Leaving your dog on his own
Setting boundaries
Start by teaching him to stay in one room whilst you are in another. Don’t always give him attention when he demands it. He needs to learn to rely on himself rather than his owner.
Don’t give him free access to the whole house. Limit where he can go so that you can limit any mess or destruction to one place. Use barriers such as baby gates to control his movement around the house.
Try not to make a big deal about leaving your dog, just leave quietly and calmly. The same applies when you come home, cool greetings are the order of the day.
Keep your dog busy while you are away
Ensure that he has had a good walk and has been fed before leaving him alone.
Give him some activity toys and do not go back to him while he is barking or whining. This will give him a positive way to relieve stress and boredom.
Other tips
Think about introducing an indoor kennel, or crate, to help with his training. Introduce the crate gradually and never leave your dog in it for long periods.
If you are still having problems, think about hiring a dogsitter to keep him company or a dog walker to break up the time he is left alone.
Always remember
Never punish your dog when you return home, no matter what mess or destruction you find. He won’t be able to associate the mess he made some time ago with his punishment and may become more anxious when left alone. This is confusing for your dog and does nothing to teach him what he should do when left alone.
