How long Should you leave a dog alone at most?
The amount of time a dog can spend alone without suffering excessively depends on a few factors: Each four-legged friend is unique, so it depends heavily on the personality arrives, continue playing too Age, race and the ordinary one Everyday the four-legged friend plays a big role.
That says that Law
The absolute minimum you are obliged to do defines the Animal Welfare Dog Regulations. This states that the dog has the right to “sufficient exercise outdoors” and “sufficient contact with the person who keeps, looks after or has to look after the dog (carer)”.
This regulation is perhaps worded somewhat vaguely, but its direction is clear: a dog must not be left alone all the time; that would be animal cruelty. A current one Draft law then also plans to tighten the requirements somewhat: it is planned that at least one dog carried out twice daily must be and be entitled to multiple daily contacts with his caregiver should have.
Puppies need a lot of care
But that is really the absolute minimum; in practice, a dog that is kept in a species-appropriate manner actually needs a lot more social contact with its family. This is particularly true Puppies to.
In the first few weeks after taking over, dog children should not be left alone at all: They have just been separated from their mother and still need a caregiver; a “jump into the deep end” could quickly traumatize them.
As responsible dog owner So you take a lot of time to take over: it is ideal if someone is always at home. As a “single dog parent” it is actually mandatory to Vacation to take as soon as the little rascal comes into the house.
Do not traumatize the puppy
In puppies there is one “Shock therapy” completely out of place: If you leave your little four-legged friend alone even though he needs you, this will take revenge in adulthood. The dog is then often completely traumatized and reacts violently even if you leave the room for just a short time.
habituation of young dogs
The first little one “Weaning” in the form of leaving alone exercises should be at the earliest from around five months of life take place. When the dog is young, you should also proceed carefully so as not to frighten or frighten your four-legged friend.
It is generally assumed that young dogs – depending on the breed, between the ages of six and 12 to 18 months – A maximum of two hours alone at a time should be left. The latter period marks the end of a long getting used to phase in which you gradually leave the animal unattended for a little longer:
- At first you should just briefly disappear from the room, a few moments are enough.
- Then you leave the dog a little longer out of sight, first a few minutes, then a few more.
- As soon as the animal reacts calmly, you can leaving the apartment for the first time. After closing the door, you should stay nearby and – as before – try out shorter, then longer time intervals.
- It can then take some time before you meet the dog for the first time completely alone, for example to go shopping. There is no general time for this, you and your four-legged friend should feel comfortable: quick shots are completely out of place here.
If your loved one has trouble letting you go even with their best efforts, it may be worth it professional help to take advantage of: Many dog schools offer courses to combat separation stress, and some also have online modules in their catalogue.
Rule of thumb for adult four-legged friends
In adulthood, a well-trained and used dog will be left alone much more easily than a four-legged friend who had to go through severe trauma at a young age.
Even for “large” dogs, there is no absolute maximum or minimum number of hours that a four-legged friend should spend alone at a time. However, most experts agree that for many animals Four hours is a good guideline is.
In practice, well-trained and good-natured animals can often survive alone for much longer, without this becoming a problem: There are dog owners who can leave their pet unattended for six or eight hours. On the other hand, there are also four-legged friends who, despite their best efforts, hardly want to be alone even as adults.
Seniors alone in the house
Many dog owners find that their dogs… in the autumn of her life – i.e. in around the last quarter of natural life expectancy – less likely to want to be left alone. This is usually mainly because the animals then become weaker and therefore develop a greater need for protection. Also Senile dementia can then play a role – the dog then not only slowly loses its cognitive abilities, but also becomes afraid more quickly.
How to feel Do dogs behave when they are alone?
Dogs are our best friends, but sometimes we know surprisingly little about them: Sure, we see how they happily greet us again after a longer or shorter absence – but what happens between the farewell and the return usually remains hidden from us.
However, observations from experts give us a good insight into the emotional world of four-legged friends that is actually hidden from us: It should not be unexpected that they do not get along particularly well on their own.
dogs are Pack animals
This is in the blood of four-legged friends: Dogs are pack animals and dependent on their furry or human family. From a socio-biological point of view, the pack does not only serve to give the animal that Hunting in a pack and thus make the search for food easier: at the same time it also offers Protection from enemies.
The best-known pack animal is probably the “forefather” of the dog, the wolf. Unlike other dog-like loners such as foxes, the domesticated four-legged friends are permanently dependent on company: stray street dogs can often be seen gathering together in small groups.
A dog that is alone would have significantly lower chances of survival in the wild. Accordingly, he quickly becomes afraid without a companion: Stress hormones are increasingly released and the dog feels rushed. This is all too understandable, especially in childhood: a puppy that is separated from its mother and siblings would ultimately be doomed to die without human help.
Separation anxiety a big problem
Virtually every dog has experienced this at some point when the breeder gives them into the care of their new family. The caregivers change, which the animal initially doesn't like at all. The four-legged friend's world then collapses – at least for a short time – and he usually reacts in panic.
Experts refer to this as Separation anxiety or separation stress: Dogs don't know if and when their owner will return – for them every farewell is forever, until they are taught otherwise by your return. The four-legged friends then feel left to their own devices and are often completely overwhelmed.
Prove this hidden recordings of dogs, who were left alone, for example in the highly recommended ARD documentary “Bello Alone at Home”. This film, made in collaboration with the “Academy of Naturopathy”, shows that the behavior of many four-legged friends changes drastically almost immediately after saying goodbye.
Frequently desperate behavior
The dogs then often show a very desperate behavior, that they would never display in society. Commonly observed signs of separation stress include, for example:
- Frequent or constant whining, whining, whining and especially barking
- Destructive behavior, e.g. against clothing and furniture
- Frequent scratching, for example at the door
- Dog is suddenly no longer house trained and urinates/defecates in the apartment
- Digestive problems such as vomiting and diarrhea due to stress
- Dog licks itself too much or even bites itself
- Loss of appetite or lethargy.
Often the cause of further problems with four-legged friends and neighbors
Over time, this behavior can lead to major problems:
- A dog that has a strong desire to destroy often incurs high costs.
- Due to the constant stressful situation alone, friction can still occur between the four-legged friend and human family members – in the worst case, the hierarchy is even disrupted or the dog develops aggressive behavior.
Those too Impact on your neighbors Don't underestimate the fact that a constantly barking dog has often led to disputes that have ended up in court. This is understandable, because being alone gets on the nerves of not only the dog, but also uninvolved third parties.