Most dog-owners love nothing more than staying home and playing with their pet all day. Unfortunately, duty calls sometimes, and leaving your dog alone at home becomes unavoidable.
Leaving your pup at home makes him as sad as it makes you, and sometimes they suffer from separation anxiety, which can cause extreme stress. Stress in dogs sometimes leads to destructive behavior, which can get them hurt in the process, so it is crucial to find ways to keep them happy and safe in your absence.
Below are some measures that you can take to ensure your dog’s safety when you aren’t around to keep an eye on her.
Puppy-proof your house
Your home is always safe when you are there to keep track of your dog’s activities; however, once you leave, they can get into all kinds of mischief, trashing the house and getting hurt in the process.
One of the best ways to be safe is to crate your dog. You can use an indestructible dog crate pad especially if it has destructive tendencies. If you dog isn’t used to the crate, start by training it so that it sees the crate as as a safe spot and not a punishment.
However, if you’re against crating your pet, here are a few strategies to prevent your dog from getting into trouble when leaving your dog home alone
- Keep your food and the dog’s food stored away safely in sealed containers.
- Use a dog-proof trash can- with a latch and a lid -, and keep it in a place that’s unreachable to your pup.
- Cover all electrical outlets and put away all electrical cords, so your dog doesn’t chew on them.
- Leave all doors that lead outside closed and secure so that your dog doesn’t wander off.
- Keep all medication and cleaning products out of your pup’s reach.
Get a dog sitter
All dogs need a consistent daily routine to thrive, so you need to keep it up as often as possible. One of the best ways to do that is by getting a pet sitter to step in when you can’t make it back in time for feeding and regular walks. Pet sitters also come in handy when emergencies arise because they inform you of any problems before it gets too late.
If you can’t afford a full-time sitter or a dog walker, ask a reliable neighbor to check in on your pal from time to time.
Use technology to keep tabs on your dog
Technology improves every day, so there’s no shortage of options that allow you to keep an eye on your pup from wherever you are. Wi-Fi enabled pet cameras, and dog monitors let you check in on your furry friend at any time via your phone.
Some cameras even have sound detection systems and treat launchers so you can check in on them and give them yummy treats despite where you are. You can also invest in dog GPS collars and alarm systems that go off when your pet leaves the house or gains access to a pet-restricted area in your home.
Use home pet-restrainers
Sometimes you need to keep your dog in one area of the house to give you peace of mind when you are away. Crates make the perfect restrainers, especially for dogs with destructive behaviors. However, if you’ve never put your pet in one, you should ease him into it slowly so that the time he spends inside doesn’t seem like a punishment.
If you have several dogs, use gates to confine them to one area of the house or keep them separated if they tend to get hostile towards each other from time to time.
Keep your dog entertained
Pets are prone to boredom and separation anxiety spells when left alone at home. To help counter this, you can get your little friend some interactive dog toys to keep him distracted and happy when you go out.
You can get your pet treat-dispensing toys to curb behavioral issues and keep your pet’s mind sharp. They will always look forward to digging into their new toy to discover the yummy treats inside.
Make sure your home is healthy
Your dog is part of your family, and you want her to feel safe and comfortable. That is only achievable if you maintain your home in a manner that is conducive to its occupants, including your furry friend.
The first thing is to make sure your home is clean and contaminant free. If your dog uses an indoor kennel or litter box, make sure it’s clean before you leave your home. The most important thing is to keep your home ventilated so that there is constant fresh air supply to help reduce excess moisture, improve household air quality, and increase respiratory health of your pet.
