Due to the routines of many tutors, dogs end up staying at home for many hours alone. But what can be done to give a little comfort to dogs who are going to be left alone for 12 hours or more.
How to leave dog alone for 12 hours
A dog can be alone for 12 hours, but if he doesn’t have any distractions, he will probably be anxious and excited. Dogs with anxiety can cause destruction of some furniture and objects.
It is not recommended for the dog to be loose around the house, but it is important to leave it in a place reserved for it, without many objects to prevent the dog from destroying or eating inappropriate objects. The place cannot be too small, as it can stress the dog even more.
In addition, food and water should be available for the animal, as well as a space for him to do his needs. And a bed for him to lie down and get comfortable.
Before leaving the house, it is important to take the animal for a walk or do physical activity such as a dog, to spend some energy and let them defecate and urinate.
Some practices can help reduce dogs’ anxiety such as:
- Environmental enrichment;
- Canine company;
- Leave the TV and radio on.
Environmental enrichment
The use of enrichment aims to provide a space with activities that are close to the nature of the dogs. Through techniques, objects and toys that stimulate dogs through mental and physical challenges.
By leaving a dog alone with environment-enriching activities and toys, the dog tends to want to interact, and playing with the activities reduces the anxiety and stress of being alone.
Get canine company
Dogs, when kept with another dog, tend to have fun, play, and spend time challenging each other. Many times, they have no memory that they are alone. And it’s important for the dog to have contact with other dogs to remember what it was like in the pack.
The company of other dogs makes the animals less anxious, and therefore day care and hotel for dogs have become increasingly famous among dog tutors. Some tutors can also leave their dogs at friends’ houses, making it possible for dogs to socialize with other dogs.
Leave the TV and radio on
There are several ways to treat dog behavior problems and leaving the TV on for the dog has worked in some homes reducing dogs anxiety and stress. But in other homes it has a different effect stressing the dog even more.
Each dog is unique and can respond in different ways to TV stimuli. Some will relax and on the other hand, others will be more stressed. Not all dogs tolerate noise in the same way.
Using the radio on classical music channels or relaxing music can help relax dogs that are left alone. It is worth remembering that the volume of the Tv and radio must always be low and on specific channels for dogs, or for relaxation.
How long can I leave my dog alone?
There is no recommended maximum time. Each dog has a personality and its own routine. But the ideal is not to leave the dog alone for too long. In general dogs like company and like to play and spend energy with their owners.
It is important that the dog has a routine of activities and games. The expenditure of physical and mental energy makes the animals more comfortable at home, being able to stay alone for long periods.
However, there are very agitated dogs in which the more time alone they are, the more anxious they tend to be. Thus, excess anxiety can lead to several behavioral deviations that make it difficult for the animal to be alone at home.
Conclusion
With this post we were able to discuss a little about the tactics to be used to distract dogs by reducing anxiety and stress for being alone for 12 hours. We could see those tactics such as environmental enrichment, socializing with other dogs, and the use of TV and radio can help with separation anxiety.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): How to leave dog alone for 12 hours
Can dogs watch TV?
Yes, Dogs can watch TV. Nowadays many tutors have dogs with anxiety and full of energy to spend. Thus using TV as a form of interaction especially when the animals are alone at home. But for some dogs this may not work, requiring training, and association with other activities.
How to go out and leave the dog alone?
It is not recommended for the dog to be loose around the house, but it is important to leave it in a place reserved for it, without many objects to prevent the dog from destroying or eating inappropriate objects. The place cannot be too small, as it can stress the dog even more.
In addition, food and water should be available for the animal, as well as a space for him to do his needs. And a bed for him to lie down and get comfortable.
Before leaving the house, it is important to take the animal for a walk or do physical activity such as a dog, to spend some energy and let them defecate and urinate.
What to do for the dog not to cry when he is alone?
The use of canine training techniques can be used, teaching the dog to live better with their tutors. Acupuncture practices can also help reduce the stress and anxiety of dogs left alone.
Is it bad for dogs to watch TV?
For some dogs, the stimulation of TV images and noises can irritate the animal, making it more restless and anxious. But for other animals, TV has the opposite effect, being reassuring to dogs.
Why does my dog bark at the TV?
If your dog barks at other animals or at loud noises, for example, it is likely that he will bark too when these stimuli are shown on TV.
Reference
Hirskyj-Douglas, I., Read, J. C., & Cassidy, B. (2017). A dog centred approach to the analysis of dogs’ interactions with media on TV screens. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 98, 208-220.
Picture from Pxhere.com
