How To Leave Your Dog On Their Own

How To Leave Your Dog On Their Own

[lisaduehr]

My dog couldn't care less about any treat I leave him. He won't touch the treat until I return. It can be his most favorite treat, but if I give it as I'm leaving, he wants nothing to do with it.

[nathanwalker]

Wow. Tried this trick on my abandonment-anxiety pup and it worked pretty well the very first time.

[cfmpam]

I just tell them that I have to run errands and they chill out and lay around the house till I get back ! If I don't tell them that I'm running errands they will howl and chew things up !!!

[JardineFlower]

We're trying this this morning. I know it takes conditioning, but will post when we get back. I love this guy simply because he's a behavioralist and NOT a trainer. He knows his shit. Plus, love the accent!

[JardineFlower]

We have a 7 month old Labrabull. Very smart, but still a (50 lb) puppy. This worked GREAT! I just want to add, when you return home, remain very calm when you return! No high pitched baby talk. She came out very calm and relaxed! Thanks Will!

[karenjensen]

My dogs see me getting dressed and they put themselves in the crate. When I go to lock the crate I praise them for being the best puppies and tell them I’ll be back and go. I don’t make a big deal out of it. They love their crate and often take naps in there even when I’m home of their own volition.

[nanabear.]

I give all my dogs a job, I tell the aussie to watch over the horse, the Short Hair to watch over the Aussie, and the Golden to take care of the cats. I swear they get it 😂😂

[valcristPL]

My 5 monts old puppy loves the crate already, and it's such a blessing to have. After tiring him out during play, he goes in without protest and flops down.

[sianpeacock]

Crate train them from day one. So happy I did as my puppy loves his crate I don’t even have to say bed sometimes as he will just run in there when he can see I’m getting ready to go out. He also will take himself in there during the day to sleep when I’m at home. Makes it easier and safer leaving him when I have to 😊

[joannecollins]

You are so smart Will.
Truely a behavioralist at heart !

[carolineforth]

Yesss! From day 1 of having to leave, I used a "night night treat" aka a Kong with peanut butter. She learned that when she saw me making this treat, that meant she had to go into her crate to have it. Once she learned the onlyyyy time she got the Kong was when she went in the crate. So as soon as she saw I'm done putting PB in her Kong, she into her crate & lays down and waits for me to get over to her to get her night night treat & her SnugglePuppy (without the Heartbeat now that she's older). So I use the night night treat when it's bedtime (hence the name) or when I need her to go in her crate when we leave. I set up a camera pointing at her crate so I could check in to see how she was doing after her finishing her Kong. She'd just fall asleep. The anxiety was on my part. She just went right to sleep. If I ask her if she wants a "night night treat" she starts to go crazzyyyy.. all excited. The Kong & SnugglePuppy have been a God sent as far as getting our puppy crate trained & have her want to go in with her Kong night night treat. She's almost 11mo old now, so we just started leaving her out at night. Next will be while we are gone for an hour or so... but close by. And eventually hoping she'll be able to roam around with no crate. But I honestly think she loves her crate. I make sure to put a sheet or tablecloth over the crate when I want her to go to sleep. So at night & even while we are home but has needed a break/nap, we do this. The Kong popsicle is a great idea to make it last longer! Love these videos!

[getx]

I leave twice per day for a couple hours and always pat him goodbye at the back door, give him a Milkbone, and tell him to guard the place, and I'll be right back. No chews, no barking, no burglars.

[jessahblanchard]

We give smooches to our pup and tell her how much we love her before leaving. Lol. She doesn't cry and mostly chill.

[many_sodiumz]

We do a kong and quiet and relaxing music. We turn the music on well before we leave and we always have something in their kongs ready to go. Its so helpful, makes heading out for work easy.

[thijsbruijn]

That’s why I love that my dogs don’t really care. Sure they sometimes think we will go on a walk when I get ready, but as soon as I leave without them they just don’t care

[sofiahurtig]

Our dog actually gets to be free while we are at work or school. He's not a menace (thankful for that), he did once drag the couch cussions off. But nothing was ripped. He doesn't mind us leaving the house at all, for him it means long naps and playing with a stimulation ball. We just put some kibbles in there. Also, he has somehow learned to play on his own, he will shake his head with the toy in his mouth, let go and dash after it like a rocket. We love our weird buddy. ❤

[conniebonds]

Great lesson. The ignoring works great as a calming method for our Labrador.

[lastoftheschildren]

My dog only goes in the crate at night where he sleeps. When I go out during the day time he is left to roam around freely on the ground floor with his water, snacks and toys. He is usually alone for up to 3.5hrs max and is used to it as we leave the jazz internet radio station playing for him in the background.

[gsdmomb]

Never in 40 + years have I used a crate. I teach my dogs as pups how to be alone. I leave for 5 minutes then come back. I praise like crazy. I then leave for 10 minutes and repeat the praising. Then 15 minutes and repeat. I do the 5 minutes a few times a day for a few days, again with 10 minutes and so on. All my dogs have had free run at 5 1/2 months old. 😁

[Kat-n-Ollie]

This is a great idea, especially if the dog is just getting used to your leaving. My dog is used to it now but I sure could have used this advice when I first got him. Thanks!