The Art of Solo Training: Teaching Your Puppy to Stay Home Alone

It is natural for dog owners to leave their pets, but it is not in the dog's nature to abandon its pack. Despite the fact that the dog is a herd animal, many dogs find themselves alone at home on a regular basis. Due to the dog's inclination to keep with the pack, it is critical to begin alone home training at a young age.

Stable habits for the dog are the way forward

There are numerous factors to take into account as a new dog owner. The dog must, among other things, know where to sleep, where to go when left alone, and whether or not it has access to the entire house. Whatever you decide and whatever you feel is best for both you and your dog, it's crucial to follow through with these choices. Dogs are creatures of habit, so even though you might believe it won't matter if the dog basket is moved at some point or that the dog was once left alone throughout the entire house but is now only in the utility room and hallway, it might still confuse the dog. The dog's daily life is made easier by better and more consistent routines.

Home training of the puppy

You must not have unrealistic expectations when you first bring the new dog home. It has just been taken away from its mother, its littermates, and all the cozy and comforting sounds and scents. Because of this, it is crucial and very necessary for the puppy's safety that the first step of the program be a peaceful acclimatization period to its new home and environment. Delay training for a few days instead, and put its comfort in its new family first. Have fun with it, make sure there isn't any stress and let it explore its new home. It's a smart idea to bring the puppy home on a holiday so you can spend a lot of time with it at first.

The home training can start once the puppy has gotten acclimated to you and is comfortable with you after a few days. Keep in mind that training takes time and patience, and that this training must be carried out in manageable chunks with plenty of tasty dog treats. The less time you spend on this training, the less likely it is that the puppy will grow to be anxious about being separated from you.

Begin by throwing some treats on the floor away from you, then leave the room for a few seconds. Only wait so long that the puppy has time to eat the treats, look up, and register that you have left, before you return and praise it. The door to the room should be left open so the puppy can see you leave and return. This practice is performed several times per day, with the interval progressively increasing by a few minutes; please perform the activity in different places so that the dog feels safe throughout the house.

Practice with a closed door until the puppy no longer notices that you are moving. You can also put your skills into practice by going outside to pick up trash, empty the mailbox, etc. In this manner, the dog also witnesses your exit through the front door. Always keep in mind to return with loads of praise and treats. The time interval is always being steadily raised, but if you react too fast, the dog may begin to beep or bark. If the puppy starts doing this, kindly refrain from approaching it until it has stopped. Otherwise, it'll quickly start to associate your rescue with its noises and barking.

It is necessary to step back and practice with a shorter interval if it beeps and howls for an extended period of time, or you may need to go all the way back to goodies on the floor where you leave it with the door open. Therefore, it requires judgment; some dogs pick it up more quickly than others, and patience is a virtue. When you practice alone at home, you must also be aware of your body language. The dog will sense your stress if the training is rushed or carried out under pressure, and the results of the training are likely to be ineffective. Your tolerance and composure rubs off on it.

What should the dog do when left alone?

When the dog has mastered the ability to spend some time alone and is secure in its surroundings, you can offer it some activity toys right before you leave. When a dog is alone, a treat ball for tasty tiny snacks is a fantastic idea to keep him mentally stimulated. The fact that they must move around the house for the treats to drop out could cause the dog to get a little more active than, say, when he is alone and just lays down and sleeps. You might need to give it a little more of a go because it is still an assessment. 

Another method for getting the dog to relax is to stuff a Kong Classic toy with some tasty canned dog food (but watch out for liver paste because it has a lot of spices). The dog will then have to lie down and lick the contents out of the toy.

Never rush out the door; always take your time and leave the dog in a relaxed state. Additionally, refrain from chatting too much to him. There is no need to inform him that you will be returning soon, alerting him to the fact that you are leaving.