Home Alone: ​​How Does Loneliness Affect Your Dog?

For a dog, as an animal from a pack, it is important to feel the protection and security that only the leader, that is, the owner, can guarantee. You should not write off the fact that four-legged pets are attached to us with all their hearts, so they perceive parting as a real loss.

Keep in mind that physical activity is important for any dog. If the pet does not move freely, communicate on a walk with other dogs and explore the world, this will affect his emotional and physical development. As a result, you will get an unsocialized, painful and possibly aggressive animal, which without the help of a specialist will not be able to cope.

If the dog does not turn the house upside down during your absence, but sleeps peacefully in his couch all day, this does not always mean that he does not yearn and does not suffer from loneliness. Just with the help of sleep, the pet waits out your absence: such is its temperament.

All dogs, like people, are individual, and each has its own temperament. Some pets prefer to communicate with the owner 24 hours a day, while others feel comfortable in splendid isolation. These are, for example, phlegmatic dogs such as Newfoundlands and Chow Chows. If these dogs are left alone for several hours, they will not miss you. But sociable pets, such as golden retrievers, labradors, and collies, are often risky to be left alone for long periods of time. If the dog does not turn the apartment into a battlefield, then he will surely meet you with a very plaintive and even reproachful look.

The pet will not be able to tell about his longing in words. But he will perfectly express it with the help of behavior.

• You should be on the lookout if your dog exhibits the following signs:

• Howl. Obsessive howls at any time of the day should alert the owner. This is a clear signal that not everything is in order with the four-legged family member. If the dog does not ask to walk, does not suffer from diseases and is not hungry, then loneliness makes him howl. It will be better if you review your schedule and stop staying late at friends or at work. In extreme cases, you can get a friend’s wet nose: even a dog, even a cat – the main thing is that the dog does not feel abandoned.

• Barking. Tired of hearing complaints from your neighbors about the endless barking from your apartment? It is unlikely that the dog will tear the vocal cords just like that. Rather, it signals: “I’m not bored and lonely, pay attention to me!”. The solution to the problem is the same as in the previous paragraph. It also does not hurt to buy a pet as many toys as possible to keep him occupied and distract him from sad thoughts. A dog, especially an active one, should have a lot of different (but safe!) Toys.

• Refusal of food. A dog may not eat due to several reasons, ranging from health problems to simple whims. If you exclude all of them, then loneliness and stress remain. Sound the alarm if the pet refuses even his favorite treats and begins to lose weight.

• Damage to property. The owners of bored dogs are familiar with the situation when they return home and find a sofa turned inside out, wallpaper covered with claws, overturned flower pots and other surprises. Moreover, in the presence of people, the dog behaves approximately and does not encroach on the material benefits of the owners. Do not scold, let alone beat the dog. The unfortunate animal is trying to convey that it is unbearable for him to be alone in four walls, he has nothing to do and nowhere to throw out his frantic energy.

• Going to the toilet in non-designated places in the house. A bored dog can leave heaps and puddles on the floor in an apartment from stress, letting the owners know that all is not well with her. If this happens even after you have taken your pet outside, you should pay special attention to this phenomenon. Take your dog to the veterinarian first. She may have health problems. If everything is normal, bowel movements can be considered an alarming sign of loneliness.

• Constant licking. The dog should lick itself, this is elementary hygiene. But if your pet does this too often, it is worth checking it for fleas and skin diseases. Everything is fine? So, these are the first “bells” of depression.

• Joy at the sight of the owner. Most dogs react emotionally to meeting their human. But if a violent reaction occurs even when you went into another room for five minutes and then returned, it’s bad. Your dog is too painful for even a fleeting separation from you.

• Trembling all over body. This point can be connected with the previous one: the dog is so glad to see the person that he cannot restrain himself. Sometimes a pet from happiness can even make a puddle under it. The dog jumps into the owner’s arms (if the dimensions allow), licks the face, nuzzles the armpit. If all this is accompanied by trembling, you are dealing with an incipient or already begun depression. We urgently need to look for a good zoopsychologist for the dog.

If your dog shows these signs, you should spend more time with him and pay more attention to education. It is better to contact a specialist: a cynologist or a zoopsychologist in order to jointly think over the tactics of your actions.

How a dog tolerates loneliness largely depends on the quality of education. If the owner has a firm leadership position and he has properly built relationships with the pet, the dog will calmly wait for him even for 10 or more hours.

If a dog barks, howls or destroys the house in your absence, reconsider your parenting position. Often dogs behave in this way if they feel like leaders in the family (pack). Perhaps the pet howls and barks because it feels in charge and is trying to call on its pack, that is, you. Now imagine that no one comes to her call. The dog feels that the pack is not obeying, that it is not coping with its duties – and this turns into a huge stress for it.

You must be the undisputed leader for your dog.

The simplest thing you can do is… don’t get a dog at all! Yes Yes. If you are often away from home, do not have other family members, or they also work and study late, then a dog as a pet will definitely not suit you. A dog is a huge responsibility, time, effort, money. Sometimes people have to rebuild their entire lives in order to pay more attention to the dog and make her stay in the house as comfortable as possible.

But what to do if it’s too late to grab your head – you have already got a dog, but are forced to stay away from home for a long time?

The main rule is that before being left alone, the dog must be exhausted. Before leaving home, take your dog for a long walk and play active games with him so that he throws out his energy. Do not leave the dog at home playing out, in high spirits. Farewell should be cold: we clearly command “Wait!” and we leave. A well-bred dog has a mission: to wait! And she does it perfectly.

• If the dog is sociable and easy to contact, ask relatives or friends to look after him while you are away. It would be great if they came to play or walk the dog. Alternatively, hire a dog sitter. It’s like babysitting, only for dogs. The specialist will take care of your pet, feed it, take it outside, but, of course, for an agreed fee.

• Get a second dog. The pet will survive loneliness much easier, clinging to the warm side of a relative. In your absence, pets, of course, will begin to yearn, but together they will no longer be so bad and scary.

• Buy a variety of toys. And those in which the dog can play without your participation. By chewing on a pimply ball, time will flow a little faster.

• Spend as much time with your dog as possible. Of course, you want to spend your leisure time watching your favorite series, reading books or chatting on social networks. But do not forget that a creature dependent on you lives under the same roof with you, which really needs attention and participation. Spend time with the animal “included”: go out with him for a walk, play with the dog during a walk, learn commands, talk and just squeeze him. There is no greater happiness for a dog than a caring and loving owner nearby.

It is a pity if at a certain stage mistakes were made that led to depression and other psychological and behavioral disorders in the dog. In this case, we strongly recommend that you contact a zoopsychologist, because. Solving the problem on your own can only make things worse.

Although such breeds exist, this does not mean that you can not appear at home for several days and not devote time to your pet. Just because of the peculiarities of the breed and temperament, these dogs are more calm about separation and know how to keep themselves occupied.

Here is a list of dog breeds that endure loneliness more easily than their relatives:

• Norfolk Terrier: The breed is self-sufficient and will be able to find something to their liking. Especially if you leave the dog a lot of different toys and appease them with treats before leaving.

• Basset Hound: Melancholy-looking dog has a certain laziness and lethargy. He prefers lying on a soft bedding in warmth and comfort than reckless games. But if you regularly leave the basset alone for a long time, he will raise the ears of everyone in the area with his howl.

• Shar Pei: This breed is distinguished by independence and to some extent pride. They, of course, become attached to a person, but they will not run after him.

• Maltese: the lapdog will patiently wait for the owner to come home and will not even spoil his furniture. Maltese gets along well with cats, so instead of a relative dog, you can get a mustachioed purr for her.

• Newfoundlands, St. Bernards, English and American Bulldogs also calmly experience loneliness. It’s about their temperament. All these dogs love to soak up the couch and relax. They will take your absence as an excuse to have a good rest!

• Chow Chow: a breed with a rich history. These dogs were used for protection, fighting and as sled dogs. Today Chow Chows are great companions. This is one man’s dog. By temperament, the Chow Chow is phlegmatic, and he also loves to sleep very much. He will definitely find something to entertain himself while you are not at home!

As you understand, prolonged loneliness is unacceptable for any dog, even if the wet nose is on its own and is not particularly looking for contact with you. With any dog ​​you need to play, educate it and spend time. Otherwise, one day, when you come home, you will be met not by a friendly four-legged friend, but by an unfortunate dog with mental disorders and behavioral problems.

Love your pets and take care of them!