But don\u2019t worry! We\u2019re here to answer your questions and help you wrap your brain around it. In this article, we\u2019ll be talking about: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- How long you can leave a puppy alone for per month of age<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- How to get a puppy used to being alone and that everything is AOK!<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- What you should do the first time you leave your puppy alone<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Some handy tips and tricks from a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Puppies being able to feel alright when left alone is an important skill to have, and should be as much a part of training as potty training<\/a>, socialization<\/a>, and all those cool tricks we have for you in the Zigzag puppy training app – we don\u2019t want you to get fined because of your puppy wailing endlessly while you\u2019re out, and we want your puppy to be happy home alone too. Read on to find out all about leaving a puppy alone at home for the first time:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"dog](\"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/leohoho-oB2CsiQ8ntc-unsplash-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo by Leohoho<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n How long can you leave a puppy alone?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How long you can leave a puppy alone for depends on their age. For 2 months old, this is an hour or less. However, at over 6 months old, they can be alone for about 6 hours. These timings matter as dogs can only hold their bladders for so long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first thing to understand about leaving your puppy alone at home is that dogs and puppies are social creatures that just live for good company – human company! They also don\u2019t come pre-programd to cope with being on their own. We\u2019re nowhere near superheroes, but puppies depend on us to survive so it makes sense that being without their beloved human companion can make them feel worried. Or like the world is ending\u2026some puppy sounds can definitely sound like that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But let\u2019s brighten things up. Leaving a puppy alone will definitely be possible in the near future – you just have to work your way through it. Remember that your puppy is a baby and will probably need a lot more company at the start, but they\u2019ll manage just fine eventually. So, when can you leave a puppy alone? We\u2019ve got the answer to your questions, according to their age:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- <\/strong>2 months:<\/strong> An hour or less. Yep, puppies really need us at this age, and they also need to go for wees far more often.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 3 months:<\/strong> 2 hours tops – otherwise your puppy will likely leave puddles on the floor.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 4 months:<\/strong> At this point, how long a puppy can stay alone can start matching their age – so 4 hours. After 4 hours, your puppy will definitely need the bathroom, so you might want to keep it at 3 just to make sure. They\u2019ll likely want some cuddles too.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- <\/strong>5 months:<\/strong> 5 hours – this is how long any puppy could hold their bladder for too. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- <\/strong>6 months:<\/strong> 6 hours – look at them growing up. Your puppy can start to hold their bladder for 5 – 6 hours at this age.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Over 6 months: <\/strong> Most 6 months old puppies and dogs can hold their bladder for 6 hours without bursting, but any longer and you\u2019ll need a dog walker or pet sitter to come in to give them some company and let them out for a wee. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
PRO TIPS:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- While the outline is a \u2018general\u2019 rule it\u2019s important to remember that every puppy is different, so some might need a little more time to figure it out. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Make sure your puppy doesn\u2019t wait too long to go to the bathroom though\u2026that can cause some nasty UTIs as well as smelly accidents, which just sets your potty training back.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Nobody likes a crying puppy. If you leave them longer than they can emotionally handle, there\u2019s a risk you might be setting them up for Separation Related Problems too…and we want none of that!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
How to train your puppy to be alone<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How to get your puppy used to being alone always works well when starting off with something that makes them tick\u2026like food. Closing your puppy in a confinement area with a treat or their favorite toy, walking away, and then coming back with a reward is key.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nWorried about leaving your puppy alone? Our app can help with that!<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We do have a full step-by-step program for home alone training in our Zigzag puppy training app (just putting that out there) but here\u2019s a taster of what you\u2019ll need to do:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You will need:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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- Stuffable chew toys such as Kongs, West Paw Toppls or Busy Buddy toys<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Some of your puppy\u2019s food<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Here are the steps on how to train your puppy to be alone:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Step 1 <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Pop the stuffed food toy in your puppy\u2019s crate<\/a>, playpen or safe area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sit near or next to the area, so that your puppy is comfortable as you\u2019re close by but your puppy is focused on eating the food, and not on watching you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Repeat this for at least 5 days so that your puppy gets used to eating out of toys and you being close by.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 2 <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Repeat the previous step, only that this time you\u2019ll be walking around the area and maybe popping out of the room for a second or two before you come back in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PRO TIPS:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Try to not make a fuss of your puppy when you come back in. They\u2019ve noticed you go in and out already\u2026they\u2019re very perceptive, little puppies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Do this for another few days until your puppy is comfortable with you leaving, and popping in and out.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Step 3<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Fill that food toy with yummy treats and try leaving the room for 10 seconds while your puppy chomps it all before you return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Did your puppy carry on eating when you were gone? Good job!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 4<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Gradually increase the time by just a few seconds each day and start \u2018flitting\u2019 in and out, up and down the stairs for them to get used to you focusing on other things but them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Build up the time so that you\u2019re able to put the food toy down and be in another area of the house for a few minutes while they\u2019re eating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PRO TIP:<\/strong> It\u2019s worth using a camera to monitor how your puppy is doing once you leave them for longer with the food toy. This will give you a good idea of how quickly you can progress and start leaving your puppy alone for longer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Slowly wins the race\u2019 is definitely true for when you\u2019re figuring out how to get your puppy used to being alone, so don\u2019t feel like you need to rush things. Easy does it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"puppy](\"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/per-loov-4e10Camdm-0-unsplash-1024x768.jpg\")
Photo by Per L\u00f6\u00f6v<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Leaving a puppy at home alone for the first time: what to do<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
So, now you know the answer to \u2018how long can puppies be alone\u2019, here are my top tips for leaving a puppy alone for the first time, and what to do to make it an easy process. Or easier process, shall we say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Make sure that they have all their basic needs around them like water (and love), as well as:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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- A previous trip to the bathroom before you leave them.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- A good amount of physical and mental exercise that day so that they can use the time you\u2019re gone to rest and relax, rather than getting angsty.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Somewhere quiet, warm and secure to snuggle in. Their crate, playpen, or whatever they\u2019re used to sleeping in should do the trick – make sure to make it extra cozy with blankets and toys. Oh, and make sure to puppy proof the area, those shark teeth can chew on the craziest things!<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Something that smells of you – they love us, let\u2019s leave a little piece of us behind so they can keep us close.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
2. Set up a puppy cam<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When you\u2019re in the learning process of leaving a puppy alone, a great way to keep an eye on the progress is by literally keeping an eye on them. With a camera, of course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are all kinds of apps and puppy cams on the market these days; from free to super-duper expensive, so find one that works for you and watch your puppy from your phone when you’re gone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Don\u2019t go for too long<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re leaving a puppy alone for the first few times, make them short and sweet. Maybe try some practice runs when you just nip out for a coffee close to home while you keep an eye on them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Avoid over-enthusiastic hellos and goodbyes <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
One of the main goals is that we want our puppies to think \u2018Ok, you\u2019re leaving, no big deal\u2019 when you leave, and \u2018Oh you\u2019re back, barely noticed\u2019. We\u2019re not trying to get them to dislike you, trust us, they probably will still go all giddy. But we don\u2019t need to encourage them too much – they already know we\u2019re the best thing ever anyway. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. Try some calming music<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When the house is empty, it can suddenly go very <\/em>quiet. It can almost seem too <\/em>quiet. Try leaving your puppy with the radio or some classical music on – it will help muffle outside noises as well as their internal dilemmas. It\u2019s a great way to get a puppy used to being alone in an easy, smooth-ish way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leaving your puppy alone can be a worrying time for them and for us! Let\u2019s be honest, it isn\u2019t just puppies who get separation problems, wouldn\u2019t we all love to be stay at home pet parents? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But the truth is that we need to spend some time apart every once in a while, so it\u2019s worth knowing how to train a puppy to be alone when they\u2019re young and can easily absorb information so that we don\u2019t run into trouble later on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"puppy](\"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/brina-blum-nWX4pKwzLoE-unsplash-683x1024.jpg\")
Photo by Brina Blum<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n FAQs on \u2018how long can you leave a puppy alone?\u2019<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
When can I start leaving a puppy alone at home for the first time?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
You can start this training as soon as you bring your pup home. Again, it\u2019s important to look at the puppy\u2019s age. At 2 months old, you can leave them alone for less than an hour if you need to pop to the local shop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Will my puppy be OK alone?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Your puppy will be fine alone if you stick to the age rules. At 2 months, they can be alone for less than one hour; at 6 months they can hold it for 5-6 hours. It\u2019s important to stick to the time limits so your dog can gain your trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What do I do if I need to leave my puppy home alone for longer?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you know that you need to leave your 6 month old puppy for longer than 6 hours, it\u2019s a good idea to get a dog sitter<\/a>, or take them to puppy day care<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How long can a 4 month old puppy be left alone?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
At 4 months old, a puppy can be left home alone for a maximum of 4 hours. To be safe, you might want to keep it at 3 hours alone. Make sure to give them lots of cuddles when you return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- 3 months:<\/strong> 2 hours tops – otherwise your puppy will likely leave puddles on the floor.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- <\/strong>2 months:<\/strong> An hour or less. Yep, puppies really need us at this age, and they also need to go for wees far more often.<\/li>\n\n\n\n