7 tips for leaving your dog home alone

It would be wonderful if we could bring our dogs with us everywhere we went, but we can’t.

Your dog may make you feel guilty about leaving the house, but rest assured, your dog is okay!

Some recommendations we have are:

Don’t make a fuss: The worst thing you can do is prolong the process of leaving the house by making a fuss, “Okay Fido, Mommy/Daddy will be home soon, be a good boy! You’re such a good boy!”, and linger at the door. Make it quick and painless. Don’t fuss. Act normal. It’s no big deal, you’re coming back!

Special treats: Reserve special treats for when you leave the house. Let your dog associate this event with something positive.

Exciting toy: Is there a special toy you can reserve for when you leave the house? A toy that your pooch can play with unsupervised, that could be a form of exercise? Find a toy that is challenging or fun for your dog and slip out while your dog is distracted.

Soothing music: Put on a calming, relaxing CD or playlist for your dog. Dogs react well to this type of music. You can order CD’s that are specifically geared towards dogs. There is a collection of CD’s called “Through A Dog’s Ear” for example which consists of classical music.

Hide items you don’t want eaten: Keep your shoes, bags, mats, or anything that your dog might want to chew hidden. Do not leave food out on the table that your dog may be able to reach.

No Doorbell: Put masking tape over your doorbell and write “out of order” or “do not ring” as the sound of the doorbell will upset your dog. This is one way to prevent your dog from being upset.
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Exercise: Take your dog for a nice walk if you can before you leave or once you get home. If the weather is too cold or too hot, allow your dog to exercise in another way before you leave, so that he is tired when you leave.