Free Housebound Dogs by Paula Kephart

Who’s Watching the Dog?
    The question that most plagues dog owners is what to do with the dog when they must go to work or be away from home for several hours. There rarely seems to be a satisfying answer. Should the dog be contained in a crate or small area, or should he have the run of the house? Or should he be left outside? The answer is, it depends.
    The best solution is to leave your dog alone for only a short stretch of time, no more than 3 to 5 hours. But this is rarely possible for most of us. A full-time job requires 8 hours a day, if not more. Add to that travel to and from work, stopping for groceries, or running other errands on the way home, and it may be that your dog is alone 12 or more hours a day. What can loving owners do to keep their dogs cheerful, calm, and secure while they’re away?
    Age Matters
    Please note that most of the suggestions in this bulletin apply to dogs who are 1 year or older. Puppies need special treatment. They are much more vulnerable physically and emotionally than are older dogs. They aren’t used to being alone, they don’t have great bladder control, and they crave attention.
    Initially, an adopted puppy has many losses to endure. He misses his mother and his littermates. There are no warm bodies to snuggle up to while sleeping and no one to roughhouse and tumble with as he learns the “dos and don’ts” of proper pack behavior. Now his packmates are very tall and walk around on two legs. They speak an incomprehensible language. And there’s a whole new set of rules to get used to. Plus, he’s all alone for hours on end.
    The stress of loneliness can lead a puppy into many problem behaviors that may continue well past puppyhood. He may chew incessantly on anything and everything and retain this habit long past the chewing stage. He may bark or yap or whine all day long, begging for comfort and attention, and then continue to do so all through the evening and into the night. In an effort to comfort himself a lonely puppy may even develop self-abusive behaviors, such as excessive licking or biting until his skin is raw and sore.
    Housebreaking a puppy who is left alone all day is very difficult. Successful housebreaking requires taking the puppy out often during the day and praising him when he relieves himself outside. Housebreaking works best when someone can catch the puppy before he starts to relieve himself in the house and hurry him outside to do the job. Without this kind of prompt response on the owner’s part, housebreaking can drag on for months. And if you can’t be on hand to teach and reinforce proper elimination habits during the first few weeks that the puppy lives with you, he may never completely understand what you expect of him. This is often the case with dogs who continue to have accidents in the house long after puppyhood.
    You must be willing to devote time and attention to a puppy. If you can’t give a puppy the time he needs to learn the rules of the house and adjust to being on his own, give serious consideration to adopting an older dog instead. And if you must leave a dog less than 1 year old at home alone during the day, make every effort to provide him with human contact during the day.
Take a Break
    If you live close enough and can arrange your schedule to do so, go home for lunch. This midday contact can go a long way toward easing the pressure for both you and your dog. Perhaps you can work out an alternating schedule with other household members so that different members stop in on different days.
    If you are able to get home during the day, even if only for 15 or 20 minutes, use the time to focus on your dog. Take her out for some fresh air and give her a chance to relieve herself. Play with her for a few minutes, either inside or out. Let her run and stretch her muscles. Even a brief visit will give your dog a significant break from boredom and loneliness.
    When it’s time to leave, be calm and