At some point in time, every dog parent might need to leave their dogs alone. It might be due to your work and study schedule, a vacation or a night out. Dachshunds enjoy the company of other dogs or even cats. But, you might want to know can dachshunds be left alone? Let’s find out in this article.
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Can Dachshunds Be Left Alone?
Yes, dachshunds can be left alone when provided the right toys and activities. On the other hand, you may also put your dachshund in a crate with entertaining toys when you are gone to prevent destructive behavior due to separation anxiety. Moreover, the dachshund is a very intelligent breed, with regular leaving and going home routines, they can eventually learn that being alone is temporary and all they have to do is wait patiently.
Separation anxiety can happen in dachshunds which are too attached to their owners without learning proper behavior when left alone. In some instances, dachshund owners might unintentionally trigger separation anxiety in dachshunds when they excite the dog too much before they leave. When they leave the dachshund is already too excited and it got no one to play with that, later on, triggers bad behavior when a dachshund is left alone.
You may reward your dachshund when you come back without incidents of destructive behavior when you leave it alone. In addition, you may offer new toys to avoid boredom when you are gone. Furthermore, you may have a schedule for the toys wherein you do not make all of them available all at once. By scheduling the different toys that you will leave to your dachshund, you can trick your dachshund by making it think that it is a new toy every time to keep your dachshund entertained for a longer time.
Signs of Separation Anxiety in Dachshunds
Separation anxiety can happen in any breed. Moreover, dogs that are very attached to their owners may engage in destructive behavior. Also, once engaging in destructive behavior, dogs may injure themselves in the process. Here are some tell-tale signs of separation anxiety in dachshunds that are left alone:
- Excessive vocalizations
- Too much peeing and pooping indoors despite being housebroken
- Extreme destructive behavior
- Excessive salivation
- Restlessness
How Long Can You Leave Your Dachshund Alone?
If you are out for work or school, you are probably out for about 8-9 hours a day. This is probably a normal schedule for you and after owning your dachshund for quite some time, your dog may eventually get used to this schedule. During this time you may leave your dachshund calmly in a crate or free-roaming inside your house. However, if you are going to be out for a longer time, you might need the help of a pet sitter. In addition, your dachshund might need additional food or water when you are out for an extended period.
If you plan to go on a night out, you may leave your dachshund alone at night, too. However, it is best to check on them before you go on a night out to check what your dachshund is doing and maybe go out for a walk before you leave home again. When you come back in the wee hours of the morning, you might notice a sleeping dachshund or a very alert watchdog.
How to Avoid Issues When Leaving Your Dachshund Alone
If you notice that your dachshund is having behavioral issues when you are gone, you might want to do something about it. Moreover, destructive behavior and psychological issues in your dachshund may be detrimental when left alone. You may get in touch with a professional dog trainer if your dog’s separation anxiety is very severe. On the other hand, you may also get in touch with your vet to recommend some medications to promote relaxation or natural compounds that may help calm your dog when you are gone.
Give Your Dachshund a Dog Companion
The dachshund is very friendly and curious towards other dogs. Once they are socialized with other dogs properly, they can be very friendly and playful. It is very rare for dachshunds to be hostile with other dogs. Moreover, as long as the dachshund feels safe in the environment, they would enjoy great company. In addition, with other dog companions, your dachshund might be able to avoid problems when left alone.
Provide Entertaining and Challenging Toys
Dachshunds can get bored easily and they need to make use of their intelligence most of the time. When left alone without toys, dachshunds may get frustrated and anxious when you are not around. However, you might not know about this, until you go home to a house partially ruined by a bored or anxious dachshund. If you plan to put your dachshund in a cage when you are gone, make sure to provide entertaining toys and positive reinforcement inside the crate to avoid negative association towards the crate.
Teach Your Dog to Be Calm
A lot of things might be going on in your dog’s mind when you are gone. That is why a dachshund may engage in unwanted behavior when they are left alone. Besides, improper mind conditioning to your dog may promote separation anxiety such as exciting your dog before you leave, and when you get home. You may teach your dog to relax and calm down before you leave, so they may prefer to rest than engage in destructive behavior when you are gone.
Conclusion
Can dachshund be left alone? Yes, a dachshund may be left alone once trained properly and enough entertainment is provided. However, if you still see signs of separation anxiety and destructive behavior despite teaching proper behavior when you leave, then you may get in touch with a professional dog trainer or veterinarian for further remedies.
