Poodles are one of the most sensitive dog breeds there is. They don’t do too well if left apart from their owner or even other humans for long periods. This can mean that you’ll have to either take them with you when traveling or find a pet sitter. Preferably someone that they’re used to like a friend or a neighbor that is always around.
So, can poodles be left alone? Under normal circumstances, poodles can be left alone. Now, you can leave them alone for a few hours while you work, if they’re adults. If you’re planning on travel, you can as long as you leave them with the company of a trusted friend. Still, you shouldn’t go away for more than a few weeks.
If you fail to do so, your poodle may get sick or even die. As much as this may sound like too much, it isn’t. Sensitive breeds that need constant attention and emotional support from their owners need to be around people. Especially those that they live with.
When you leave for more than a few weeks, your poodle will think you abandoned him/her. This will likely trigger depression, low-immune system and cause disease. Enough to say, this can lead to death or a serious illness. That’s why poodles shouldn’t be left alone for more than a few hours without a human presence that they’re familiar with.
So, if you want to know all the rules, and the best way to train your puppy or even your adult poodle to stay at home while you work without too much anxiety, keep reading this article ‘til the end.
Do Not Leave Them Alone For More Than A Few Hours
If you don’t want your untrained poodle to go potty all around your house, you shouldn’t leave them alone for more than the time that takes them to nee to go to the bathroom. That is 1 hour for every month of life that they have up until 6 months. From then on, they can usually hold for 8-9 hours.
Now, when we’re talking about leaving a dog – especially a poodle – alone, we’re usually talking about their emotional needs more than their physiological ones. Still, if what you’re concerned about is about the poop and the chewing, then you shouldn’t leave them for more than a few hours depending on their age.
So, remember to never leave them alone for more than a few hours, if they’re 6 months or older. If they’re even younger than that, then you shouldn’t leave them alone for more than 1 hour or 2. Also, you should train them to learn how to cope and be okay with being alone at your house while you’re working or going to the grocery store. You can learn more about that below.
Train Them To Cope With Anxiety
Poodles are one of the smartest dog breeds of all. They learn pretty fast and are very curious, which is usually a sign of intelligence. Still, they’re also quite sensitive. They’re very attached to their owner and the family. This can mean that they’re prone to develop separation anxiety. They can get stressed just from not seeing you for a few hours.
The stress is bad for any dog, and especially the sensitive ones because it leads to a low immune system. This creates the perfect conditions for all sorts of diseases. The best that you can do here is to teach your poodle to cope with anxiety. One of the most efficient methods is to give them toys, so they can feel that they have company while you’re not around.
This method works because your poodle will be distracted while you’re not at home. If we’re talking about puppies, you shouldn’t leave them alone for long hours. Still, you should consider training them to cope with anxiety with toys. The Pacific Pups is a great pack of toys that will help your poodle not feel alone. Check it out here.
Train Your Poodle To Go Potty
When you consider leaving your poodle alone there are 2 situations. You’re either leaving the house for a short time, which usually is work, leisure time, or going to the supermarket. The second situation is when you’re going on a trip. In this case, you’re going to be away for at least a whole day.
Whatever it is your case, you need to train your poodle to go potty. After all, you don’t want to come back and have poop and piss all over the place. The best that you can do to avoid this, it’s to train them to go to a predetermined place. That’s where potty mats come to play.
We’re talking about mats that simulate grass and create the perfect location for your dog to go potty indoors. All you have to do is to get one and train them to use it. The Downtown Pet Supply Potty Pad is a great option because it reduces odor and is pretty close to actual grass, which makes it more likely that your poodle is going to use it. Get yours here.
You Can Always Be With Your Poodle Virtually
Have you ever thought about doing a Big Brother kind of surveillance to your poodle? Installing some cameras so you can watch everything that happens while you’re not at home. This can be a good idea if you’re going to be at work or even go on a long trip.
Now, you can take this to the next level if you install a virtual interaction camera. It works like a baby monitor. It’s even better because you can interact with your dog. This device allows you to interact with your dog while you’re away. So, you’re not only going to see them but also be able to talk to them. And they’ll see you as well. It’s sort of like skyping with your dog.
So, if you have a poodle you should consider getting a device to watch your poodle virtually. This is perfect to make your dog feel like you’re still at home at all times. The Furbo Dog Camera is the best device in the market. Click to view pricing on Amazon here.
Ask A Friend To Be Your Dog Sitter
Another option that is gaining more popularity is to get a dog sitter. The first option is to get a friend or relative to do it for you. Especially if we’re talking about vacations. The friend option is the best because your dog is already acquainted with the person, so they’ll feel less stressed and more at home while you’re not there.
The second option that you may consider is house sitting. There are websites that you signup for a fee, and find people that are coming to your town to visit, and they’ll watch your dog while you’re away in exchange for a free stay. This may be a great option if you want to travel for a few days and not take your dog out of his/her house.
So, consider asking a friend to be your dog sitter. This is a great option instead of dog hotels that are usually expensive and a stressful situation for most dogs.
Create Restricted Areas
Creating a restricted area is a great option for dog owners that are going to leave their untrained puppy alone. If you’re going to work and your dog isn’t trained, there’s a good chance that they’re going to go potty around the house and are going to chew a lot of things. Especially if they’re teething.
So, the best that you can do is to create restricted areas. Now, if you have ever had a dog, you know that this is not such an easy task. Dogs have their ways to jump over obstacles and fit themselves into tight spaces. This is why you’re going to need a pet gate to accomplish this task.
Now, the best pet gates are made of light metal. It has to be strong and resistant but not too heavy. The Carlson Walk Through Pet Gate is a premium quality pet gate that you should take a look at. Grab yours here.
Always Leave Plenty Of Water And Good Food
Besides companionship and going potty, you always must make sure that your poodle has plenty of water and food available while you’re away. Depending on how many hours you’re going to be out of the house, the quantity will change.
The best that you can do is to always make sure that the water bowl is full and the food has the right quantity when you’re going to work. Especially puppies, need to have food available since they don’t deal well with hungry.
So, always have the best quality foods and water as well available to your poodle. The Purina Pro Plan is a high-quality food for dogs. Take a peek here.
Final Thoughts
So, poodles can be left alone, if it’s not for too long. It’s important to not leave them for more than 8-9 hours. You can still travel if you have someone doing dog sitting for you. Failing to do so may lead to a low immune system and stress.
