Two common questions many new puppy parents ask: “Should I leave my puppy alone?” and “How long can I safely leave my puppy alone when I work away from home?” Raising a puppy while working away from home or attending school is less than ideal, but you can do it with some modifications. Puppies have different needs depending on age, breed, and personality (Take our Breed Matchmaker Quiz). And it can take 8-12 weeks (or more) to potty train a new puppy.
If you know you’ll be away from home for long durations, a combination of family, friends, and paid help will be necessary. Plan and establish expectations with your helpers before you bring your new puppy home. Another option is whether you can work from home (part-time or full-time) to care for your puppy’s daily needs–especially during the early months. Or you can check on your puppy during the day. Remember that all puppies mature and learn differently, but generally, the first few months are essential for training, socialization, and healthy habit reinforcement. So it’s better to get off to a great start early!
Puppies have varying bladder control abilities, depending on their age. Younger puppies may be unable to hold their bladder for long periods, so leaving them in a crate or within a safe, puppy-proof area within your home (as with older puppies) may not help reinforce positive potty training behavior–especially in the early months.
We all want what’s best for our puppies! As a general guideline, puppies can typically hold their bladder for several hours equal to their age in months plus one hour. However, it’s important to note that this is just an estimate, and individual puppies may have varying bladder control abilities.
For example:
- A 2-month-old puppy might be able to hold their bladder for about 3 hours.
- A 3-month-old puppy might be able to hold their bladder for about 4 hours.
- A 4-month-old puppy might be able to hold their bladder for about 5 hours.
- And so on.
However, it’s crucial to consider your puppy’s individual needs, habits, and health. Some puppies may need to go out more frequently, especially during active periods, after meals, after naps, and after drinking water. It is essential to monitor your puppy’s behavior and provide opportunities to relieve themselves to ensure their comfort and happiness.
As your puppy ages, you can gradually increase the time you leave them alone. Adult dogs can generally be left on their own for 4-6 hours per day, and some as long as 8+ hours while you are at work, provided they have enough space to move around, with access to water and food. Consider having a backup plan for when you must be gone longer than the norm. Your pup with thank you!
Here are some New Puppy Tips to help you and your puppy get off to a great start!
- Feed your puppy at regularly scheduled times. For example, feed your puppy at a designated time, first thing each morning, so they have time to relieve themselves before you leave the house. And during the evening, with ample time before bedtime.
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After feeding, watch for the cues your puppy needs to relieve itself. Some dogs move toward the door, start pacing or acting jumpy, lick or nudge you, while others look up to you as if to say, “Hey, I need to go out!”
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Offer positive reinforcement for this behavior with treats and praise. If you are in need of a gift to a new puppy parent, the Goody Box of Puppy Training Toys is a nice one to give and receive.
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Routine is your best friend. Try using the same door to let your pup out every time so they know where to go as a cue to you that they need to go out. Adding a string of bells looped over the door handle is an excellent way to train your puppy to ring the bell to signal the need to go out–a must-have item if you aren’t always in the same room with your pup!
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If you want to use puppy pee pads or dog pee pads, be sure to use them in the same spot, such as in front of the door where your puppy has been trained to go out. They typically come in various sizes, ranging from small to extra large.
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If your puppy is marking territory, common in some dogs before being spayed or neutered, you’ll want to curtail that negative behavior by either stopping it as you see it with a strong command, or using a spray to discourage that type of behavior. When used as directed, No Go spray can help your puppy avoid certain furniture or carpet areas within your home.
For more tips on leaving your puppy or dog home alone, check out Unlocking Freedom: Safely Leaving Your Potty-Trained Pup Home Alone! Read Essential Puppy Checklist: Everything You Need for Your Furry Friend for more tips on preparing for a new puppy.
