Leaving Doodle Alone at Home

[Stephanie Bowman]

Hi!

We recently decided to start leaving our 6 month Goldendoodle alone at home while we're at work. I am luckily able to go home for lunch, using my lunch break to feed, walk and play with Teddy. On Fridays I've been taking him to doggy daycare to try and help him socialize with other dogs his size. He isn't aggressive towards other dogs, but he just is never really interested in playing with them. With that said, we unfortunately cannot afford taking him to daycare daily. Though he hasn't destroyed or had any accidents in the house yet, he cries, leaps and scratches the door when he figures out I'm getting ready to leave for the day. It's heartbreaking. Will he ever grow out of this?

[Cindy and Olive (Ollie)]

Hi Stephanie. Teddy is super cute! Thought I'd relay some advice I've learned from Doggy Dan The Online Dog Trainer about separation anxiety.  You may like to check out his five golden rules of leadership which he explains help put dogs at ease in this and many other situations. It's really a framework for this advice... So, when you prep to leave the house, and again when you return, you don't look, don't talk, and don't touch the pup. It is really hard when you're feeling guilty to not want to soothe him, but if you do, you can be reinforcing that anxiety. With the no look, no talk, no touch, you're sending a message that all is calm and good and that you're leader. DD says not to address pup upon returning until he has completely settled. These (and the other) rules show pup that he can relax and be a dog, instead of worrying about where you are- you're his leader so he doesn't have to be in charge of/worry for you. Make sense? Good luck! :)

[Lori, Winnie, Bob and Indie]

Cindy- this is exactly what I was going to say! :-) The whole idea is to give the pup the idea that coming and going doesn't need to be an overly emotional event. 

Stephanie- the hardest part for you is going to be to completely ignore the crying and scratching. When you leave, just casually say something like, "Be good!" and walk out. The fact that he hasn't destroyed anything or had accidents is a really good sign that he is calm while you are gone! Once he realizes that you aren't going to smother him with love before you leave, he'll probably stop the crying and scratching. 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I agree with this advice.  The "matter of fact" way of leaving and returning is key IMO....it shows the dog that leaving and returning are totally normal.  It's difficult not to get excited when we return (because we've missed our Doodles) but it sends the wrong message.  I also prevent my dogs from having access to the doors when we leave because I know that they will just "camp out" and wait for me. If Teddy is jumping and scratching at your door, you might want to think about limiting his access when you're away.  I gate my guys upstairs and put the TV on so they don't hear outside noises and get excited.  When I return I don't remove the gate unless they are sitting calmly.  This has been our routine for years, and my Doods seem totally relaxed about being home alone. 

[Stephanie Bowman]

Thanks for the advice. I read this while I was at work and told my husband to completely ignore him when he got him (he gets home first). He said that though Teddy cried and seemed a little confused as to why he was being ignored, he eventually calmed down and then the love fest began! I calmly left this morning too. I started reading blog posts from DD and he seems to give really good advice. I think switching my routine a little in the morning might also prove to be helpful, since when he hears the keys, he immediately starts getting wound up!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

He’s young and probably will. Most do.