Dogs Home Alone

Dogs Home Alone

One thing that humans have made a pretty good job of is that of domesticating our dogs. Our dogs being primarily pack animals, and highly social ones at that, have very strong needs to socialize and interact. Although generally, our dogs love to play and run round with other dogs, purely doggy socialization just isn’t enough for them anymore. We, as owners, and loved owners, in the dog’s version of the love word, are the centre of our dog’s world. Our dog wants to be with us, as much as possible. Leaving dogs home alone is usally very tough on them.

Of course, in the real world, the amount of time we’re able to spend with our dogs is often restricted by factors outside our control to a certain extent. Most of us have busy lives and too much to cram into them. This has a knock on effect of making the mundane tasks of dog ownership a bit of a burden, especially when it takes time away from the good bits of owning a dog.

When our lives are full of other stresses that weigh heavily on our minds and available time, walking the dog can turn into just another job to get done instead of being a time when you can take some pleasure in the peace and quiet and adoration of your dog.

We all have different lifestyles and these lifestyles do impact on our dogs aswell. Of course, if you don’t go to work, you can’t feed the dog, or pay the mortgage, so no-one’s suggesting you give up your job just to tickle your dogs head from one days end to the next, but it’s helpful to be aware of the potential effects that busy lives can have and try to think of some alternatives to leaving your dog home alone.

Sensitive dogs can pick up very easily on the less-than-positive mindsets of their owners and this can affect their own personality and cause them to become depressed or anxious without us realising.

It’s not just sensitive types that can suffer from a too busy life. More well-adjusted dogs can begin to pay the price also. When his used to be, twice daily run across the fields gets shunted to the end of the to-do list, he’s not the best equipped to stamp his feet and demand-‘what about me?’ as he rattles the lead by the front door.

It seems that there are always people grabbing at our time and energy, and the dog very quickly, unless we’re very careful and well prepared, is often the one who pays the price. There are alternatives to leaving dogs home alone.

Spending time with our dogs doesn’t have to difficult or a scheduled task shoe-horned in amongst everything else. With a bit of effort we can tackle more than one task at a time.

Take her with you!

When you’re off on a list of running errands, take your dog with you. Whether you’re picking up the children, or posting letters, dropping reports off at work, take her in the car with you. Even if she has to stay in the car, she’ll welcome the chance to get out of the house and look at a different set of scenery. Her olfactory senses will get a much welcomed change of scenery too. It’s a really good way of you and your dog spending some undemanding time together, and helps her to feel part of the gang.

Just make sure that any time she will be needed to remain in the car is going to be not too long. Any longer than half an hour is probably pushing it a bit. You have to be very aware of weather temperatures, shade and ventilation issues. It goes without saying that if you cannot guarantee your dog’s comfort and safety in the car, then she should stay at home.

How about having the dog sleep in your bedroom? Of course, sometimes, for health reasons, this isn’t possible. You don’t have to have her sharing the duvet and the pillows; she can have her own bed, perhaps in the corner of the room or beside your own bed.

This is a great way of you and your dog spending some undemanding time together. You are also increasing your bond too. Dogs like to sleep with their pack, and that’s you. As pack animals, their default comfort zone is to be in close contact with the rest of the pack during vulnerable times; and the quiet and darkness of the night is one of those times. It reinforces the bonds of security and closeness. If you let your dog into the bedroom at night you’re reinforcing the bonds of closeness and security between you and your dog, with no effort at all.

Try spending time doing nice things with your dog. Walking the dog, over the same route day in day out can become rather boring and tedious for you both. If you’re doing something that you enjoy, it’s likely to become less of a chore. If it’s less of a chore, you’re more likely to do it, and that’s good news for your dog and your relationship.

Try to make a list of alternative dog walking routes. Try completely different areas such as the riverbank or the beach, or walking in the hills, or a dog exercise yard where you can chat with other dog owners and your dog can chat with other dogs. Trying different routes to give your dog a whole new range of sights and smells for his brain to process. This will help keep his brain busy and stimulated with doggy interests, and will also help mentally tire him out for the times when you can’t be there.

How about some proper multi-tasking? You must have experienced the guilt of you trying to cook the dinner and your dog sitting forlornly 2 feet away trying to mentally lay the guilt into your brain as he asks longingly why is cooking more important than playing with him? How about using cooking time as training time? Would it be possible to using the little breaks in between stirrings and choppings to teach things like sit and down?

Might it be possible for when you want to read your book, you could snuggle up with your dog, turning the page with one hand and tickling his belly with the other?

How about using TV watching time, or a part of it at least to groom your dog at the same time?

It may be that you live in a house where you are not the only human available to do doggy chores. It’s healthy for your dog to spend time and be happy around more people than just you. Providing the other parties are willing and able, walking, feeding, brushing and playtime are all occasions where your dog can enjoy spending time with people. These are all really good opportunities to improve her social skills too.

As far as delegating doggy jobs to children are concerned, this must of course be done on a case by case basis. Obviously, both child and parents must be happy with the arrangement. It’s vital that where a child walking the dog off the premises is concerned, that the dog knows that the child ranks above him the hierarchy of life and will obey the child’s commands. Safety has to come before convenience as you already know!

The child must understand and be able to cope with dog walking etiquette such as lead or leash rules, how to react when meeting other dogs, poop-scooping etc.

Obviously, none of these things are intended to replace good quality one to one time spent with your dog, but they can offer some useful extras. Your dog has a right to time spent with his owners and whilst we are all aware that sometimes things happen in life that can’t be helped, the lifestyle in general must be one that can accommodate a dog and what they need to lead a happy and stable life.

For lots more information on how to excel at being a responsible dog owner, you might want to have a look at Secrets To Dog Training, it’s a comprehensive manual of canine psychology and communication. You can also get a free report on some of the dog training myths from here and you can also get a free 6 day mini course on dog training from here. Enjoy!