Do dogs get bored when they’re alone?

Can dogs get bored?

Imagine the situation: a child is waiting for his mother from work. He is already bored with toys and cartoons – and time goes by so slowly! Once every 5 minutes he asks: “When will mom be back?”. He listens to the noise outside the door, wanders around the apartment. And finally, the key is inserted into the lock, mom comes in – there is no limit to children’s happiness! Do you think the dogs are waiting for our return in the same way? If the question is about longing in the human sense, we can say no. But dogs can get bored too, in their own way.  

Dogs, like wolves, are pack animals. In the wild, they begin to howl if they notice the absence of a relative. So they urge him to return, or at least respond to the call. And it’s not that one member of the pack suddenly misses another and wants to play with him. And the fact that the flock should be integral: then everyone will be calm and comfortable.

The presence of a “pack” for a dog is a common thing.

A domestic dog perceives the family in which he lives as a pack. The “leader” for her becomes a man. She knows that he will take care of her, caress that it is safe with him. And when this person disappears from sight, the dog may feel uncomfortable, worried, afraid.

The absence of a “leader” nearby casts doubt on safety. The usual picture of the world is collapsing. It is difficult for an unprepared pet to be alone, for him it is stressful every time.

Does this mean that a dog should never be left alone? Of course not. She can and should be taught to be alone. With proper preparation, an adult dog can easily stay at home for 7-8 hours without disturbing the neighbors with a howl and without turning the apartment into the consequences of a tornado. Do not worry: she will not suffer and wander sadly around the apartment either. An adult healthy dog, left at home alone, usually sleeps. You have every right to envy her!

How long does it take for a dog to miss its owner?

When do you think the dog misses you more: if you leave for half an hour or 2? 3 hours or 6? The researchers Teresa Wren and Linda Keeling tried to find out the truth. In 2011, they conducted an interesting experiment – they left dogs alone for different periods of time. It turned out that after a half-hour separation, the dog meets the person not as joyfully as if he had been gone for 2 hours. But the reaction to the meeting after 2, 3, 4 or more hours was the same.

The researchers suggested that dogs react differently to “long” and “short” separations. If you leave the dog for less than 2 hours, he will not have time to get bored very much. But separation longer than 2 hours is already serious.

The most interesting thing is that after 2 hours the time seems to merge for the dog: it doesn’t matter anymore if you were not at home for 3 or 5 hours. So if you are late for an hour or two at work, your dog simply will not notice it.

How to teach a dog to stay at home alone?

It is important to teach your dog that your absence is temporary. That you will definitely return, and your “flock” will be whole again. To do this, try to stick to the regimen. Create a chain of rituals for the dog: awakening – walking – feeding – the owner goes to work – returns – everyone goes for a fun walk, and so on.

Having got used to the repeating scenario, the dog will calmly perceive the next separation. She will understand that leaving is always followed by a return.

What can I do to make my dog ​​more comfortable with loneliness?

• Get your dog a variety of toys that he can play with on his own. Ideal choices are Kong treat stuffing toys and other long-lasting chew toys.

• Walk your dog before leaving. The pet must not only relieve himself on the street, but also how to run, play – throw out energy.

• Get out of the house calmly and quickly. Pay no attention to goodbyes. It torments both your heart and the dog’s.

• Teach your pet to be alone when he is still a puppy. When the dog grows up, it will calmly relate to your absence. She will know that you will definitely return.

• Don’t leave your dog alone for a long time at first. Try the trick. Get ready, take your keys, go out and stand outside the door for a few minutes. Listen to how your pet is behaving. If you start barking, howling and whining, do not rush back – do not encourage the dog’s unwanted behavior. Quietly go into the house, go about your business. And only when the dog calms down, you can caress it and treat it with a treat. If you rush to console the dog right away, he will understand that as soon as he starts to make noise and howl, you immediately appear and pay attention to her.

• Increase your absence time gradually. First, leave your pet alone for 10 minutes, then for 30, and so on. Over time, the dog will learn to stay alone during your entire work day.

• Observe the feeding rate. After all, a dog can behave violently because of banal hunger. A convenient solution is to purchase an automatic feeder that will pour feed at a set time.

• Equip a cozy place for the dog, where she will be pleased to rest. The pet needs a warm and soft bed, suitable in size.

Stock up on patience. Don’t give up if it doesn’t work the first time. Be consistent, organized and predictable for your four-legged friend. Feel free to seek help from cynologists: they will help correct the dog’s behavior. Over time, everything will definitely work out, and the dog will calmly wait for your arrival home.