How Long Can You Leave a Dog Home Alone?

The short answer

There is no single number that fits every dog.

How much alone time is right varies by the individual dog. It cannot be worked out from breed, age, or overall health alone. Dr. Vint Virga, a board-certified veterinary behaviorist quoted by the American Kennel Club (AKC), makes this point.

Adult dogs

Adult dogs can be alone for at most 6 to 8 hours without a chance to relieve themselves, says Dr. Virga.

Even adult dogs should not be home alone for much longer than six to eight hours without a bathroom break.

A whole day alone is too much. Dogs are very social animals, and a life spent in isolation is not a fulfilling one for a dog, says Dr. Virga.

Dogs should get a minimum of two hours of dedicated social time with humans or other dogs every day, says Dr. Virga. That time can be broken up into chunks across the day.

Older dogs

Senior (older) dogs may need to go out more often.

Going home for lunch, or having someone come by to let the dog out, may be needed.

If a dog will be alone longer

If a dog will be alone longer than 6 to 8 hours, break the time up.

You can use doggy daycare, a dog walker, or a neighbor, friend, or loved one dropping by for a walk, feeding, or even a quick visit.

Puppies: how long is too long?

The AKC gives this guide for puppy alone time:

Puppy age	Maximum time alone
Under 10 weeks	1 hour
10–12 weeks	2 hours
3 months	3 hours
4 months	4 hours
5 months	5 hours
6 months	6 hours
Over 6 months	Maximum 6–8 hours

This guide is based on how long a puppy can hold its bladder.

Puppies up to 10 weeks old typically cannot hold their bladder for more than an hour.

From about 3 months, a puppy can usually hold it about an hour for each month of age.

After 6 months, a puppy can usually hold it up to about six hours.

Teaching a puppy to be alone

Puppies have to learn to be alone, gradually.

• Start while you are still home.
• Use a safe area such as an exercise pen or crate. Make it a safe, relaxing place, not a punishment.
• Give positive associations, such as treat-dispensing toys and special toys they only get there.
• Increase the alone time a little at a time over a few days.
• Check in, and reward and praise calm success.
• Eventually transition to free access to the house once the dog is potty trained and comfortable being home alone.

When a puppy first comes home, plan some time off work if you can, so the puppy can get used to the house.

After you return to work, arrange for someone to let the puppy out at least once or twice a day.

Trips of a couple of days or more

For trips of a couple of days or more, a dog must not simply be left alone.

The choices are a pet sitter staying overnight, the dog staying with a family friend, a dog care facility, or a caretaker checking in a few times a day.

Signs a dog may be getting too much alone time

Signs can include:

• Destructive exploring — getting into things
• Acting excessively enthusiastic and exuberant when you return
• Seeming apprehensive, avoidant, or anxious around strangers
• Seeming bored and disengaged

Separation anxiety

Separation anxiety is a real behavioral condition. It is different from a bored or frustrated dog.

Possible signs when a dog is left alone include:

• Barking or howling more than usual
• Destroying furniture, clothes, doors, windows, or walls
• Urinating or defecating in the house
• Drooling, panting, and salivating more than usual
• Pacing around and around
• Trying to escape a crate

A clue is that these happen all the time when you leave. They may start at the very sight of you preparing to leave.

The way to tell the difference and get help is a visit to a vet or a veterinary behaviorist.

Before you get a dog

Before getting a dog at all, think about how long it will be home alone each day, says the AKC.