Is it your first time leaving your dog home alone? As a pet parent, it’s natural to get worried whenever you need to leave the house, especially if no one’s available to take the responsibility of watching over your furry pal.
Leaving a pet dog home alone is often inevitable since people need to step outside for countless reasons. However, you don’t need to feel uneasy as there are precautions you can take to ensure your dog’s safety.
A Dubai pet food company shares the following tips to help you enjoy peace of mind while your dog is on his own at home.
1. Put things away
A couple of things that could happen when you’re not in the house is your dog getting into the garbage or eating something that was left lying on the kitchen counter or the floor.
To prevent your pup from making a mess, destroying your things, playing with potentially dangerous items like fireworks, or accidentally ingesting something harmful or toxic, make sure that you keep things out of your furry friend’s reach.
Some of the necessary precautions to ensure that your house is pet-proofed include:
- Making sure that the garbage bin has a lid so that your dog can’t dig inside for some snacks
- Storing your garbage bin in a cupboard or an area with restricted access for your pet
- Creating barriers or covering electrical wires to prevent your pup from chewing on them
- Keeping all cabinets closed and latched
- Removing all small items from surfaces that your dog could chew on or swallow
2. Provide a source of entertainment
When you’re out of the house, your pup will look for an alternative source of entertainment to keep himself busy. Boredom will set in, and your beloved pal will start chewing or going after things he usually wouldn’t. As a result, you may come home to a damaged sofa or all kinds of clutter everywhere. To tackle these types of things you try to have some sofa cover which can cover the little scratch and damage on the sofa. Try out IKEA Karlstad cover which will look very beautiful. You can have them in different design and colors.
To deter your dog from displaying destructive behavior, provide him with dog toys to chew or play with as an alternative. Interactive toys or chew toys can help keep your dog mentally stimulated and occupied so that he has something to do until you get home.
Before you pick out a toy, try to think about what your pet likes for a moment. Then, act accordingly to what you feel can best keep your dog entertained.
3. Confine your pet
If your pet has destructive tendencies and you want him to be 100 percent safe, the best option is to keep him confined inside a pet playpen. Compared to a crate, a playpen gives your dog more space to move around while ensuring his safety.
For a pet who is still not used to confinement, make sure to ease him into the routine slowly. Start by creating positive associations with the playpen so that he’ll see it as a safe spot and not a form of punishment.
During the training session, consider:
- Feeding your dog inside the playpen until he becomes comfortable during his time there
- Setting aside a small amount of pet food to use as a treat for encouraging him to willingly enter the playpen
Other good alternatives for a pet playpen are dog gates. You can use them to confine your pup to a single area of your home – like the bathroom or the kitchen. Whatever confinement option you choose, make sure to leave enough food and water for your pup.
4. Hire a pet sitter
It’s worth considering getting a dog sitter if you’re going to leave your pet home alone for an extended period. Even if there will be changes in your schedule, hiring a pet sitter can help ensure that your dog’s normal routine is maintained. Moreover, a pet sitter can assist you in getting your dog adjusted to a new routine slowly to help minimize the stress.
Routines are important as they let your dog thrive and are vital to his overall happiness and health. If you’re going to be out of the house most of the time, make sure to find a way to keep your pet’s schedule as similar as possible to his normal routine.
5. Separate multiple pets
If you have several pets or dogs in your home, keep in mind that disagreements can break out. It’s best to keep your pets separated while you’re not around to watch over them. This will not only ensure the safety of your household belongings but most importantly, prevent potential injuries.
You can either use dog gates or crates to keep your pets in separate rooms. Until you are sure that all your pets get along just fine even while you’re away, keep each of them separated.
Make up for your absence
Leaving your dog home alone at times is necessary, but he’ll be fine if you follow these helpful tips. Also, remember that he’s a social animal; our canine friend will still need your time and attention. Make sure you give your dog all the cuddles he deserves once you get home.
AUTHOR BIO
Farah Al-Khojai is the Managing Partner of Pet’s Delight. A passionate entrepreneur, Farah holds a Bsc in Government from the London School of Economics. She is always on the lookout for new opportunities to develop and grow the pet and equestrian retail and wholesale market in the UAE and beyond, and is proud to be at the helm of the first and the largest pet care provider in the market representing world-class brands including Orijen, Applaws, Hunter, Savic, Flamingo, Ruffwear and Rogz.
