Can Poodles Be Left Alone?-Here’s An Advice

Most Poodle owners will tell you that they love their poodles with all of their heart, and some will even say that the dog is a part of them. But that doesn’t mean they have to bring them along everywhere.

But can Poodles be left alone?

While it’s okay to leave poodles alone, the amount of time you should leave them depends on your poodle’s age, health, and how well trained he is. If you leave your poodle alone for long periods of time, it may cause your poodle to become fearful and anxious, which can lead to aggression.

Poodle’s Age

Puppy poodles will require more attention from you, while a more mature poodle who moves at his own pace will be able to spend longer periods of time alone.

A 4-week-old puppy should not be left alone for long periods of time because they don’t have much control over their bowels and bladder, and may urinate or defecate in the house.

The longest period of time you can leave your 4-week-old Poodle alone is 2 hours, while 8-week-old puppies can be left alone for 3 or 4 hours.

On the other hand, a poodle who is 6-months and older can be left alone for long periods of time, of course putting the above health issues into consideration.

Poodle’s Health

Health issues may also cause your pup to require more attention. If your poodle is ill, you will have to spend more time with him so that he can heal, and won’t be able to leave him for long periods of time.

Leaving a sick Poodle for long periods can also make him anxious, and in some cases cause aggression. Therefore, when your Poodle is sick, stay with him and help him heal.

Poodle’s Training

Leaving a highly trained Poodle can lead to a different set of problems than a poodle who isn’t well-trained.

If your Poodle is well-trained, he will not have any problems staying alone for long periods except that you will be gone. But a poodle that isn’t well-trained will most likely destroy your home looking for you. Untrained dogs tend to become depressed, anxious, and destructive when left alone.

In other words, if you leave him alone, he’ll turn to what he knows best–destroying anything in sight just to make you come back faster.

How To Tell Your Dog Has Separation Anxiety

Before we start with the signs, it is important to know that dogs cannot speak or tell you what they’re feeling. Their body language is their main way of telling us how they feel. Therefore, you have to learn how to interpret your dog’s body language.

Here are some signs that your dog has separation anxiety:

• Destroying household items, such as furniture.
• Excessive barking and howling.
• Chewing and tearing at the door.
• Whining and crying when you’re about to go out.
• Urinating and defecating in the house.
• Depression and inactivity when you leave.

If you notice any of these signs in your dog, you may have a case of separation anxiety. And as we’ve mentioned earlier, this can cause aggression.

Separation anxiety is a common problem among dogs, and it will only get worse if not addressed. If this behavior continues, your dog may end up being aggressive towards anyone entering the house or towards other dogs on walks.

How To Train Your Poodle To Be Left Alone

If you have a puppy Poodle, then begin training your poodle when he is 4-weeks old.

Training should begin with short periods of time at first, and gradually lengthen the amount of time you leave him alone. In addition, when you come back, it is best to bring a treat with you so that he associates you coming back with good things.

You can use a toy or chew bone to keep him busy while you’re gone, which will help prevent destructive behavior such as chewing furniture.

When you first begin leaving your Poodle alone, leave the radio or TV on so he won’t feel lonely. This isn’t a long-term solution though because it is important that he learns to be left alone without the TV or radio.

Therefore, after a few days of leaving your puppy alone with the radio or TV on, begin removing either one every day so he will have to get used to being alone.

Make sure to give your dog plenty of exercise before leaving him, so that he’s tired out and won’t be as restless. You may also want to try feeding your dog his meals in a closed crate so that he won’t be tempted to snack on anything while you’re away.

How To Tell If Your Poodle Can Be Left Alone For Longer Periods

Learning how to tell if your poodle can be left alone is very important as well. Here are some signs that your poodle can be left alone:

• He is well trained and does not have any bad habits.
• He has not developed any separation anxiety or aggression.
• When left alone for short periods of time, he can entertain himself.
• Your dog does not seem restless when you’re about to go.
• When he is left alone, he does not destroy anything in sight just to get your attention back faster.  
• He is not sleeping all day and does not have a long nap period. ( A well-trained dog will take naps only after he has been exercised or played with).

Toy Vs. Standard Vs. Miniature- Does It Really Matter?

You may wonder whether some Poodle breeds respond better when left alone than others. Well, whether you have a toy, standard, or miniature poodle does not matter. Therefore, any of the three types can be left alone.  

The poodle breed does not affect how well a dog can be trained and whether he is prone to separation anxiety or aggression when left alone. What matters instead is training, size, personality, and age.

Final Verdict:

It is possible to leave your Poodle alone without him being destructive, having separation anxiety, developing aggression, or becoming depressed. However, you will need to start training early and end with a well-trained dog.

Fortunately, Poodles are highly intelligent, and your dog will be able to learn how to entertain himself if you are not around. If you’ve never trained a dog before or are having trouble training your Poodle, then consider hiring professional help from someone who knows how to train dogs properly.