Tip 1: gradually learn to be alone
First of all, it seems logical, but it is indeed THE solution for your dog to live well with your absences: learning to be alone. I invite you to read our article specifically dedicated to this subject.
As soon as your puppy arrives home, he should be taught to be left alone gradually so that he gets used to evolving independently and that these moments are not synonymous with stress for him. Thus, accustom your puppy to being left alone, first 5 or 10 minutes, then longer and longer.
It is important not to leave your puppy alone for long hours the day after his arrival, for example. It is for this reason that it is advisable to welcome your puppy when you are sure you can stay a few days at home, without being away all day. So, do not hesitate to take a few days off so as not to traumatize your new companion. Don't forget that in a few hours he goes from a place he knows, surrounded by his siblings and his mother, to a completely unknown environment, which he must explore alone.
Furthermore, learning to be alone begins when you are at home. In other words, get your dog used to being alone in a room, while you are upstairs or in the garden, for example. Then gradually increase the duration of these absences and move further and further away from home.
Also read: How to ban a room in the house for your dog?Tip 2: respect the dog's needs
In parallel with the progressive learning of loneliness, it is essential to respect your dog's spending needs. You have to put yourself in your dog's shoes sometimes: there are already long hours waiting for your return If it's to watch you rest on the sofa then you'll agree that it's not very respectful all the same !
And know that it is not enough to let him run in the garden in the morning before leaving and in the evening when he returns. This is absolutely not considered a real expense.
To properly meet your dog's needs you must:
- offer him at least one daily walk of about 30 minutes outside the garden (ideally: one in the morning and one in the evening),
- take the time to play with him, would it be 5 or 10 minutes,
- regularly allow him to meet other dogs,
- provide occupation or intelligence toys at home,
- offer him tracking/research games (in the house or garden),
- give him a bone or a sturdy chew toy.
Thus, by respecting these 6 points, you meet the physical, mental, social, masticatory and olfactory needs of your doggie.
Read also: The importance of walks for the balance of the dogTip 3: Occupational toys during absences
We were previously talking about occupation toys: they are essential and help limit the risk of “mischief” being done due to boredom or lack of stimulation. Leaving a dog idle all day is like forcing someone to stay locked in a room doing nothing: you quickly go crazy!
And it's true that we often impose living conditions on our dogs that we ourselves wouldn't tolerate for even half a day!
Thus, do not hesitate to buy Kong-type occupation toys for example, which you can fill with delicacies. Your dog will then spend his time trying to grab as many treats as possible left inside. This allows, in addition to occupying his dog, to create a positive conditioning since he assimilates the absence of his masters to something pleasant.
There are also plenty of ways to occupy your dog during an absence and I invite you to consult our article specially dedicated to this subject to find out all the tips.
Tip 4: Set up a reassuring and secure framework
Then, it is advisable to offer your dog a reassuring and secure environment so that he can best live your absences. This of course depends on its environment: do not hesitate to reduce its space when you leave.
Often, we tend to think that the more space the dog has, the less bored he will be. But in reality, the more the dog has access to all the rooms of the house, the more he stresses.
Clearly, when you're away, your dog's first instinct is to look for you. In fact, if he has access to the whole house, he will spend his time checking all the doors, windows and various exits “in case” you are ready to enter through one of them. And this is not good because it increases his stress and alertness.
So, don't be afraid to reduce your dog's space by setting up a room for him with his basket, a water bowl and his occupation toys.
Besides, even if it's debatable, if you leave for less than 3 or 4 hours, you can also leave your dog in an indoor crate, having of course met his needs beforehand through 'a ride rich in stimulation.
Tip 5: A consistent attitude
Your attitude is also essential to allow your dog to live peacefully with your absences:
- avoid saying “goodbye” to your dog, leave as if you were going to get the mail for example,
- don't party your dog as soon as you get back either, wait until he's calm, take the time to take off your coat, put down your bag, take off your shoes, etc,
- always be on the initiative of contact with your dog, it will help him manage his frustration and understand that he is not the one who decides when he can have contact with you,
- if he insists on a handshake, ignore him (don't look, touch or talk to him). As soon as he has given up contact, call him to suggest an interaction,
- don't scold him afterwards if he did something stupid while you were away (he won't understand the "punishment" ). Try instead to understand why your dog has come to do this stupidity: boredom, anxiety, frustration?,
- Call a canine behavior professional if you can't solve your problems. Don't stay in a confrontational situation with your pooch.
Tip 6: Hire a dog-sitter
It's always best to limit long periods of solitude for your dog as much as possible, simply out of respect for his needs and well-being. The dog-sitting system is very “fashionable” at the moment: and that's good!
So, if you have the possibility of finding a dog-sitter near you to come and walk your dog when you are away or if you can even drop him off in the morning at a boarding house or a dog nursery and pick it up in the evening: enjoy!