Welcoming a puppy into the family usually means that changes will inevitably occur in the routines and dynamics that you already had established, since it is necessary to adapt to the newcomer. Now, we humans have demands and obligations that involve leaving the puppy alone at home, like going to work, because otherwise you would not be able to pay the bills and food for your little one.
For this reason, many owners often wonder if you can leave a 2-month-old puppy alone, the age at which it is usually adopt, because they are worried about whether they will be able to adapt their schedules to the needs of their puppy. In this article on our site, we want to help you solve this question, as well as advise you on how to welcome your newcomer.
Your puppy's first days at home
Without a doubt, the arrival of your puppy at home is a critical point in which your patience and knowledge of how to deal with the little one will be tested. And the fact is that, if we put ourselves in the skin of the animal, he recently lived in a safe environment with his mother and siblings and, without prior notice, has been transferred to a completely new space, unknown and without his protective figure. It is natural, therefore, that your puppy is restless and cries often, looking for someone to protect him, in this case, you.
It should be noted that a dog should not be separated from its mother before 2 months, as it is necessary to adapt to the dog's natural rhythm to avoid future problems. A dog before 2 months of age needs the support and affection of its mother, and it is from this time that natural weaning occurs, a period in which the mother begins to distance herself from her puppies and teaches them to become independent little little by littleTherefore, this time is usually the recommended time to adopt a puppy, since it creates a strong bond of attachment with its human guardian, while serving as a guide and reference figure, promoting the learning of basic education.
As regards whether the 2-month-old puppy can be left alone at home, it is necessary to know that during this very sensitive period it is not recommended that the puppy stays alone for a long time, because he will experience stress and anxiety due to loneliness and it could mark his future character by forming an insecure dog and, possibly, with separation anxietyTherefore, if you are thinking of taking in a puppy of this age, you should make sure that during the first few weeks you can dedicate enough time to him (on vacation, through telecommuting…) or if there is someone else at home that I can be with him.
When can I leave my puppy alone?
It is difficult to determine an exact time, since each puppy is unique and has its own learning process, which will depend on individual factors such as personality, breed, how much time you spend a day with him, if he is alone or with other dogs, etc.
Even so, to start leaving your puppy alone, you should first help him by getting him used to being alone. This step will be of vital importance so that your future adult dog has a secure character and is calm even if you have been away from home for long periods of time.
How to leave a 2 month old puppy alone?
The first days and even weeks of your puppy's arrival try to take time off to be with him and get him to bond with you. Still, try to gradually introduce time when he is alone as well. You must do this learning at the beginning leaving it only a few minutes and little by little increase the periods of time to an hour, an hour and a half, etc. On the contrary, pretending from the beginning to suddenly leave him alone will only make him feel safe. We also recommend doing this routine after playing with him, waiting for him to pee in a pad and checking that he is tired, so that he will be relaxed and wanting to sleep.
To carry out this learning process, you will also need to prepare a rest space that provides a sense of security and that is yours. This space must be wide and without elements with which you can hurt yourself, such as plugs, objects that you can break and swallow, etc. There are people who choose to prepare a pen for puppies, although it is preferable that the space can be expanded gradually. For example, we can start by leaving him in a room and later opening the door for him. We will have to provide you with different elements in this area, such as:
- Food and water: You must have food and water available so that you can feed and quench your thirst at will.
- Washer/newspaper: Puppies have difficulty controlling their toilets. For this reason, it is easy for them to urinate and defecate inside the house, even more so if they are nervous because they are alone. It is advisable, then, that you teach your puppy to relieve himself in a suitable place so that he learns this habit, leaving him pads or sheets of newspaper that, in addition, facilitate subsequent cleaning.
- Toys: it will be of vital importance that the puppy has elements with which to distract himself, in this way he will associate staying in this space with something positive. It is advisable to leave him interactive toys, with prizes inside such as the Kong, in order to make the experience more rewarding.
- Bed: this will be his resting space, therefore, you must leave him his bed so that he can sleep comfortably when he is tired and, in turn, learn to sleep on it if you want to teach him this habit.
- Carrier: Dogs often like to have the option of sheltering in a den. For this reason, giving your puppy the option of getting in and out of the carrier in case he seeks shelter is recommended. In addition, this way you will also make the carrier positive, so that if one day you have to use it, it will not be seen as something negative.
- Clothes: Smell is a highly developed sense in dogs, for this reason leave used clothing to keep your aroma, whether in the carrier or in your bed, will also help you feel safe.
- Pheromone diffuser: the use of pheromones, also perceived by smell, can be useful if the dog is very skittish and have a hard time adapting to changes. Of course, you should make sure that the diffuser is not within reach to avoid an accident.
Finally, you'll need to establish a regular routine, as dogs of all ages have a predictable schedule and puppies in particular need stability. The fewer surprises, the better. Therefore, try to keep the times of eating, walking, bedtime, playing times and the times when you leave him alone constant.
Now that you know that it is better not to leave a 2-month-old puppy alone for a long time and how to start teaching him to be without you, we leave you this video in which we expand on this information:
