Leaving the dog in by herself. How?

Tankflybosswalkjam · 2021-03-06T14:16:29+00:00

Tankpup has been coming everywhere with me, I have a carrier and a car seat so she’s never been left alone, and she sleeps nicely in her crate, which I have never closed. I didn’t get a dog only to leave her alone BUT I’ve got a short appointment next week which she simply can’t come to, and I’ll be out of the house for 40 mins ish. What’s the best way to do this? Shut her in the crate? Leave her to it and be as quick as I can? Park right outside and leave her in the car, well ventilated? Help!

WeatherwaxLives · 06/03/2021 14:21

I've not had a dog, so hopefully someone else will be along in a minute but absolutely don't leave her in the car! I was only watching a program yesterday where a dog died - apparently the temp can double in 10mins in a car, even with windows open. I know it's cold out, but it's been sunny recently and it's basically a greenhouse.

Can you prop up an ipad or something that you can use as a baby cam you can access from your phone and just go down the road and see how she is when she's alone? She might be perfectly fine?

oneglassandpuzzled · 06/03/2021 14:22

Leave her a few times for five or ten minutes first. Don’t make a fuss. Do it a few times every day. Extend to 25-30 minutes. Start today.

oneglassandpuzzled · 06/03/2021 14:23

At home.

Whitney168 · 06/03/2021 14:24

Try her out for a shorter time or two before you have to go out for your appointment, but fundamentally make as little fuss as possible about coming and going. Don't say goodbye to her or do anything special. Don't make a big fuss when you come back.

Do this a few times for 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes before the day you actually have to leave her.

(So easy to fall in to dogs never having been left alone these days, but if anyone else has a dog they've got since lockdown that's never been left, this is another training exercise that's needed - all dogs will need to be left alone at some point.)

mrstea301 · 06/03/2021 14:25

Don't leave her in the car! Build up to it by leaving her in a bit each day, you should do this anyway to reduce separation anxiety. Don't make a fuss when you're leaving / coming back into the house. You could maybe get a lickimat or a Kong ( filled with peanut butter and frozen) for the dog to work on when you're out.

Original poster

Tankflybosswalkjam · 06/03/2021 14:26

Ok. I’ve left her in her crate with the door open when I go and do jobs around the house etc and she’s fine. I’ve never closed the crate doors before, do I lock her in or leave it open?

OP posts:

Vthirtyone · 06/03/2021 14:30

Just as everyone above said, build up to it timewise, and no fuss on leaving or arriving so they don't realise it's a thing to get stressed about. Your dog will be fine!

Easterbunnygettingready · 06/03/2021 14:32

Leave dpuppy in the room with the least chance of destruction..
Ime..

YouTube have dpuppy music available if you are happy leaving a TV on..
I did this when dpuppy was younger...

Frenchfancy · 06/03/2021 14:35

Is the crate in a puppy proof room? Is there anything she can eat or chew that would be a problem? If it isn't puppy proof then you need to shut the crate.

I leave my pup in the hallway when I'm out. She has a den under the stairs (I don't crate). Doors to living room and kitchen are closed and there is a stair gate. She has plenty of space to move around and play but nothing she can hurt herself on. I give her a Kong filled with dog food and cream cheese which is the highlight of her day. She doesn't even look up when I leave.

Clymene · 06/03/2021 14:38

You really need to start prepping her to be left alone occasionally. But as you haven't practiced, I would do what someone else said and leave her in the room where she can do least damage. Take her for a walk first so she's tired and has gone to the loo and she will hopefully sleep in her crate.

lydia2021 · 06/03/2021 14:40

I used to leave the radio on. Usually talking channels like radio 4. My pet died years ago. But I would like to ask if leaving a cat in a bedroom all day with a cat litter tray is normal for cats. It is put into bathroom at night with litter tray. It does not go out or use the garden. They are planning a cat litter tray in each room eventually. Cat has lived like this for over a year since it was 8 weeks. The people who own the cat think it is normal to treat a cat like this. It's a moggie, not valuable. What does anyone think.

GooodMythicalMorning · 06/03/2021 14:44

Room that they can do least damage in or crate. Never leave a dog in a car.

TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 06/03/2021 14:51

@lydia2021

I used to leave the radio on. Usually talking channels like radio 4. My pet died years ago. But I would like to ask if leaving a cat in a bedroom all day with a cat litter tray is normal for cats. It is put into bathroom at night with litter tray. It does not go out or use the garden. They are planning a cat litter tray in each room eventually. Cat has lived like this for over a year since it was 8 weeks. The people who own the cat think it is normal to treat a cat like this. It's a moggie, not valuable. What does anyone think.

I think many people leave their cats indoors with a tray - does it get the run of the house when they are at home in the daytime? I am personally not a fan of indoor-only cats because I think they need fresh air and exercise, but I don’t think leaving a cat in a bedroom is any crueler than leaving it in a kitchen, which is reasonably common.

sunflowersandbuttercups · 06/03/2021 14:56

How old is she and is she likely to be destructive if left with free run of the house?

You need to start working on it now. Or you could see if a local walker or sitter can stay with her for now if you're not comfortable leaving her yet.

sunflowersandbuttercups · 06/03/2021 14:58

@lydia2021

I used to leave the radio on. Usually talking channels like radio 4. My pet died years ago. But I would like to ask if leaving a cat in a bedroom all day with a cat litter tray is normal for cats. It is put into bathroom at night with litter tray. It does not go out or use the garden. They are planning a cat litter tray in each room eventually. Cat has lived like this for over a year since it was 8 weeks. The people who own the cat think it is normal to treat a cat like this. It's a moggie, not valuable. What does anyone think.

I would never leave mine with just a bedroom to be in all day. It seem extremely restrictive and unnecessary.

Mine have run of the house while we're out, as well as access to dry food, water, litter trays and toys.

minniemoocher · 06/03/2021 15:05

Just leave her, she'll be fine. A small room without anything to destroy and easy to clean is best eg utility, downstairs loo or similar

SatsumasOrClementines · 06/03/2021 15:30

@lydia2021 maybe start your own thread in the litter tray for more responses

SatsumasOrClementines · 06/03/2021 15:33

Just leave her, she'll be fine.
She might be but it also might give her anxiety to go from nothing to 40minutes straight away. The OP could come back to her panting, howling, barking, destroying, peeing and pooing.

If it was me OP I would build up the amount of time you’re leaving her for until she can do the 40minutes.

Or, in non Covid times, send her to a good day care or to a friends and spend the whole day doing things you can’t do with a dog.

Vargas · 06/03/2021 15:35

Definitely leave her at home, not in the car. Start practising ASAP. Get her a kong or something yummy to chew and give it to her when you leave her so she associates you leaving with something yummy. It will also keep her busy and is relaxing. Make no fuss when you leave and no fuss when you return. If you don't have a room that is safe to leave her in then shut the crate, but start practising that ASAP.

LaurieFairyCake · 06/03/2021 15:35

Yes between now and then nip out for a walk round the block for ten minutes without her a few times

Don't say goodbye to her - just leave

And leave your phone behind recording each time to see if she goes off on one barking - by the third time she probably won't

And don't make a fuss of her when you come back either - just hang coat up, make tea, wait a few minutes - then cuddle like normal

You don't want her to think her barking and hanging round the door has CAUSED you to come back

yearinyearout · 06/03/2021 15:36

I would start by closing her crate when you’re in the room for a few minutes, then build up gradually leaving her for a few mins, then ten mins etc. The radio should help!

Floralnomad · 06/03/2021 15:36

Just leave her in an area where she can’t do that much damage and start from today leaving her in that place and leaving the house for a few minutes building it up as much as you can before the actual day in question . Do not leave her in the car she may get stolen and do not lock her in a cage if she is not used to being locked in as she may panic and hurt herself . When you leave her give her a stuffed , frozen Kong and she will likely be fine .