As you prepare to leave, your dog may start to pant or pace, whine or bark, shake, or soothe. You might find out when you get home that your cute little puppy is up to some destructive behavior or refuses to come out of hiding. These behaviors can become more severe over time.

Even a confident dog can develop separation anxieties after spending a lot of time alone with its owner, for example, during the holidays or on summer vacations.

Imagine this… When you are on vacation or first adopting your puppy, it’s like you spend the entire day with them. Then, one day, you aren’t there.

We can train our puppies so that they are calm and confident when we leave them alone at home or go to work.

Crate Training Can Begin Right Away

Crate training teaches your puppy to cope with short periods without your attention while keeping him in a comfortable, safe place. As the workout progresses, we will increase the amount of time that your puppy spends alone in the crate to increase their tolerance and confidence.

The bladder can only be held for 1-2 hours in a puppy’s crate per month. A pup that is eight weeks old might only be able to stay in its crate for about 1-2 hours.

Crate training can be important for puppies because they are curious and will chew on anything that looks interesting, such as furniture, electrical cords, and other belongings. We never let a puppy roam free when we are not around to supervise it.

We provide chew toys such as Nylabones or puzzle toys, like the seek-a-treat shuffle bones.

We do not put items that are easily destroyed with stuffing into their crate. These items can cause choking hazards or even blockages if they get stuck in the intestines.

Begin with short durations of independent play

You should limit your first crate session or time of independent play to one hour so that your puppy gets used to being alone.

You don’t even have to leave the house. You want your puppy to become accustomed to their crate or puppy pen without you being there.

Let your puppy play for short periods while you are busy doing chores around the house, cooking, or bathing. You can go for a stroll without them or weed your garden. Or you could sit and read.

Keep this training in mind throughout the day

Throughout the day, you’ll want to allow your puppy some time alone in his crate or puppy pen.

Young puppies are usually ready to nap after eating and pottying. Your pup can go in his crate at this time.

If you wake up your puppy, he’ll need to use the toilet again. He will also want to play. You can play chase or catch and practice important commands such as sit, stay, and come.

After a few minutes of independent play in the puppy pen, he can enjoy an enrichment toy.

It is not only important to prevent separation anxiety in your puppy but also to keep them in the crate throughout the day.

Otherwise, they will become overstimulated. Overstimulated puppies are irritable, can bite, and have difficulty focusing or stopping unwanted behaviors.

Crate time can help prevent overstimulation by providing your dog with a comfortable and safe place to relax.

You can benefit your dog’s mental well-being and health by teaching them that it is okay to spend time away from you.

Increase the duration of independent play gradually

This training aims to gradually increase the time your puppy spends alone during a typical working day. You’ll gradually increase the time that your puppy spends in his crate or puppy pen while playing independently as you run errands or leave the room.

If you begin training your dog as soon as possible, your puppy will be less anxious when your vacation is over, and you must leave him alone at home.

You Should Expect an Adjustment Period

A dog who is suffering from separation anxiety will bark excessively, chew, dig, and destroy. They may also try to escape. You may be thinking, “But my dog cries every time I leave her.”

It’s not separation anxiety. Usually, it’s because they haven’t learned how to self-soothe yet.

They will certainly cry, but you have to teach your puppy how to soothe themselves and stay calm and relaxed when you are not around. You’ll never be able to help your dog overcome their anxiety when you are not at home.

If your puppy is still very young and with its littermates and mother, it will cry for their mother, who will come running back to take care of her pup. Your pup’s instinctive reaction is to call and wait until you pay attention.

Even a dog mother will eventually wean her puppy from this behavior as it grows and becomes more independent and capable.

It would be best if you didn’t run back to your dog every time he cries after you leave. This reinforces his crying behavior.

When your puppy is eight weeks old or younger, it’s okay to respond immediately to their cries. After that, you should help your puppy move on to the next stage of development.

Learn to self-soothe and cope with the “Extinction Burst”

The extinction burst is what we call it. Your puppy will need to cry out repeatedly without your response before learning to calm down.

This is the best way to help your puppy self-soothe.

You mustn’t pick up your puppy or pay attention to them when they are crying or barking after being let out. This reinforces their behavior. Every time we support a bad behavior, we have to start the training process over again.

If you do not let your dog cry when you leave, you are only setting him up for separation anxiety.

Make the Experience as Pleasant As Possible

We want to ensure that all of the puppy’s needs are met before putting her in her crate.

We take the puppy outside to potty first before putting him in the crate. Before placing the puppy in the box, we make sure that she has been mentally and physically exercised. This will help her to settle quicker and not make the experience traumatizing.

Give Puppy Mental Exercise Too

Your puppy’s mental health is a daily exercise. These games help them improve their listening skills, focus, and manners while ignoring distractions. You should teach your dog what you WANT him to know and to do, as well as correct the behaviors that you don’t want. This includes pulling on the leash and biting.

Exercises that combine mental and physical activity can help your dog burn excess energy, which may lead to anxiety and other unwanted behaviors.

You can learn more about the training games I use and ask me any questions you have.

If you follow these tips, you will find it much easier to leave your dog at home while you go to work.