7 Dog Breeds That Can Be Left Alone
Basset Hound. Chihuahua. French Bulldog. Greyhound.
Much like Golden Retrievers, Bullmastiffs look forward to quality time with their owners after a long day. They also have a fairly low energy level compared to other large dogs, so you shouldn't have to worry about them while you're at work.
Most experts agree you shouldn't leave your adult dog alone for more than eight to 10 hours, but some dogs (especially ones with small bladders) can't last that long. DO prepare your dog before you go.
Yes, Dogs Get Lonely
It's even more important to not leave puppies home alone all day. Puppies younger than 14 weeks of age are in a sensitive socialization period and benefit from lots of social interaction. They should be in the company of their family for significantly more time than an adult dog.
“In my experience, the four most common breeds of dogs that exhibit signs of separation anxiety are typically Labrador Retrievers, Chihuahuas (both mixed breeds and standards), German Shepherds and Cocker Spaniels”, says Dr.
The dog breeds that are more likely to have this problem are the German Shepherd, Australian Shepherd, Border Collie, Jack Russell Terrier, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Bichon Frise, Toy Poodle, Labrador Retriever, Cocker Spaniel, and German Shorthaired Pointer.
Greyhound. You might be surprised to hear that these stars of the racecourse are amongst the lowest maintenance dogs out there. They don't need much exercise – a couple of 30-minute walks each day are plenty. Greyhounds are built for speed, not stamina.
Border Collie
They are highly prone to suffering from separation anxiety, and if ignored for long, they can suffer from depression, which is equal to no more tricks, training, and love from your pooch's side. You can hire a dog sitter when you are away from home.
Male dogs seem to be more prone to separation anxiety than females (McGreevy, 2008; Storengen & al., 2014). Neutered dogs show a higher frequency than intact dogs (Storengen & al., 2014). Neutering however may not be a cause of SA, but mostly an attempt by the guardians to treat the behavior problem.
A lot of dogs get bored when their owners aren't around, and a good way to combat that is with interactive toys. Interactive toys are a great way to keep your pup entertained, even when they're home alone.
If you work more than eight hours a day, or if you'd just like your dog to go outside when you're gone, you have a couple of options: taking your dog to doggy daycare, or asking a neighbor or a petsitter/dogwalker (or even a personal assistant) to let your dog out and/or take him for a walk.
This common practice of all-day confinement in a cage or crate means dogs suffer in many ways, including separation anxiety; excessive self-grooming, chewing and licking to the point of self-mutilation; worn and broken teeth and zinc poisoning from chewing metal cages; extreme boredom, leading to depression and ...
Dogs owners should not leave their dogs alone for more than four hours at a time, according to the RSPCA. The animal welfare charity has issued this guidance after they carried out a survey recently. They found that 20% of owners thought it was fine to leave their pet unattended for more than a day.
Impawtant Note: While it's common for dogs to sleep in crates at night, we don't recommend that you keep your dog in a crate for more than a couple hours during the day. Before you go back to the office, make sure your dog is fully potty trained so they do not have to stay in a crate at all while you're gone.
Leaving Your Dog for Three Days
Preparing to leave your pup during a three-day trip won't be too different from leaving for a day or two. You'll find it easiest to recruit someone to stop in a couple times a day to check on food, water, offer plenty of love and provide potty breaks.
Dogs often prove to be great pets and they come with mental health benefits including stress and anxiety reduction, a boost in self-esteem, and improved social connection. Cats are also popular pets; these loving, independent animals have proven to help with loneliness, depression, and anxiety.