These days you can bring your dog with you to many different places, but there may still be times when you need to leave them behind. Here, our Picayune vets share some advice for leaving your dog at home alone, how long you can do so, and how your companion animal may benefit from pet boarding.
How to Successfully Leave Your Dog at Home Alone
Your dog loves getting time playing and cuddling with you, but unfortunately, there will be times when you need to go do things without them. This can lead you to ask how long can you leave your dog alone and what do they do when you are gone?
This is no straight answer to this. How long you can leave your dog alone will depend on your dog's age, breed, and personality. Young puppies under 6 months old should not be left alone for more than 2 or 3 hours because of their bladder control and the risk of separation anxiety. When you do leave your young puppy alone it's best to keep them safe in a crate or puppy-proof room where they can't break anything or get into too much trouble.
As your puppy gets older you will be able to leave your dog for longer and longer periods of time. Adult dogs are generally okay on their own for 4-6 hours a day. But, many dogs are good at adapting to being alone for 8-9 hours while you are at work if they are provided with enough space to move around comfortably.
Helping Your Dog to Enjoy Their Alone Time
Just because your dog will stay at home without issues for a long period of time, doesn't mean that they enjoy it. Dogs much prefer the companionship of their owners in order to be happy and comfortable. Here are some things you can do to help your dog when you are not home:
Entertain Your Dog
If you need to leave the house for any period of time you will want to make sure that they will be entertained. You could leave them some toys such as their favorite stuffed animal or a puzzle to provide them with a fun challenge.
Communicate Using Technology
While you cannot physically be home with your pet, newer technology allows you the opportunity to communicate with your pet throughout the day. Pet cameras let you talk to your canine companion so you can soothe your pooch with your calming voice, or even keep an eye on their behavior so you can reward them with lots of yummy treats.
Make Them Feel Safe
Offer your dog a sense of security or safety by swaddling them in a jacket or keeping them in their crate with enough space to move around and play. While your dog may seem unsure of this at first, they will quickly warm up to it.
How Dog Boarding in Picayune Can Help
At Picayune Veterinary Clinic, we know that deciding where to leave your dog while you travel or are away from home can be a difficult choice. Whether you are heading out on vacation for a couple of weeks, or off on a business trip for a couple of days, you will need to find appropriate care for your dog.
Doing a little research into the options for pet care while you are on vacation, and what features each service offers, can help to make your decision easier.
Boarding for Pets
For times that your dog will be unable to travel with you, boarding for pets offers the care they need along with plenty of love and attention.
Services range from pet spas and doggie summer camps to medical boarding for pups who need extra love and attention, with price points that range from extravagant to affordable.
If you are in the process of looking at a boarding facility for dog care for your vacation, be sure to check out a few different places in your area to find a facility that best suits the needs of your pet and your wallet.
Amenities at Dog Boarding Facilities
Price is typically a good indicator of the level of service provided at a given dog boarding facility. If your pooch will be treated to luxurious hotel-like spaces with comfy sofas to lounge on and a TV to watch, you're going to pay more than you would to board your pet at a standard facility with roomy crates and fenced dog runs.
If you plan on being away for a little longer, then you may want to consider signing your dog up for a fun camp. Dog camps across the country offer loads of time for your dog to explore outdoors, as well as added facilities in some cases for swimming and playing with other dogs.
What is included at our pet boarding facility in Picayune?
Standard care at most pet boarding facilities will include:
- A clean, roomy kennel for your pup to sleep in
- Exercise time outdoors before breakfast so your dog can stretch their legs
- Breakfast served in the kennel
- Out of kennel playtime in the middle of the day to allow your pooch to burn some energy
- Dinner served in the kennel
- Evening bathroom break
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.