Is leaving dogs home alone okay?

Generally, if you provide your dog’s daily needs - water, food, and some toys, it’s okay to leave them alone for a while. An estimate of 9 hours is reasonable for canines to be alone. However, if it goes beyond that, they might feel sad and develop severe separation anxiety.

What do dogs need if they’re left alone?

It can’t be denied that some of us lead busy lives and, therefore, will spend most of our day outside our homes.

As heartbreaking as it is, this also means that we need to leave our fur babies alone at home. Their food and meds aren’t cheap, after all!

Some pet owners even work several hours of overtime and must be at work for extended periods.

If this is also something that happens to you and your pup, make sure they have all of the things they need to stay happy and healthy.

Food

This is a no-brainer.

Before going out for work, you must provide your pup with a healthy meal so they won’t develop health issues from being malnourished.

Since you’ll be gone for a few hours, giving them dry dog food would be best. This lessens the chances of their food getting spoiled or eaten by ants and other insects. Wet food tends to be pungent and attracts the attention of insects and pests.

It’s also easier to control your dog’s eating habits even if you’re away if they eat dry food. Automatic feeders can give them consistent food throughout the day without succumbing to overeating.

Water dispensers are also a great help to keep your pup hydrated throughout the day. This is helpful, especially for pet owners in the UAE and other countries within the GCC area.

Toys

Dogs need to have fun while being alone, too!

Since they can’t scroll the internet for hours, giving your furry friend their favorite toy is the next best thing.

Automated ball launchers are excellent, especially if you have ample space at home. However, you need to teach your pup how to operate it first.

You can also leave a few balls in their play area to entertain them. Remember to designate a place to run around and play with their toys to keep them from damaging anything in your home.

Toys are also important so your pups will have a healthy way to spend all their energy, especially if they’re a working dog breed. Otherwise, you will come home to ripped pillows and damaged footwear.

Access to bathroom

You must also set up a place where your dog can do business.

The quickest way you can do this is by giving them poo and pee pads.

Make sure you get ones that are designed for your dog’s size. Bigger dog breeds will need bigger and more absorbent pads.

It will also help if you buy ones that have excellent anti-odor and anti-bacterial properties. This way, you won’t have any issues airing out the smell once you come home.