Kroki

Question · Dog

How do I teach my dog to be alone?

The short answer

Film your dog when you leave to see how long it copes now. Then practise below that limit, starting with seconds behind a closed door, and arrange a dog-sitter, day care or a friend so it is not left longer than it can manage. Howling, scratching at the door, drooling or mess only when alone point to distress: see your vet first, then a behaviour professional. Kroki, a reward-based training app for puppies and dogs, has an SOS card for being alone and adapts each step to how it went.

How to do it, step by step

  1. Film an ordinary departure

    Set up a phone or pet camera, get ready as usual and leave for five minutes. Watch the recording afterwards: does your dog lie down within a minute or two, or does it pace, whine at the door or stare at it? The time before the first sign of worry is your starting point, and it is often shorter than owners expect.

  2. Stop the absences that go over the limit

    While you train, every absence that tips your dog into panic rehearses that panic. Bridge the gap with a dog-sitter, a neighbour, day care if your dog enjoys it, or by taking it along. For working owners this is the hardest part, and it is the one that makes the rest possible.

  3. Build calm while you are at home

    Teach your dog to relax on a mat or bed while you move around: reward it for lying there, add a long-lasting chew, and slowly spend more time in other rooms. A dog that follows you to every door needs this step before any absence.

  4. Take the sting out of departure cues

    Grown dogs have learned that keys, shoes, a coat or a rucksack mean being left. Pick up the keys and sit down again, put on your shoes and make a cup of tea. Repeat these cues many times a day until your dog barely lifts its head.

  5. Leave for seconds, below the threshold

    Step outside the front door for two or three seconds and come back before any sign of worry. Vary the times, mostly short with an occasional longer one, and film each round. If you see pacing or whining, make the next absences shorter.

  6. Match the plan to the kind of problem

    A dog that scratches at the door because it wants to follow you may cope better behind a baby gate in a room it likes. A dog that chews things only after an hour may first need more exercise and food puzzles. A dog that trembles, drools or cannot eat is frightened and needs a professional plan rather than more practice.

  7. Let a rescue dog arrive first

    A dog new to your home has lost everything familiar. Give it a couple of weeks of routine and company before you start alone practice, and expect some days that go backwards. Plateaus are normal; a step back to an easier length usually gets things moving again.

Bringing home a puppy?

A young puppy has no bad experiences with being alone yet and sleeps for much of the day, so you can start in the first days with a few seconds while it naps. The page for puppies explains those early steps and the signs that a puppy is not coping.

Why being alone goes wrong in different ways

Separation-related problems are not one single thing. A study collected owner reports on 2,757 dogs with signs of such problems and found that 54 signs grouped into seven patterns, among them frustration at not being able to follow, panic-like social distress, toileting, redirected frustration and noise sensitivity. The dogs fell into four broad groups (de Assis and colleagues 2019). For you, this means the same howling can have different reasons, and the reason decides which plan helps.

These problems are also easy to miss. The RSPCA notes that research suggests 8 out of 10 dogs find it hard to cope when left alone and that about half of them show no obvious signs. It advises against showing disapproval when you come home to a mess and recommends speaking to your vet, who can refer you to a clinical animal behaviourist (RSPCA).

In a Finnish survey with 13,715 owner replies, howling, drooling or panting when alone was reported at all ages, while destroying things or peeing when alone was more common in younger dogs (Salonen and colleagues 2020). Dogs with separation-related behaviour were also about four times more often described as hyperactive or impulsive. Because problems can start at any age, a grown or older dog that suddenly struggles deserves a vet check before more training.

What grown and rescue dogs bring with them

  • A dog that was left too long for months or years may have rehearsed panic many times. Expect slower progress and smaller steps than with a puppy.
  • Teenage dogs between about six and eighteen months sometimes struggle again after coping well. Go back a few steps without worrying that all is lost.
  • A dog from a shelter or from abroad may never have lived alone in a flat. Ordinary noises from the stairwell can be new and alarming, so start in a quiet room.
  • An older dog that struggles for the first time may be in pain, losing its hearing or eyesight, or going through changes with age. Ask your vet before you add more practice.

What does not help

  • Getting a second dog in the hope that it fixes the problem. Some dogs feel better with company, many do not, because they miss you, not just any dog.
  • Shutting a frightened dog in a closed crate. A panicking dog can break teeth or claws trying to get out.
  • Telling your dog off when you find damage or puddles. It cannot connect your anger with what happened while you were out, and your return becomes something to fear.
  • Bark collars, sprays or shock devices. They add fear to a dog that is already worried and hide the signs you need to see.

When to see a professional

Most dogs can learn to be alone, but some need more than training. Get help if:

  • your dog starts struggling suddenly, is older, pees or poos indoors, or shows other changes such as stiffness, restless nights or confusion

    Have a vet take a look

  • it panics when alone: heavy drooling, trembling, constant howling, hurting itself at doors or windows, or not eating at all while you are out

    Get support from professionals

  • it has injured itself trying to escape, for example with bleeding paws or broken teeth, or has swallowed something it chewed

    Emergency: get help now

The help pages list services in Germany, Austria and Switzerland only. Elsewhere, ask your vet practice who they recommend near you.

Frequently asked questions

How long can a grown dog be left alone?

There is no single figure; it depends on your dog, its bladder, its age and its training. Many adult dogs can rest calmly for a few hours once they have learned it, but your video shows you where your dog stands.

Will a second dog stop my dog struggling when alone?

Not reliably. Some dogs settle better with a canine housemate, but many are worried about being without their person, and then a second dog changes little.

Is it too late to teach a senior dog to be alone?

No, older dogs can still learn, though often more slowly. Have your vet check for pain and hearing or eyesight loss first, because these often explain why an older dog suddenly copes worse.

How soon can I leave a newly adopted rescue dog alone?

Only after it has settled in and you have practised very short absences. Plan the first weeks with someone around, and film the first real absences to see how your rescue dog copes.

My dog wrecks the door when I leave: is it bored or frightened?

Damage right at the exit door soon after you leave points more often to frustration or fear than to boredom. A video and a talk with a behaviour professional help you tell the difference.

Should I crate my dog if it panics when left?

No, not unless it already loves its crate as an open rest place. A frightened dog that is shut in can injure itself, so ask a behaviour professional for a safer setup.

Can medication help a dog that panics when alone?

For some dogs, yes, alongside a training plan. Only a vet can decide whether medication suits your dog, so talk to your vet or a vet specialising in behavioural medicine.

Can day care replace teaching my dog to be alone?

It can bridge the time but not replace the practice. Day care suits sociable dogs; on days at home, keep up short absences so being alone gets easier step by step.

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