How To Train A Dog To Stay Home Alone

Introduction

If you’re a dog owner who works during the day, you’ll likely want to know how to teach your canine companion to stay home alone without having an accident or wrecking your place. While some dogs are naturally more comfortable being home alone than others, all canines need some degree of training and preparation before they can be trusted unsupervised. The good news is that even if you’ve already experienced a couple of disaster scenarios while trying to prep your pooch for solo living, there’s always time to start again and do better. The trick is teaching them patiently and systematically so that they learn—and retain—what you’re attempting to communicate. Here’s what I recommend:

Start slowly.

If you’ve followed the steps in this guide, then your dog should be able to stay alone for short periods of time by now. But if you’re expecting them to be able to stay home alone overnight or for long periods of time, then you need to take things slowly. Start with 30 minutes, and then increase the time gradually.

The trick is making sure that your dog knows what’s expected of him/her so they will feel comfortable and not anxious when left alone.

Teach the “quiet” command.

Teach your dog to go to a quiet place when you tell them to.

This will require a word that is not used in everyday conversation, for example “quiet.” The next step is to teach them to go into their crate or special closet and stay there until you release them. There are several ways of doing this, but the most common method is through classical conditioning.

Have crating options.

When you first bring your puppy home, you’ll want to give them the option of a crate. This is not a prison, but an area where they can feel safe and secure while they get used to their new surroundings.

If your dog is too small for a full-sized crate, try placing some kind of barrier around their bed so that they have their own space within the room and still have access to you when needed.

Make sure that there are no toys or other things inside of the crate except for food and water bowls as this could lead dogs to being anxious when left alone or being aggressive towards other animals who may come into contact with these items while outside of the home.

Create a time-out spot.

The time-out spot should be a place where the dog can’t get into trouble. It’s important that it’s not in a place that has any kind of hot surfaces, sharp objects, or poisonous plants. If you have small children around the house, make sure it’s also out of their reach since they may not know how fragile dogs can be.

This is also important for safety reasons—you don’t want to leave your dog unsupervised for too long because he might hurt himself (or worse).

If you’re going to use this method as punishment after an incident, then make sure you do so right away so he isn’t confused about what his punishment entails.

Manage windows and window coverings.

Use a crate or baby gate to block off access to the door, if necessary.
Set up a dog door in your home (or have one installed) so that your pet has a way of getting outside whenever it wants to go out and play with friends or fetch sticks from the yard.
Cover all of your windows with sturdy curtains and/or blinds, not sheer ones that could catch on paws as they scratch at them while trying to get inside again!

Exercise your dog regularly.

Exercise is important for all dogs, but it’s especially important for dogs that are left alone for long periods of time. Exercise will help your dog stay calm and relaxed. It will also keep them healthy by preventing obesity and other physical problems. Finally, exercise helps with mental stimulation which can reduce the risk of behavioral issues like separation anxiety in some dogs. When choosing an exercise activity for your pup, look for something that they love or can enjoy over a period of time (like playing fetch) rather than something they’ll only tolerate (like walking on a treadmill).

Play calming music.

Music that is too loud can be distracting to a dog, especially when they’re trying to remain calm. You should play music at a volume that’s barely audible in the background but still audible enough for your dog to hear it.
Music that is too fast or repetitive can cause anxiety in some dogs, so make sure you play music at a reasonable pace and with some variety in the melody and lyrics. If you want to keep your dog home alone for longer periods of time, you may need to switch up the music every few days so that it doesn’t become boring for them!

You can teach your dog to be home alone without worrying that they’ll destroy your house or hurt themselves.

It’s important to make sure your dog is comfortable before you start training them to stay at home alone, so if they’re not used to being left alone, you may want to just crate train them first and then add the “stay” command later. You can also create a separate room in your house with a door or gate that will keep them contained while you’re gone. This will help keep them from getting into trouble if they get bored or frustrated while waiting for their owners’ return!

Conclusion

As you can see, you have a few options when it comes to training your dog to be home alone. No matter what method you choose, the important thing is that it works for both you and your pup. Stay consistent with whatever training methods you choose and make sure to set the rules right away; consistency will help them learn quickly. And if they do have an accident while they’re learning, don’t forget that they don’t know any better! Don’t punish them—just clean it up and try again tomorrow.