Can Poodles Be Left Alone?

Can Poodles Be Left Alone?

Poodles are a great family breed that comes in three different sizes; standard, miniature, and toy. They are fun, energetic, smart, and easy to train. Poodles prefer to be with people most of the time and are not good kennel dogs. Socialization should begin early and include people and other pets.

• Size Of Poodles
• Moyen Poodle Size Comparison
• Poodle Dog Breed Facts and Characteristics
• Standard Poodle Eye Problems
• Standard Poodle Eyelashes
• Silver Beige Standard Poodle
• Gray Standard Poodle puppy
• Blue Standard Poodle Puppy
• Brown Sable Poodle Color Change
• Blue Merle Poodle Puppies
• Are Poodles Mean?
• What Does a Poodle Look Like Without a Haircut?
• Are Poodles Good Guard Dogs?
• Are Standard Poodles Aggressive?
• Are Toy Poodles Hard to Potty Train?

Can poodles be left alone? Poodles are able to be left alone for the amount of time they can go without needing to go to the bathroom. The general rule of thumb is 1 hour per month of age. So, 2 months would be 2 hours, 3 months for 3 hours. 1-year-old puppies can hold their needs for 8-9 hours.

Although poodles can go quite some time alone without needing to go to the bathroom, they are a breed that enjoys companionship from other people. With that being said, it is possible for poodles to feel lonely if left alone for too long. Here is what you should know.

Do Poodles Get Separation Anxiety?

Separation anxiety is a term used when a dog has trouble coping with being left alone. This could happen after only one hour of being alone or for ten hours. With a poodle, it is the behavioral and emotional state of the dog when left alone for too long.

Symptoms of separation anxiety in dogs include::

• Crying
• Destructive behavior
• Excessive barking
• Wild behavior when the owner is leaving
• An increase in housebreaking accidents
• Over excitement when the owner returns

I recently wrote this article on how to stop separation anxiety in poodles. In it, you’ll learn how to identify this anxious behavior and fifteen ways to help fix it.

How to help your Poodle cope with being home alone

In recent times, most owners are unable to give up their jobs in order to spend the first year of their Poodle’s life with them. However, for such cases are some solutions to help decrease your Poodle separation anxiety while you are at work.

Preparing a proper environment for your dog is an important factor to consider.

Let’s first start with what you should not do. Some owners go for leaving the dog inside a crate with food, water, and some toys, blankets, or a personal object that have their smell. This idea may be good for a dog that is not so dependent on its owner’s presence. Imagine that your dog is already stressed that you left him alone. Being in a crate for hours will stress them even more. Another disadvantage is that your dog will make its toilet needs if you’re gone for more than he could wait. So, in my opinion, the crate is not a solution when you are missing more hours from home.

The following are the most effective ways to create a safe and relaxing environment for your dog when it is left alone:

• Create a safe haven. A safe haven is a favorite space for your dog where he stays when he feels lonely, scared or depressed. A safe haven is actually a safe space where your dog has all he needs until you come back home. Such an environment should have: food, water, toys, blankets, some object of yours, warm, light, pleasant sounds. This space must be far away from threats like sharp objects, flammable or toxic objects that may harm your dog if he gets agitated.
• Leave the lights on. Leaving at least one light on, can help destress your Poodle. A dark apartment is far more lonely than one that is lighter. Leaving a light on will provide a safer, calmer environment for your pup.
• Turning on the TV/radio. Leaving your TV/radio turned on as background sound. You could try The Animal Channel or other pet-related programs. These may comfort many Poodles. If you go for the radio, you could try a proper radio station that wouldn’t disturb your dog. Therefore, you could test this method to see if the sounds of other animals or some music agitate your dog or if they soothe it.
• Having a window to watch nature, other animals or people from inside. Some Poodles enjoy when their living areas are near a window where they can see the world. This method is worth being tested to be verified to see if the dog will be destressed. Some dogs will bark at every bird, person, or animal that passes by, while others will appreciate the scenery and keep themselves engaged and happy just observing.

When You Leave Your Poodle Alone

• Pet owners don’t realize they are making a big mistake when they make a big deal about leaving. When a big loving goodbye with hugs and kisses takes place, it draws attention to what is about to happen.
• For all we know, it makes your poodle think that it is goodbye forever and that you don’t know when you will be back. This can increase anxiety and stress in your poodle.
• The best thing you can do for your dog is to act as if nothing is going on. During the last few moments you are home, you should put them in the area where they will be spending most of the time and then get ready as if nothing was happening.
• Make sure your poodle has all its needs and then slip out of the door while they are distracted.

Watch this video for some great tips to help your poodle relax when you are away:

Are Some Types of Poodles Better at Being Alone Than Others?

• Poodles are very energetic dogs that are known for their intelligence and ability to be easily trained. They thrive on constant attention and can develop bad habits, like excessive barking, if not given the attention they crave.
• Poodles come in three sizes, standard, miniature, and toy. The smaller size poodle, toy, can become aggressive towards people or other animals outside of the family if they are not introduced to socialization as a puppy.

Poodle Sizes and Their Behavior Traits

Miniature

• The miniature is a mid-sized poodle standing at 11-15 inches tall and weighing 14-18 pounds. These poodles are full of personality making them a great family pet. T
• hey are usually very sociable with other animals and very attentive to their owners. They may get a little more anxious than a standard poodle when the owner is away.

Standard

The standard poodle is the largest of the breed. Standing at over 15 inches tall and 45-70 pounds. They are alert, brave, and protective of their owners, so these traits make them good guard dogs. They are medium-to-large in size, very sociable, lively, and playful. They are easy to train and tend to handle being alone more than smaller poodles.

Toy

• The toy is the smallest of the breed, standing at 8-10 inches tall and weighing 6-9 pounds. This perfectly pint-sized poodle is great to have as a lap dog to always keep you company.
• Like their larger relatives, they are lively, playful and fun. They are very good companions and tend to really like spending time with their owners.

Can Toy Poodles Be Left Alone?

• Toy poodles are very affectionate and develop a strong bond with their owners. This breed is known for being a “thinking” breed that always craves attention and stimulation. In order to be happy, they always need some sort of stimulation, and can’t just sit alone.
• With that being said, toy poodles are a breed that suffers from loneliness and separation anxiety if left alone for too long. If they are not given enough attention, they can become timid and stressed.
• When toy poodles become stressed, they can become sick to their stomachs, have digestive upsets, and have erratic behavior. It is a good idea to be away from your toy poodle as little as possible.

Helping Your Toy Poodle With Separation Anxiety

With poodles being a dog that is easily trainable, it is possible to help train your toy poodle to be less anxious.

Here are some things to do to help with separation anxiety:

• Leave for a short amount of time. When training your toy poodle to adapt to being alone, start leaving in short amounts of time. Starting with 5 minutes, and then 10 minutes and so on. Toy poodles adjust very easily to new patterns, so the gradual increase in time will help them understand that you will come back.
• Take them for a walk. Toy poodles are so energetic, so taking them for a walk before you are planning on leaving is a good way to tire them out for a little while.
• Leave a bone or treat. This helps your toy poodle associate you leaving with something they enjoy and helps keep their mind off of you for a while.