving your puppy with plush toys or blankets might seem like a good idea, it could be dangerous if your puppy chews on everything.
Putting your new puppy in a crate will ensure your puppy won’t fall down the stairs or get into something that could cause injury.
Feed meals in a safe space
Before you leave your puppy home alone, let your puppy spend time alone while you’re still home. Puppies used to spending time with their people can struggle when left alone.
Put your dog in a safe area. You can use an exercise pen, a crate, or a small room like a bathroom.
Feed your puppy in that space so he learns it’s safe and fun. You can try playing with your puppy there if you’re using a small room.
Let your puppy have access to a safe space at all times. That way, the puppy won’t associate it with punishment or being left alone.
Give your toys special toys or treats that he only gets in his safe space.
Once your puppy willingly goes to the safe space alone, you can start alone-time training.
Start using your puppy’s safe space
Before leaving the puppy alone, put him in a safe space with a chew toy or an interactive toy. Options include a Kong filled with peanut butter or a lick mat covered with pumpkin or banana.
Freeze the Kong or the lick mat after you add food. Then, when you give it to your puppy, the treat will last longer. If your puppy is teething, the cold will ease the pain.
Use chew toys or interactive puzzle toys if your dog isn’t food-motivated.
Calmly leave the room after you give the puppy a treat or toy.
Wait a minute, then return and give your puppy a treat and quiet praise. Repeat the process, leaving the puppy for longer periods each time.
You want the puppy to know you’ll always come back. Start with two to five minutes and work up to an hour or two.
Monitor your puppy during alone time
If your puppy cries, don’t just let it out. If you do, it will teach the puppy that whining will bring you back and release him. Crate training is valuable for potty training and alone-time training.
Wait until your puppy calms down, then go in and give your dog a treat or quiet praise.
If your puppy consistently panics about being left alone, you can return to feeding meals or playing with it in a safe space and shorten the time you leave it alone.
If your puppy panics, you likely left him alone for too long.
You want to use alone time to teach your puppy to be confident and happy. This should be a positive experience.
Never use your puppy’s safe space as punishment.
Entertain your puppy during alone time training
Once your puppy is comfortable staying alone, give him food or a chew toy when you put him in your crate. Never leave your puppy alone with a toy that he could eat or destroy to prevent choking risks.
Place the crate near a door or window or turn on the radio or TV to provide background noise.
Don’t use blankets or towels in the dog’s crate if he chews on them. Instead, use a crate mat.
If your puppy struggles with being in a crate, consider using a playpen or baby gate to create a bigger, safer space. This will give your puppy more room to move around or play.
You can still use food toys, chew toys, or other active toys to keep your puppy busy.
Don’t feel guilty about leaving your dog in a smaller space. There’s no reason to let your dog have a full run of your house.
Just remember to keep the safe space relatively small. If your puppy has room to go potty without getting his bed or blankets dirty, he’ll be more likely to do so.
If you have a small room, such as a mudroom, laundry room, or bathroom, you can also use it to create a safe space for your puppy.
Consider using a relaxation system, a white noise machine, or a radio to provide background noise. Remove any items from the room that could be dangerous for your pup.
Start early to teach alone time
If you must leave your puppy alone, remember it still has a tiny bladder and needs regular potty breaks, which will determine the length of the periods of time you can leave.
According to the American Kennel Club, puppies younger than 10 weeks must be out about once an hour.
As your puppy ages, it can spend more time alone. Dogs 10 to 12 weeks old need potty breaks every two hours. After three months, dogs can wait three hours; after six months, dogs must go out every six hours. Even adult dogs can’t wait more than six to eight hours without being able to go outside.
If you can’t come home to let your puppy out, ask a neighbor or a dog walker for help.
Don’t rush training alone time. Doing so will be stressful for your puppy and you. Use these tips and be patient. If you stay calm, your puppy will follow your lead.
Final thoughts on alone-time training
Teaching your puppy to spend time alone is essential to their development and well-being.
Establishing a safe and comfortable space, gradually introducing alone time, and using engaging toys and treats can help your puppy build confidence and reduce separation anxiety.
Remember to monitor your puppy’s progress and adjust training as needed, ensuring they associate their safe space with positivity rather than punishment.
With patience and consistency, your puppy will learn to enjoy alone time, ultimately benefiting both the puppy and you as a responsible pet owner.
Regular potty breaks and thoughtful planning will ensure your puppy feels secure and happy, allowing your dog to thrive in your care.
Sara B. Hansen has spent 20-plus years as a professional editor and writer. She’s also the author of The Complete Guide to Cocker Spaniels. She decided to create her dream job by launching DogsBestLife.com in 2011. Sara grew up with family dogs, and since she bought her first house, she’s had a furry companion or two to help make it a home. She shares her heart and home with Nutmeg, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi. Her previous dogs: Sydney (September 2008-April 2020), Finley (November 1993-January 2008), and Browning (May 1993-November 2007). You can reach Sara @ editor@dogsbestlife.com.