You leave the house, close the door... and your dog stays on the other side. Will it wait calmly, or will it destroy half the flat, whine, bark, pace nervously? Below we go through how to prepare your dog for time on its own, how to build up to it gradually, and what to do when problems appear.
Why do dogs cope poorly with being alone?
Because a dog is a social animal — for thousands of years of evolution it lived in a group, and being alone is an unnatural state for it. It's especially hard for dogs that spent most of the day with their owner, only to suddenly have their 'pack' disappear for no obvious reason.
Some dogs cope with this quite well. Others fall into severe separation stress — barking, howling, destroying objects, toileting indoors, or pacing in circles for hours, unable to settle.
It's important to distinguish between a dog that's bored and a dog that's genuinely suffering from separation anxiety — because these two states require completely different approaches. The good news: you can teach a dog to stay home without stress.
It takes time and consistency, but it's achievable for the vast majority of dogs.
How to prepare your dog to stay alone?
Build separation in small steps
Create a safe spot for your dog
A dog needs its own corner — a place it knows, likes and feels safe in. This could be a bed, a favourite blanket, or a crate, as long as the dog has been positively trained to accept it. Leave something there that smells of you — an old T-shirt works surprisingly well — along with a favourite chew or toy.
Leave a suitable activity
Boredom is one of the main causes of destructive behaviour in dogs left alone. Treat toys (e.g. a Kong filled with paste), a sniffing mat or a dried chew aren't just entertainment — they're a way to release tension and focus attention on something pleasant.
Important: give your dog these toys only when you leave. This way they'll start associating them with your departure in a positive way.
Make sure it gets exercise before you leave
A dog that leaves for a walk tired after a good outing will handle being alone far more calmly than an energetic dog shut within four walls. Try to give your dog physical activity and sniffing time before every longer period alone.
How long can a dog be left alone?
- This is one of the most frequently asked questionsand there's no single answer, because it depends on the dog's age, breed and individual temperament.
- Puppies under 6 monthsmaximum 1–2 hours. Puppies don't yet have full bladder control and need frequent human contact for proper socialisation.
- Young dogs (6–12 months)you can gradually extend this to 3–4 hours, if the dog is properly accustomed.
- Adult dogs (1–7 years)even 4–6 hours, if they're used to it and have had exercise and stimulation before you leave.
- Older dogsit depends on their health and physiological needs. Seniors often need to go out more often than adult dogs. Don't regularly leave your dog for 8–10 hours with no contact at all. It's frustrating, uncomfortable and, in the longer run, harmful — both to a dog's physical and mental health.
What to avoid?
Long, emotional goodbyes — 'be good, mummy will be back soon...' This transfers your anxiety to the dog and turns your departure into a stressful event for it. ❌ Shouting or punishing after you return — if the dog destroyed something, punishing it after the fact achieves nothing.
A dog can't connect punishment with something that happened an hour ago. Instead, think about what you can change to reduce the destruction. ❌ Leaving a dog hungry or without having been walked — that's a recipe for disaster.
A dog with excess energy and nothing to do will find its own entertainment — usually at the expense of furniture or shoes. ❌ Ignoring signs of stress — if you see your dog struggling with being alone, don't wait for it to pass on its own.
The longer separation stress lasts, the harder it becomes to work through later.
How to recognise separation stress in a dog?
It's worth knowing that not every bad behaviour while the owner is away means separation stress. A dog can destroy things out of boredom — and that's a different problem from separation anxiety, which requires a different approach.
Signs of genuine separation stress: loud, prolonged barking or howling right after the owner leaves, intense scratching at the door and attempts to escape, toileting indoors despite knowing the rules, excessive drooling, vomiting or diarrhoea from nerves, lack of appetite during the owner's absence, a clear change in behaviour already at the moment of preparing to leave.
If you suspect separation stress, it's worth filming your dog on camera right after you leave — this gives you a concrete picture of what happens once the door closes.
What to do if a dog copes poorly with being alone?
If a dog shows strong signs of stress, gradual habituation alone might not be enough. It's worth considering several steps at once: go back to shorter separations — return to a stage the dog tolerated without problems, and start again, more slowly.
- Provide more exercise and mental stimulationa tired dog copes with being alone more calmly.
- Hire a caregiver for while you're awaya dog walker or petsitter can visit the dog during the day, breaking up long periods of loneliness.
- Consult a behaviouristwith strong separation stress, professional help is often necessary. A behaviourist will help develop a work plan tailored to the specific dog.
- Talk to a vetin some cases of severe separation anxiety, a vet may recommend pharmacological support as a complement to behavioural work.
What else can help day to day?
- A camera to watch your dogyou'll see exactly what it does after you leave and how long its unease lasts. That's valuable information when working on being alone.
- Music or ambient soundsa light background hum helps some dogs. There are special playlists designed for dogs left alone.
- A petsitting or dog walker serviceat Alvis, a caregiver can come to your dog during the day when you're at work or travelling. It's a simple way to shorten the time alone and give your dog human contact between your own visits.
- Interactive toys and puzzlesthey engage the dog mentally and can effectively fill the time spent alone.
FAQ — leaving a dog home alone
How long can a puppy be left alone?
A puppy under 6 months old shouldn't be left alone for more than 1–2 hours. It doesn't yet have full bladder control and needs frequent human contact for proper development. If you work full time, consider help from a dog walker or petsitter during the day.
Can a dog learn to stay alone if it's been with its caregiver all day for a long time?
Yes, but it takes time and consistent work. Start with very short separations and gradually extend them. Dogs that suddenly start being left alone after a long period of the owner's constant presence (e.g. after working from home) are especially prone to separation stress — so it's worth starting the habituation as early as possible.
Does a crate help a dog stay alone?
For many dogs, a crate they've been positively trained to accept is a safe den — a place of rest and calm. It's important that the dog enters it voluntarily and associates it with something pleasant, not with punishment or confinement. A crate isn't a solution for dogs with strong separation stress — it can make it worse.
What to do when neighbours complain about the dog's barking?
That's a signal that the dog is struggling with being alone and needs help. Start by filming your dog to see how long and how intensely it barks. Go back to building independence from scratch, or consult a behaviourist. In the meantime, consider hiring a caregiver for while you're away.
Staying home alone is a skill a dog has to learn — and one you can teach it. It's not about it 'surviving' your absence, but genuinely being able to rest on its own. It takes calm, consistency and a bit of patience — but the result is worth the effort for both of you.
