How long can you leave your dog? I get asked this a lot so I'm here to help. It really  depends on a few things like age, temperament, energy level, and lifestyle.

How long can a dog stay alone? 

All dogs should be ok with spending time at home alone, it's a really basic training skill for therm to self settle and not be glued to us and that will help prevent separation anxiety. 

But how long can dogs be left alone? Really, a healthy adult dog can go for six to eight hours without a toilet break. However, less is best when it comes to regular time spent at home alone. Dogs are super social animals and love their humans and being alone for too long can lead to depression and destructiveness. My own dogs are never left alone for more than 5 hours.

How long can a puppy or older dog stay alone? 

Puppies have teeny bladders and need to go out for the loo more often. Puppies are like babies and they're not physically or emotionally capable of being left home alone for as long as older dogs are. Also, as dogs get older, it’s harder for them to spend extended periods of time on their own too as they need more frequent trips out to the loo. Puppies really shouldn't be left for more than an hour or so which is built up as they get older. 

Location matters

Where your dog is when they're left home is super important. If you choose to leave your dog in a crate then remember that they shouldn't be left in it for too long. It's difficult for them to move around and stretch so a bigger dog-proof area is always a better idea. 

Enrichment

When leaving your dog home alone, it's a great idea for them to be left with things to keep them feeling enriched and happy. Long lasting chews, dog safe toys and enrichment puzzles are helpful in keeping your dog engaged while you are away. Things like Beef Air Pipes stuffed with our delicious Pates will keep your dog occupied while you’re out. This helps keep your dog entertained and can even prevent destructive or disruptive behaviours such as barking and chewing things they shouln't.

Make your time together the best it can be

It’s so important to maximise the time you do have with your dog. Take advantage of the chances you and your dog have when you’re together. If you know you’ll need to leave your dog home for a period of time, get up early to get some playtime in. Some dogs love a long walk so why not take them on one and work on training games at the same time. It's so important to make sure your dog has physical and mental stimulation before you leave. It’s also an opportunity for more bonding time and helps your dog cope with longer periods of time away from you. 

Get help

When you leave your dog home alone, why not ask for some help from a friend, family member, or a professional dog walker. This gives your dog a chance to go to the loo, socialise with other people and dogs and enjoy some playtime.

If your dog struggles with alone time, it’s best sort out any separation anxiety issues right away.

All dogs should spend some time home alone, but it’s important to be thoughtful and considerate. Leave your dog alone for a reasonable amount of time given their needs.

It's no secret that here at PetBuddy, we adore puppies, we'd happily play with puppies day and night!  But what are the most common puppy problems? What do new puppy owners find most difficult? I remember being a new puppy owner and in that the lovely bubble of having that amazing bundle of fur, but also being worried about them constantly.

So I'm here to give you the lowdown of the most common accidents and illnesses and what I learned along the way.

What are the most common accidents for puppies?

Eating things they shouldn't

The most common accident is when puppies eat things they shouldn't. Anything from the floor goes in their mouth so we need to be extra careful! 

Why do puppies eat things that they shouldn’t?

Puppies are naturally curious and inquisitive and everything goes in the mouth.  Puppies discover the world through their noses and mouths so it's very normal for them to do this.  It gives them experiences of new textures, tastes and smells whilst they’re learning. Chewing too is a big thing for puppies and when they're teething, they do this more to help relieve their mouth pain.

Puppies also eat things they shouldn’t out of boredom, puppies don't know what is safe or dangerous to chew and eat, It's all fait fair game to a pup! It is our responsibility as their owners to watch, guide and train them. Their curiosity will get the better of them if we ignore it and they will just chew and eat anything they can get their mouths on to see what it's like. Bye by chair leg! 

Since the Covid pandemic, many of us were spending much more time at home which was music to our dog's ears. It's not all good though, now people are returning to work we've seen a huge increase in separation anxiety. 

What is separation anxiety and what can we do to prevent it?

Separation anxiety happens when a dog doesn’t have the coping mechanisms to be alone or without their owner. Their instincts tell them that being alone is a source of anxiety or fear. This is because if they have never been taught that it is ok and safe to be alone or without their owner so it becomes a scary thing for them. 

Teaching a dog to be alone is such an important part of their training, it's as important as getting them used to new sounds, other dogs, scents and so on. It's actually one of the hardest things to train as we as humans like to feel needed. Often, inadvertently we create the issue of separation anxiety in our dogs by feeling guilty for leaving them alone and convincing ourselves they need us all the time. 

Signs of separation anxiety in dogs.

There are a number of signs that may show that your dog is distressed when alone, which include:

• Excessive panting
• Tail between legs
• Lip licking
• Ears pinned back
• Excessive yawning
• Pacing
• Destruction
• Toileting in the house
• Not eating
• Howling and barking

It can be so upsetting to see our dogs so distressed and not having the right techniques to help them and manage this.  But here at PetBuddy, we're here to help.  

Here's our three steps to manage and prevent separation anxiety. 

STEP 1 - IDENTIFY THE TRIGGERS OF THE BEHAVIOUR

Identifying triggers for, and understanding the extent of, separation related behaviours can be difficult, as the majority of behaviour happens while your dog is on their own. Why not set up a camera that allows you to see what your dog is doing when you’re not with them. You will then be able to spot any triggers and see how their anxiety manifests and presents.  

BOREDOM

Dogs need both mental and physical stimulation in order to stay happy and healthy. If your dog isn’t getting enough physical or mental exercise, they can get bored and this might be contributing to their behaviour. If your dog has lots of energy left to use up, then being left alone could increase the chances of them having anxiety. As your dog runs out of things to do, you may see that their energy is directed to destructive behaviours. 

 FRUSTRATION

Frustration in dogs can be tricky to spot but is often triggered by a dog’s inability to get at something they want or need. To see if this might be the cause, keep an eye out for things that may be causing your dog to become frustrated. It might be if they feel like they suddenly don’t have your attention and comfort, they might frantically try to find and recreate that comfort in some other way.

FEAR AND ANXIETY

Previous negative experiences can have a big impact on how dogs behave. For some dogs, if they've had a negative experience when left alone before, this can cause fear and anxiety in the future when spending time by themselves.

You may notice their behaviour changes when you are getting ready to leave the house without them  All your usual routines of getting your keys or your shoes, grabbing your coat, all can come to act as signals to your dog and may trigger a fear or anxiety reduced response.

CONFIDENCE

If your dog is fearful and anxious when left alone, it could be that they are lacking in confidence, so the more we work on making them a happy and confident dog the more likely they'll be comfortable when left alone.

Training is amazing for increasing their self-confidence. Try teaching some new tricks and always reward any independent behaviour. The ability to self settle is so important so some gentle praise if they choose to settle themselves down somewhere away from you is perfect.

STEP 2 – START YOUR TRAINING

Work our how long your dog can be left alone for before they start showing signs of anxiety.  Have a camera set up and leave the room, watch for any signs that they aren't happy and content in their own company.  

Before beginning your separation training, there are a few things you can do to help set your dog up for success:

• Ensure your dog is getting enough mental stimulation and exercise. Regular walks and social interaction will help reduce your dog’s energy levels and fulfil some of their needs. 
• Provide your dog with plenty of opportunities to forage for food and play throughout the day. Food toys such as our snuffle mats and snuffle balls are a great way to do this. 
• All dogs should have a safe space where they can settle and relax. Think about things that might trigger your dog when creating this area. Your dog should always have free access in and out of their safe area, so if you’re using a crate always remember to keep the door open. 

WHAT'S NEXT?

• Start slow and simple and don't do more than your dog can handle. It may be that you leave the room rather than the house so your dog knows you are still there.
• When you leave your dog, make sure they have something, or a few different things to keep them occupied and provide them with mental stimulation. Try long lasting natural treats which should keep them busy and tire them out. 
• Once your dog is settled, leave the room. Just do it with no fuss. Make it seem like a normal everyday occurrence and show your dog that it’s not something they need to be concerned or stressed about.
• When you return do it calmly, so fuss but some gentle praise is perfect.
• Start to increase the time your dog is left alone, slowly if you have to. Sometimes it really is minute by minute. 
• Once your dog is happy with you being in a different room for longer periods of time, you can begin to leave the house. At this point you can also start to introduce the process of putting on your shoes and picking up keys.

 STEP 3 – ENCOURAGE YOUR DOG TO BE INDEPENDENT

Some dog's are especially anxious and really struggle to be left alone to teaching them to self settle is really important. 

You can try using a feeding tool such as a Lickimat. Top it with your dog's favourite things like banana, one of our delicious paste's, choose from Liver Paste, Salmon Paste or Turkey Paste.  Whilst your dog is busy, go about your business as usual, leave the room and come back. You could also leave some of your dog's food scattered around the room when you leave. Try your best to leave your dog either sleepy from a long walk, a play or training session or occupied so they are more likely to be calmer. 

This can all take time, dog's who have had issues for a while will take some time to unlearn these behaviours be ok having alone time, be understanding and patient. 

Have you seen Rawhide snacks in the shops and confused about it? Is it dangerous or is it not?  Why would shops sell it if it was so bad? 

You're right to be concerned and we're here to tell you why it's to be avoided and to offer up some natural and healthy alternatives! 

Out with the old and in with the new... positive reinforcement is always a winner over punishing bad behaviour when training your dog. It's all about "Do" rather than "Don't"and we're big fans of this over at PetBuddy. 

There are often very many different undesirable ways for a dog to behave.  Dog training through reinforcement enables us to be very selective, and to chose the exact behaviour that we want.

What exactly is reinforcement?  It simply means encouraging good behaviours to continue and not punishing the bad. Reinforcement is a great training tool if you purposefully reinforce good things your puppy does.

If something you do carries a benefit, then it makes sense to do it again, right?

Positive reinforcement enables you to train your dog while keeping the dog’s confidence and enthusiasm at an all time high. It is the only method of training suitable for young puppies, and the quickest and best way of nailing those good behaviours .

Positive reinforcement strengthens the bond between you and your dog too, and there's not much better than that.

The importance of timing when reinforcing your dog!

We want our puppies to know that the positive reinforcement we are giving them is linked to their behaviour, we wouldn't tell our puppy to sit then reward them five minutes later and expect them to understand the correlation. 

If you are using training treats, you should have them to hand and reward your puppy quickly if you want his behaviours to be reinforced. High value training treats work best and our range of Pure Pates are perfect, they are totally pure and natural and trainer recommended. 

 We call this positive reinforcement, because it involves adding something positive to your pup's environment.

Types of rewards.  

There are many different types of reward for your dog which you can use when practicing their training. Not every dog is treat driven, some prefer retrieving a ball or a toy, some prefer having a fuss made of them or verbal reinforcement, a good enthusiastic "yes, good boy/girl" can go a long way. 

Your happy puppy! 

Positive reinforcement training is the future of puppy and dog training, it builds bonds, rewards your dog, makes them feel good, is amazing for building their confidence as well as yours and is perfect for enriching their lives. A well trained dog is a confident, social and enjoyable dog to have in your family.  

Did you know there's a way to keep your dogs joints nice and healthy from as young as 12 weeks old?  That's right, the miracle ingredient, Glucosamine is essential in cartilage building and keeping your pup's joints strong, healthy and flexible. 

Glucosamine is produced naturally in your dog's body, it forms the building blocks of cartilage, but it can also be found in lots of tasty foods like chicken feet, mussels, bone marrow, bones, beef and lamb! 

As dog's age, cartilage erodes (I know, sniff sniff) which means that bones will rub more closely together, causing pain and inflammation. Less Glucosamine is produced as dogs get older as it naturally becomes harder. 

That's why adding extra Glucosamine to your dog's diet is so important, to replace the cartilage building blocks that your dog can't make themselves.

Staying as happy and mobile as possible for as long as possible is the aim for our dogs right, so extra Glucosamine is a must! It reduces inflammation, maintains youthful energy and movement and helps with recovery, contributing to a quicker recovery. When dog's feel better, they are happier, that's what we want right?! 

How can we help at PetBuddy?

You can absolutely give you dog Glucosamine in the form of tablets, but as it's naturally produced in your dog's better, it's believed to keep it as natural as possible.  Chicken Feet are an amazing natural source of Glucosamine and they are one of our most popular cronchy treats. Beef Trachea are great too and we have plenty of these! 

If you know anything about us, you'll know that we believe that natural is best. So why not take a look at what we do and how we can help keep your dog as healthy as possible for as long as possible!