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Getting a new puppy is exciting, but it also comes with a lot of changes to your routine. Your work schedule and social life will have to flex around your puppy’s potty and exercise needs. Fortunately, leaving a puppy alone does get easier as they get older. Which is why an early, positive start to this experience is important.
Puppies may be left alone for about three hours, starting around 3 months (12 weeks) of age. Puppies 10 weeks and younger should only be alone for one hour, in a safe puppy-proofed room. Be patience with this process. Being able to leave your dog alone for more than a few hours, in or out of a crate, can take anywhere from one to six months.
Ultimately, how long you can leave a puppy alone depends on:
- their age
- potty schedule
- fulfillment of food, exercise & enrichment needs
- number of environmental distractions
- how comfortable their space is
Read on for our tips and remember—the early you start on this journey, the better!
An Age Guide for How Long a Puppy Can Be Alone
Based on conversations with trainers, vets, and other pet parents, we recommend estimating the time your puppy can be alone based on their age and pee needs:
- 8–10 weeks: Less than one hour. If you have a sleep-resistant puppy, we don’t recommend leaving them alone for more than 15-20 minutes in a safe space.
- 10–12 weeks: 30 mins to one hour, or less if your puppy is in their fear period. Fear periods are when dogs are more likely to have negative experiences with unknown or new things. Being alone during this time may contribute to their anxiety.
- 3–6 months: At this age, consider the one hour per month rule. Three-month-old puppies can wait for three hours; four-month-old puppies for four hours, and so on. The crate training and alone-time practice should start to pay off here.
- After 6 months: An older puppy, like most adult dogs, has the ability to hold it for up to six hours. If you don’t have a dog door, come back during lunch or get your pet sitter to pay a visit.
Does Breed Type Impact Alone Time?
Not always. Environment plays a huge role as well. But breed genetics can speak to why some puppies are quicker to adapt than others.
Certain breeds, such as Shiba Inus and Malteses, acclimate quickly to being alone due to their independent nature. High energy breeds, such as Border Collies, Golden Retrievers, and Huskies, may require exercise before being alone.
Then there are dogs who are bred to be social and part of the family, such as German Shepherds and Samoyeds. These dogs often need a slower, trainer-informed approach to learn how to be alone.
How to Train Your Puppy to Enjoy Being Alone
1. Create a “puppy zone” for safe alone time
Choose a secure area of your home, whether it’s the entire living room, a bedroom, or a small portion of the kitchen sectioned off. Here’s what you’ll need:
- A crate if you’re crate training.
- Baby gates, if you’re not crate training. This pet gate is a fun, freestanding choice if your dog isn’t a jumper. If they are, you’ll need something higher.
- White noise machine, especially if you live in a city or apartment. White noise can help reduce trigger sounds that cause barking or pacing
- Cozy items like blankets or your old shirts. Your scent can provide comfort to your puppy.
- A dog bed, like this orthopedic pet mattress. Or, you may need a chew-proof bed.
- Potty pads. Our rundown on house training with puppy pads covers the basics.
- Plenty of safe puppy toys and chews. Monitor your puppy before leaving them alone with toys as puppy are prone to destructive chewing and swallowing out of curiosity.
2. Feed, exercise, and play with your dog before leaving them alone
Puppies and young dogs need more enrichment than adults. Without it, they may become bored, and even destructive, when left alone. Enrichment can be a training session, an exciting neighborhood walk, a puzzle feeder, or a round of indoor games.
In fact, leaving your puppy alone without tiring them out can be a recipe for disaster. A hungry or bored puppy will look to fulfill their own needs when alone.
3. Keep up with routine
Having a routine before crate time is a great way to set a puppy up for success. Here is a sample pre-crate or pre-alone time routine that can help reduce unwanted behaviors:
- Potty relief: If your puppy is just waking up from a nap or finishing an activity, usher them outside to potty before bringing them back in.
- Play time: Spend 10-20 minutes cuddling, chasing, or playing with your pup. This bonding time will help physically calm them down for the next step.
- Training time: Mentally tire out your pup by making them work for treats. You can practice crate in-and-out games, pattern games, or even loose leash walking.
- Food time: A meal can help curb a hungry dog from trying to escape or chew to find food. You will want to plan meals so that they can potty before being crated again.
- Potty relief: Some dogs dislike being around their poop and will find being crated with their accidents stressful. Other dogs might eat their poop, which you definitely want to avoid!
Following this routine can help your puppy settle into alone time with ease as they often are exhausted by all the activity and are more than happy to fall asleep.
4. Slowly build up alone time
Whether in the crate or out, the amount of time your puppy spends alone should be like a rollercoaster. The first time you leave a puppy alone, it may only be 5 minutes. When they are comfortable, or don’t even notice that you’re gone, you can then escalate to 10 or 15 minutes. If they seem to panic, try again with less time apart.
You can also use these sessions to test what toys, treats, and chews your dog can safely interact with. Keep these toys and treats for only when you are gone so they feel special. Puppies acclimate better when alone time is full of fun and relaxation.
Pro-tip: The jury is still out on how your hellos and goodbyes affect your puppy as it depends on your dog. Some will benefit from calm departures while others can settle easily and enjoy being expressive when you return. It’s best to talk to a trainer if you find yourself unsure.
5. Schedule doggy day care or dog walking services
Managing a dog’s schedule while you work fulltime can be a challenge. If you’re unable to come home and let your dog out to decompress, these tips can help reduce isolation stress on your pet:
- Asking your neighbor for help. Or close friend or family member, who can drop by to relieve your puppy with some play, attention, and potty break. Breaking up your puppy’s alone time can decrease the stress of being alone.
- Hire a dog walker. If your puppy has their vaccinations, a walker who takes them on a decompression walk can be a good way to get excess energy and poop out. Keep in mind of your pup’s leash walking skills, however. Some dogs get more excited after a walk, especially if they see a cat or squirrel.
- Book drop-in care. Consider drop-in care where a sitter plays, feeds, and engages with your pup for 30-60 minutes. Drop-in care works well for puppies who tend to get more excited by walks, or don’t have loose leash skills. Alert your sitter of your dogs’ pre-crate routine for continued success.
- Try out doggy day-care. Doggie day care can be a great place for dogs while helping them socialize and get their extra energy out. Whether you find day care through a licensed person’s home or a local business, be sure to ask about the number of dogs present each day. The number of dogs can influence whether your dog is having a good time.
Crate Training Tips
Puppies this young struggle with self-control, from holding their urine to chewing random objects. Crate training a puppy can help decrease their risk of spreading their pee onto a carpet or eating things unsupervised. especially while you are at work.
- Start crate training the first day you bring your puppy home. Unless your dog has separation anxiety, leaving them your dog alone early will help their progress and comfort levels.
- Introduce your dog to the crate the first time with treats, and don’t close them in. Give them playtime in and near the crate. Then gradually build up to 10–15 minute intervals of crate time, sticking with these short periods of time until your doggie has adjusted.
- Be present and at home for the initial training routine. You don’t want to teach your puppy that the crate means being alone or trapped.
- When your puppy can tolerate the shorter amount of time, leave them alone in the crate for increasing periods of time. Eventually, your dog will become comfortable there.
- Move at your puppy’s pace. Don’t push their limits on the same day.
When used correctly with positive reinforcement, crate training is not cruel. In fact, crates can be a useful tool during emergencies, such as evacuations.
What Happens If You Leave Your Dog Alone Too Much?
While the pee rule is a good guideline, it should not serve as the only rule. Dogs are social animals and need daily enrichment. Being left alone before they’re ready, or for six to eight hours everyday, may cause issues, such as:
- separation anxiety
- training relapse
- destructive behaviors
- relapse in potty training
- choking on toys or chews
- barking
- neighborhood complaints
Pro-tip: Get a pet camera to monitor your dog’s behaviors when you are alone. Recordings are useful for when you need to playback the moment to see what might have triggered an undesirable behavior.
Petcube
This WiFi camera allows you to keep an eye on your puppy from afar and even speak to him with two-way audio.
Furbo
Two-way audio, night vision, and a treat tosser help keep you and your puppy connected when you’re away from home.
Leaving a Puppy Alone Is Hard But Worthwhile Work
In the first six months of life, puppies need a lot of attention, care, and exercise. Do not leave puppies younger than three months alone for more than 1-2 hours. They may feel strongly and have a negative association with being by themselves.
If you do notice anxiety, reduce the time they are left alone until they relax again. You should start to see progress at six months of age when your puppies can be comfortable alone.
Keep in mind, however, if your puppy is overly lonely, hungry, or bored, they may start destroying or barking excessively. Crate training helps, as does creating a “puppy zone,” but it’s not a full-proof tactic. Getting your puppy used to being alone requires a multi-pronged approach.
If you’re not able to give your dog a break, consider a dog sitter or in-home doggie daycare. These services can keep your puppy active while you’re away, reducing your stress about leaving them alone. Because we know you don’t want to leave your puppy alone—who would? But for your puppy’s sake, practice alone time early so you don’t have to worry in the future.