One question frequently asked by working people that are considering getting a dog is which kinds of dog are most suitable to being left home alone. But is this the right question to be asking and will this approach guarantee you do not get a dog that may suffer from separation anxiety?
Viewpoints seem to differ widely, on the one hand there are folks that will tell you that whatever the sort, it is not appropriate to leave a dog home alone throughout the day because they're all pack animals, while on the other hand folk will tell you that a contented, healthy, well-trained dog of any breed should be okay.
What is clear is that it's not easy to generalize about breeds as there are often exceptions. On one internet site I saw the advice that an Italian Greyhound would adapt well to being left alone and on another it was noted as a breed that would be very poorly suited. On a forum someone was advising against ever leaving Collies alone as they were too high energy, and yet a dog owner on the same forum claimed she left her Collie for 8 hours a day and it had not been an issue.
You will find that most dog breed guides give you general traits of the dog breed considered the standard of what the breed should be, and while this is useful, it's not any kind of guarantee of how your individual dog will be.
Consider a Dog's Personality, Energy Levels and Age
All dogs have different temperaments even in the same litter. So perhaps looking out for a dog with a calmer personality of whatever breed you are interested in, is a easier place to start. If you're considering a rescue dog, make sure you ask the employees at the centre as they'll be well informed of the dog's nature.
A dog's energy levels might also affect how well a dog can be left alone. Lower energy dogs are usually happy to sleep for hours, while high energy dogs that are looking for more activity might get up to a lot more mischief when left to look after themselves.
Age is another factor that could affect how well a dog acclimatizes to being left alone. Young puppies are not suitable to be left alone for long amounts of time and even toilet trained puppies can't hold on for much longer than a couple of hours. Again, a rescue dog could be a great place to get a dog that is beyond puppy stage. Older dogs (over 3 years old) are commonly considered to be more settled and less susceptible to be worried about being left alone.
Training to Stop Dog Separation Anxiety
Outside of the factors considered above, the training you do with your dog can be the biggest important factor in how well they accept being left at home alone.
One area of training considered vital is demonstrating to your dog that you're the pack leader, as it is thought that a large amount of anxiety is caused by a dog believing that they are leader of the pack and so accountable for the safeness of the rest of their pack.
The results of this is that when you leave them home alone they panic about where you have vanished to and might cause a large amount of damage trying to get out so that they can come and find you.
Crate training might also be useful as the use of a crate can give dogs a feeling of security while you are out. It not only keeps a dog out of danger, it provides reassurance for the owner and acts as a den for a dog. Do not forget to introduce your dog to a crate over time and slowly build up the time they spend in it alone.
Whatever breed you choose and whatever approach you take to leaving your dog home alone, remember that each dog has their own personality, and while there are steps you can take generally for any dog, there can be more tailored training you need to do to help the dog you select be contented when left home alone.
Viewpoints seem to differ widely, on the one hand there are folks that will tell you that whatever the sort, it is not appropriate to leave a dog home alone throughout the day because they're all pack animals, while on the other hand folk will tell you that a contented, healthy, well-trained dog of any breed should be okay.
What is clear is that it's not easy to generalize about breeds as there are often exceptions. On one internet site I saw the advice that an Italian Greyhound would adapt well to being left alone and on another it was noted as a breed that would be very poorly suited. On a forum someone was advising against ever leaving Collies alone as they were too high energy, and yet a dog owner on the same forum claimed she left her Collie for 8 hours a day and it had not been an issue.
You will find that most dog breed guides give you general traits of the dog breed considered the standard of what the breed should be, and while this is useful, it's not any kind of guarantee of how your individual dog will be.
Consider a Dog's Personality, Energy Levels and Age
All dogs have different temperaments even in the same litter. So perhaps looking out for a dog with a calmer personality of whatever breed you are interested in, is a easier place to start. If you're considering a rescue dog, make sure you ask the employees at the centre as they'll be well informed of the dog's nature.
A dog's energy levels might also affect how well a dog can be left alone. Lower energy dogs are usually happy to sleep for hours, while high energy dogs that are looking for more activity might get up to a lot more mischief when left to look after themselves.
Age is another factor that could affect how well a dog acclimatizes to being left alone. Young puppies are not suitable to be left alone for long amounts of time and even toilet trained puppies can't hold on for much longer than a couple of hours. Again, a rescue dog could be a great place to get a dog that is beyond puppy stage. Older dogs (over 3 years old) are commonly considered to be more settled and less susceptible to be worried about being left alone.
Training to Stop Dog Separation Anxiety
Outside of the factors considered above, the training you do with your dog can be the biggest important factor in how well they accept being left at home alone.
One area of training considered vital is demonstrating to your dog that you're the pack leader, as it is thought that a large amount of anxiety is caused by a dog believing that they are leader of the pack and so accountable for the safeness of the rest of their pack.
The results of this is that when you leave them home alone they panic about where you have vanished to and might cause a large amount of damage trying to get out so that they can come and find you.
Crate training might also be useful as the use of a crate can give dogs a feeling of security while you are out. It not only keeps a dog out of danger, it provides reassurance for the owner and acts as a den for a dog. Do not forget to introduce your dog to a crate over time and slowly build up the time they spend in it alone.
Whatever breed you choose and whatever approach you take to leaving your dog home alone, remember that each dog has their own personality, and while there are steps you can take generally for any dog, there can be more tailored training you need to do to help the dog you select be contented when left home alone.
About the Author:
Author Venice Marriott is a writer, dog owner and runs a website, which provides help and information for dog owners dealing with behaviour problems created by dog anxiety. Get more information about dogs that can be left alone when you visit the site.
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