Five ways to help your dog stay calm when they are home alone

It’s not easy to leave our furry family home alone, but alas we all have to go out and make that money to pay for their extravagant lifestyles. Here are five tips to help ease that transition:

1. Gradual departures: Like with most things you need to start small, leaving your dog alone for short increments starting at around say 5-10 mins and gradually building it up over time. This builds trust and the realization that you are coming back.

2. Provide interactive toys: Classic Kongs are nice for yummy soft foods like banana or peanut butter and if you freeze them they can last even longer, but interactive toys can keep them entertained for hours. I love a good treat dispensing toy like this one made by Fable, you can even put their dinner in it to keep their food intake down.

3. Establish a routine: Keeping the same feeding and walking and playtime schedule can reduce anxiety by creating sense of safety and comfort. Structure is important even for Dogs.

4. Create a comfortable environment: Dogs do well if they have their own safe space to retreat to, I’m a big fan of crate training for this very reason. It’s all about them having a place to decompress. This crate by Diggs is a favorite of mine and my clients because it’s made to baby industry standards with safety in mind.

5. Hire a Dog sitter: Dog sitters can provide relief for anxious dogs. They can keep up with their routine which can reduce dog stress and help dogs cope with loneliness, because let’s face it there is no sadder sound than a dog whimpering all day because they are home alone.

Ultimately, how you manage your dogs alone time can depend on your circumstances, but it doesn’t always have to be expensive. Using the tips above is a great place to start to help your dog feel comfortable while home alone.