Feeling Guilty Leaving Your Dog Home Alone? Try This!

Now that we’re in the post-pandemic era and many people have returned to their offices and to a “normal” life, you’re probably leaving the house a little more often. And if you feel guilty about leaving your pet behind, you’re not alone.  

It’s easy to feel sad or guilty about leaving your dog behind. But the fact is—you will need to leave them alone every once in a while, if not every day. You don’t have to live with that guilt. Here’s what to try.  

Preparing Your Pup For Being Home Alone 

Preparing your dog to stay home alone is best. You don’t want to jump from spending everyday together to leaving them home alone for 8 hours suddenly. Here’s what I typically recommend for people to try when preparing to leave their pet home alone:

• Give your dog a safe, comfortable space

• Provide access to water

• Provide a chew, Kong, or Lickimat that is safe to enjoy without human supervision

• Make time for extra play and/or exercise before leaving

Take it slow and get your dog feeling safe and comfy when you’re not in the room, or out for only a short time. Knowing your pet will be just fine without you being at home can help alleviate some of the guilt. 

Here Are Some Practical Ways To Help You And Your Dog When You Can’t Be Together:

1. Provide Enrichment

Dogs need enrichment to build confidence, prevent boredom, learn to problem-solve and exercise their brain. By making sure your pet has enough enrichment and mental stimulation, you can help keep the guilt in check because you know you are leaving them with something beneficial. You can add enrichment in the form of toys or their environment.

Adding toys or changes to the environment (like rearranging the furniture so your pet can see outside–unless that triggers barking!) can add a lot to make their alone time high-quality and keep your guilt in check. If you’re an avid DIY’er, check out these 5 Eco-Friendly Ways to Enrich Your Pet’s Environment. Some of my favorite types of enrichment include: 

• Lick mats and Kongs filled with my dog’s favorites

• Snuffle mats at different difficulty levels

• Interactive toys that dispense treats

When it comes to toys for dog enrichment, make sure it’s safe to leave your pup unattended with it. Some interactive toys, DIY toys and games need human supervision. 

Psssst… Want more tips on how to enrich your dog’s life? Here are my top SIX! 

2. Spy on your Dog… in a healthy way. 

The guilt is sure to fly out the window if you can check up on your pet throughout the day and see that they are okay. Pet cameras (with an app so you can check up on them) can make that happen. 

There are a lot of cool features you can look for in pet cameras. Besides looking for one with an app, you can research for one that includes remote controlling, two-way audio, night vision, motion detection, cloud storage, high resolution, real-time alerts, and SO much more!

A word of caution on pet spy cams though. Some people can become obsessive about checking in on their dog, which can ultimately cause more stress. So use all these impressive pet tech gadgets wisely - for everyone’s peace of mind.

3. Crating can help your dog’s anxiety and your guilt.

Some dogs will do better being crated while you’re out. There is a negative stigma around crate training, but when used appropriately, it can be just the safe haven some dogs need. Crate training can be really tough but it’s well-worth the effort. You’ll be able to rest easy knowing they can rest easy, too. Here’s a simple overview that can help to crate train most dogs. 

• Step 1: Positively introduce the crate so the dog *wants* to go inside. No forcing!

• Step 2: Feed treats and/or meals inside the crate.

• Step 3: Practice over time, in short increments, gradually increasing duration. 

• Step 4: Crate your dog when you leave for short absences before attempting long ones.

Believe me, not having the struggle of getting your dog into a crate or hearing their whimpers does wonders to keeping you guilt-free! Take the time to make the crate a safe, enjoyable option for them! 

*IMPORTANT NOTE* Attempting to use the crate as a remedy for separation anxiety won't solve the problem. A crate may prevent your dog from being destructive, but they may get injured in an attempt to escape. Separation anxiety problems can only be resolved with a specialist.

4. Add playtime or exercise before you leave! 

A tired dog is a happy dog. Spend a little extra time in the mornings doing an activity you both enjoy to kickstart a stress-free day without you! My Doodles and I take a 30-minute walk after breakfast, and they spend most of the day sleeping. 

In need of a little dog exercise inspiration? I got you. Here are a few Exercises to Keep Fido Fit and Strong for Life. 

5. Hire a great pet sitter or walker. 

Don’t have time to exercise your pet in the morning? Or going to be away too long? Get help! A professional dog walker can help you meet your pet’s needs and make being home less lonely. They’ll have some companionship throughout the day or while you’re away for an extended time, and that will be well worth it. 

Life is hard enough. You don’t need to drag around a bag of guilt too! As pet parents, we’re always looking for the best ways to take care of and love our pets. I hope one of my tips helps you shake off some of the guilt and makes your dog’s alone time a bit more peaceful. 

Have you tried anything that worked that’s not listed? Let me know what’s worked for you and your pup!