How well your dog adjusts to being left alone for long
stretches of time is strongly influenced by his personality and temperament. A
dog with lots of nervous energy who craves human companionship will have a much
more difficult time being alone in the house than a calm, independent dog. And a
mature dog who has outgrown the problem behaviors associated with younger dogs
can often can be given the run of the house. So before leaving your dog behind,
take a good long look at him and his personality. Try to think like he does.
Imagine the worries he might have and what might make him feel comforted. Then
devise a stay-at-home plan that best suits your dog’s unique needs.
Breeds and Temperament
Knowing the innate characteristics of your dog’s breed (or
breeds, if she is a mix) can guide you in arranging her environment and daily
schedule. There are many books available that describe individual breeds in
detail. You can also find information on specific breeds on the Internet. The
chart on pages 14–15 provides a broad overview of the general temperament of
some popular breeds. Use this information as a starting point in assessing your
dog’s needs and what you can do to help her cope with being left at home by
herself.
The Mellowing of Maturity
As your dog matures, you may be able to leave him with the run
of the house. He’ll have outgrown chewing, digging, and clawing on floors and
walls and will have better bladder and bowel control, so you won’t have to
worry about “accidents†in the house.
Overall, the same commonsense guidelines prevail with the mature
dog. Check out the environment from a safety perspective. Remove or put away
anything he might eat or get into that could harm him. (See “Pet-Proofing Your
Home†on page 18.) For example, if you use a chemical deodorizer or stain
remover in the toilet, keep the toilet lid down. You don’t want your dog
ingesting toilet cleaner if he should decide to take a drink. Leave him water, a
couple of his favorite toys, something to chew on, and a window to
look out.