One of the questions often asked by working folk who are thinking whether to get a dog is which types of dog are most fitted to being left home alone. But is this the right question to be asking and will this approach guarantee you don't get a dog which will suffer with separation anxiety?
Views on this subject appear to differ quite extensively, on the one hand there are individuals that will tell you that whatever the breed, it is not appropriate to leave a dog home alone during the daytime because they are all pack animals, while on the other hand people will tell you that a very happy, healthy, well-trained dog of any breed should be O.K.
What is clear is that it's not easy to generalize about breeds as there are often exceptions. On one internet site I saw the advice that an Italian Greyhound would adapt well to being left alone and on another it was noted as a breed that would be very poorly suited. On a forum someone was advising against ever leaving Collies alone as they were too high energy, and yet a dog owner on the same forum claimed she left her Collie for 8 hours a day and it had not been an issue.
You'll find that most dog breed guides give you general characteristics of the dog breed considered the standard of what the breed should be, and while this is helpful, it isn't a guarantee of how your individual dog will be.
Consider a Dog's Personality, Energy Levels and Age
All dogs have different temperaments even inside the same litter. So maybe searching for a dog with a calm temperament of whatever breed you have an interest in, is a more appropriate place to start. If you are considering a rescue dog, ensure you ask the staff at the centre as they are going to be very mindful of the dog's nature.
A dog's energy levels might also affect how well a dog can be left alone. Lower energy dogs are usually happy to sleep for hours, while high energy dogs that are looking for more activity might get up to a lot more mischief when left to look after themselves.
Age is another factor that could affect how well a dog acclimatizes to being left alone. Young puppies are not suitable to be left alone for long amounts of time and even toilet trained puppies can't hold on for much longer than a couple of hours. Again, a rescue dog could be a great place to get a dog that is beyond puppy stage. Older dogs (over 3 years old) are commonly considered to be more settled and less susceptible to be worried about being left alone.
Training to Stop Dog Separation Anxiety
Outside the factors discussed above, the training you do with your dog might be the largest determining factor in how well they accept being left at home alone.
One area of training considered very important is demonstrating to your dog that you are the pack leader, as it is thought that a lot of anxiousness is due to a dog believing they're leader of the pack and so answerable for the safety of the remainder of their pack.
The result of this is that when you leave them home alone they panic about where you have disappeared to and can cause huge damage trying hard to get out so they can come and find you.
Crate training may also be helpful as the use of a crate can give dogs a feeling of security while you are out. It not only keeps a dog out of danger, it provides confidence for the owner and acts as a den for a dog. Don't forget to introduce your dog to a crate step by step and slowly build up the time they spend in it alone.
Whatever breed you select and whatever path you take to leaving your dog home alone, remember that each dog has their own character, and while there are steps you can take in general for any dog, there may also be more specific training you have to do to help the dog you choose be happy when left home alone.
Views on this subject appear to differ quite extensively, on the one hand there are individuals that will tell you that whatever the breed, it is not appropriate to leave a dog home alone during the daytime because they are all pack animals, while on the other hand people will tell you that a very happy, healthy, well-trained dog of any breed should be O.K.
What is clear is that it's not easy to generalize about breeds as there are often exceptions. On one internet site I saw the advice that an Italian Greyhound would adapt well to being left alone and on another it was noted as a breed that would be very poorly suited. On a forum someone was advising against ever leaving Collies alone as they were too high energy, and yet a dog owner on the same forum claimed she left her Collie for 8 hours a day and it had not been an issue.
You'll find that most dog breed guides give you general characteristics of the dog breed considered the standard of what the breed should be, and while this is helpful, it isn't a guarantee of how your individual dog will be.
Consider a Dog's Personality, Energy Levels and Age
All dogs have different temperaments even inside the same litter. So maybe searching for a dog with a calm temperament of whatever breed you have an interest in, is a more appropriate place to start. If you are considering a rescue dog, ensure you ask the staff at the centre as they are going to be very mindful of the dog's nature.
A dog's energy levels might also affect how well a dog can be left alone. Lower energy dogs are usually happy to sleep for hours, while high energy dogs that are looking for more activity might get up to a lot more mischief when left to look after themselves.
Age is another factor that could affect how well a dog acclimatizes to being left alone. Young puppies are not suitable to be left alone for long amounts of time and even toilet trained puppies can't hold on for much longer than a couple of hours. Again, a rescue dog could be a great place to get a dog that is beyond puppy stage. Older dogs (over 3 years old) are commonly considered to be more settled and less susceptible to be worried about being left alone.
Training to Stop Dog Separation Anxiety
Outside the factors discussed above, the training you do with your dog might be the largest determining factor in how well they accept being left at home alone.
One area of training considered very important is demonstrating to your dog that you are the pack leader, as it is thought that a lot of anxiousness is due to a dog believing they're leader of the pack and so answerable for the safety of the remainder of their pack.
The result of this is that when you leave them home alone they panic about where you have disappeared to and can cause huge damage trying hard to get out so they can come and find you.
Crate training may also be helpful as the use of a crate can give dogs a feeling of security while you are out. It not only keeps a dog out of danger, it provides confidence for the owner and acts as a den for a dog. Don't forget to introduce your dog to a crate step by step and slowly build up the time they spend in it alone.
Whatever breed you select and whatever path you take to leaving your dog home alone, remember that each dog has their own character, and while there are steps you can take in general for any dog, there may also be more specific training you have to do to help the dog you choose be happy when left home alone.
About the Author:
Author Venice Marriott is a writer, dog owner and runs a website, which provides help and information for dog owners dealing with behaviour problems created by dog anxiety. Get more information about dogs that can be left alone when you visit the site.