Dog Training at Home: 5 ways to let the dog stay at home obediently

Dog Training at Home

In the past few months, because of the epidemic, the dogs in the house have been quarantined at home. This is especially true for the dogs adopted during the epidemic. However, with the reopening of various places, people gradually return to "normal life". When going to work, going to school, the dog in the family has to adapt to the situation where the whole family goes out, leaving it alone.

According to a survey, 58% of dog owners in the United States worry that their dogs will have separation anxiety. When the owner is not at home, he is most worried about the dog whimpering, barking, sabotage or accident because of confusion and confusion.

 To prevent this from happening, the owner needs to make some preparations in advance to help the dog adapt to the new life. Veterinarian Dr. Hofmeister recommends that pets be alone for some time every day, trying their best to adapt the dog to the new regular life. He said: "This is very important. When the owner goes out to work, pets are used to looking after the house alone, which will hit them harder. small. "If these methods aren't effective, you'll also search for external resources and ask a dog sitter for help. Some dog training tips for beginners  are as follows. 

Can I train my dog myself?

1. Establish the rules of life

Before going back to work, plan to arrange the dog's time alone. Give the dog some space to be alone, and the owner can do his own things, such as wearing headphones to listen to music, closing the door for work, or taking a break, and when he finds the dog stuck to his side, ignore it or walk away. Through a small separation, the dog knows that the owner also has something to be busy with, not always by his side.

Occasionally go out to let the dog get used to the owner's absence. To train the dog to adapt to the situation when the owner goes out to work, veterinarian Albert Ahn said: “Demonstrate the action of leaving home to show it: practice several times a day to pick up your bag and key to go out, and gradually increase you each time. The length of time away from home. When you go home, say hello to the dog and play with him for a few minutes."

Dog Training at Home

But please note: When pets rush to the door to greet you, you should suppress the urge to hug and kiss your pet. Veterinarian Jennifer Coates said: "If you are going to leave home and return home as normal, your dog will also quickly become calm."

It is better to start this best dog training a few weeks before you return to work when your dog is used to staying alone for long periods.

How do I train my dog to be obedient?

Dog Training at Home

2. Create a safe zone for dogs

Pillow beds are also called donut pet sleeping mats, which can help anxious dogs calm down. See how comfortable this dog sleeps.

If your dog is trained in a cage, then this is a good opportunity to put it in the cage again for a short period to let the dog get used to this is a safe zone. Veterinarian Jennifer Freeman (Jennifer Freeman) said: "The owner can put the pet in a cage or small room to create a safe zone for the pet and give a lot of compliments when it enters the area voluntarily."

There is another advantage of establishing a safe zone for the dog. In addition to ensuring the dog's safety, it also prevents the dog from staying alone and messing up the house.

If the dog has not been trained in a cage, then create a quiet environment for the dog, a space where the dog can be calmed down. For example, its bed can be replaced with a pillow bed (Bolster bed). "The pillow bed, also known as a donut pet sleeping pad, helps an anxious dog calm down by mimicking its natural nesting behavior," said veterinarian Heather Venkat. "It's like a baby soothing towel. Likewise, the comfortable high side makes the dog feel safe and relaxed."

Dog Training at Home:

How do I train my dog to be obedient?

3. Keep the dog busy

Leave some comforters, "Please make sure that your dog can use his favorite toys to entertain himself when he is not at home." An En veterinarian said: "Some people even turn on the radio or TV to further simulate the situation of the owner at home. Put a piece of clothing worn by the owner, such as a T-shirt or sweatshirt, in the dog cage or in its favorite place in the house. The smell of the owner is another way to make it feel comfortable."

There are many options for keeping pets busy when the owner is away from home. Dr. Rowlinson said: “Educational toys filled with snacks can bring intellectual challenges and delicious rewards.” Molar toys can also be loaded with snacks to keep your dog busy. Throughout the day, if you want to prevent your dog from biting out snacks too quickly, you can freeze the toy to extend the duration.

But make sure you put these toys away when you get home so your dog will associate them with alone time. In addition, Dr. Curtis recommends taking turns to use several different types of feeding toys to prevent the dog from being bored.

In addition, you can also get up half an hour earlier, take the dog out for exercise, try a long dog walk, jogging, or any energy-consuming activities that the dog loves. Veterinarian J.J. Rawlinson said: "If a dog consumes energy with you when you are not at home, it is less energetic to destroy things."

Can you train a dog without a trainer?

4. Remote monitoring

For peace of mind, the owner can also install a monitor to watch the dog's condition remotely at any time, and some devices can also talk to the dog remotely to alleviate the dog's anxiety.

"The owner's voice can calm an anxious dog," said Lisa Kang, owner of a pet care company. There are also interactive dog cameras on the market. When the dog is barking, the owner will receive a notification to see what happened in real-time, soothe the dog through the video, or throw snacks at the dog through the APP.

5. Seek foreign aid

Dog Training at Home

If the above approach is not effective, then you may want to consider seeking external resources. There are already many services that provide pet care. If your dog is energetic and you want to increase its exercise capacity, you can consider entrusting a valet to walk the dog during work. 

Dr. Curtis suggested that, if possible, ask the valet dog walker to start work a few days before you go back to the office so that your dog is less likely to exclude strangers from entering the house.

If you feel that your dog is not suitable to be at home alone, consider a puppy daycare center to increase opportunities for your dog to socialize and entertain. But be aware that not every dog ​​can adapt to a daycare center, and some dogs can increase anxiety. So it depends on the condition of your dog.

Another option is a pet sitter. Choose a suitable pet sitter for your dog. You can tailor a lifestyle that suits your dog's situation. If you have never hired a babysitter before, Julie Austin, who runs a pet care business, recommends that you let the dog and the babysitter meet in advance to see if they can get along well. Hours so that they are used to being left with the nanny and knowing that you will not abandon them."

Hope the above suggestions About Dog Training at Home: 5 ways to let the dog stay at home obediently can help you find a lifestyle that suits your dog and go to work with peace of mind. Any lifestyle change indeed requires a transition period and an adaptation period. The same is true for humans, let alone animals. As a master, you need to adjust your emotions and mentality before you can help your dog through this period.