Lexi, our beloved Goldendoodle, loves spending time with us just as much as we enjoy her company. Sometimes it can be challenging for us to leave her behind on those rare occasions when she can’t come where we are going. Since she joined our family, we have made it a habit to find someone close, a relative or friend, that can check up on her while we are away. Since many individuals and families can struggle with this, we thought we would offer insight into what we know about how long a Goldendoodle can be left alone.
Read on for more details about leaving your Golden Doodle alone. We hope you find it useful and informative.
How long can Goldendoodles be left alone?
An adult Goldendoodle can be left alone for five to nine hours when properly trained for alone time. Goldendoodles do best with close contact with families, but if you must leave them alone, there is a lot you can do to help prevent loneliness, separation anxiety, and destructive behaviors while you’re not with your Goldendoodle.
It is a good idea that they are trained before being left alone for any length of time to minimize issues that may arise from stress, anxiety, boredom, or curiosity. Certain dog breeds, including the Goldendoodle. can suffer from what is known as separation anxiety.
This health issue can cause stress and anxiety as well as unsavory behaviors in dogs that suffer. Potential pet parents seeking a gentle and loving companion animal that can spend a little bit of time alone while they are away will be delighted with this dog breed.
The Goldendoodle is a hybrid dog that originated from the combination of two distinct purebred dogs (the Poodle and the Golden Retriever). They were bred to be companion animals, so they thrive best in homes where they can play an active role in a family or be right beside an individual or loved one.
This type of scenario allows their character and personality to shine and keeps them happy and thriving. Their nature and personality are gentle, loving, sweet, and affectionate.
Their personality is low-key and easy-going, making it easy for their family or owner to leave them at home for a bit while they go out. While the Goldendoodle may be less than thrilled about this, they will tolerate it with the same laid-back attitude that they do everything else.
Proper training is essential before any dog, regardless of the breed, is left home alone. Obedience training will teach the Goldendoodle what is okay and not okay behaviors. This training will start them off on the right foot when they need to be home alone for a little bit.
Proper planning is always necessary when leaving any dog home alone, Goldendoodle or otherwise.
If it’s an option, consider having a dog walker or pet sitter come so they can have a potty break during the day. Doggy daycare is another option that’s often more affordable than people think.
How Do I Know If My Groodle Can Be Left Alone?
Many factors determine if a dog, regardless of the breed, should be left home alone.
Of course, breeding factors in determining whether a Goldendoodle can be left home alone. Certain breeds can struggle with anxiety, stress, and separation issues that make it hard for them to be left home alone.
The Goldendoodle is one of those breeds. They are a breed that can struggle with separation issues that can cause problems if left unmanaged. With proper training and preparation, they might not enjoy being left home alone, but they can manage this for a little bit.
Personality is by far the most important aspect of determining if a Goldendoodle can be left home alone. Questions can be asked to determine how well they will handle this, they include:
- Do they get bored easily?
- Are they very curious?
- How do they handle being left in another room or a short distance away?
- Are they destructive in any way?
These other questions can help determine what type of personality they have and how they will handle being left alone.
Age is a critical factor in whether a Goldendoodle can be left home alone. Puppies have many needs. There can be many issues that arise in a short period with a pup alone in the house. For this reason, Goldendoodle puppies shouldn’t be left home alone until they are older.
If your Goldendoodle is still a puppy, the max recommended time to leave them home alone is 4 hours, that’s only if your puppy is over 4 months old, if they are younger than that you should not leave them home alone for more than 2 hours as they have small bladders and might not be fully potty trained yet.
If your Goldendoodle is over 6 months and potty trained, they can be left up to 6 hours if absolutely necessary but is not recommended if you don’t have someone to come during the day to take them out, give them attention, and exercise.
Senior Goldendoodles and those that suffer from illness or injury can also be tough to leave home alone.
Their existing health issues can require more frequent care and responsibility. This can make it hard for them to be left home alone for long periods of time.
The home environment plays a role in whether a Goldendoodle can be left home alone. The home must be safe and healthy for them to live in while the owner or family member is gone.
You may also want to consider training, has your puppy learned not to chew things that they aren’t supposed to or get into things they aren’t supposed to do?
What type of planning should I do if I want to leave my Goldendoodle home alone?
The first step in planning to leave a Goldendoodle home alone is to ensure that the house is safe and healthy.
Depending on where the Goldendoodle will be staying, certain areas will need to be made dog safe. Trash might need to be removed from the places they will be staying.
Furniture should be safe, so they cannot knock anything over while their owner is away.
The temperature should be controlled so they don’t get too hot or cold. They should have a safe and comfortable place to lay and rest and a spacious area to move around in if they won’t be in a crate.
While entertaining, distractions should be kept to a minimum so they don’t get into trouble or hurt themselves.
They should also have adequate water, food, and perhaps some toys to entertain themselves so they don’t behave poorly, like excessive barking or destructive behavior. Puzzle toys are a great option for a curious Goldendoodle.
Some people go so far as to leave a television on to create noise so the Goldendoodle doesn’t feel lonely. If the time they spend alone will be at night, leaving on safe and soft lighting can be soothing.
Start with crate training, though you don’t want to keep your dog in their crate for the full 6 hours if you are gone, it is good to train them to be comfortable with it.
From a crate, you could also create a small play space where they are allowed to roam while you are gone and work up to leaving them out so they have access to their food, toys and room to just be!
Exercise your pup before you leave, take them on a walk or outside in the backyard to run around and play with them giving them lots of attention before you leave to wear them out so they will be tired for a while.
A general rule of thumb is that dogs need around 60 minutes of exercise a day, so try giving them 20-30 minutes at least before you leave and then the rest when you get home!
You may also want to invest in a doggy cam so you can check up on them throughout the day.
If the separation is to be longer than a few hours, it is best to have someone check in on the Goldendoodle to ensure that they are healthy, happy, and safe. This breed can struggle with separation anxiety making them prone to emotional issues when their loved ones go away and leave them behind at home.
And when you get back home, consider spending some extra time and attention on the Goldendoodle, especially if they were alone for a long time. Take them on a good walk and play a few games to get that energy out.
Keep an eye out for any signs of separation anxiety in your dog so you can treat that as necessary. Signs include your dog whining/crying before you leave and following your around as well as continued crying after you’ve left, not eating, signs of destruction, accidents with going the bathroom.
You can help your dog with this anxiety by the training above, getting professional help, and possibly medication prescribed by your vet if problems persist despite training.
Will A Goldendoodle Left Alone Get Separation Anxiety?
Separation anxiety is an emotional issue in a dog where they have a hard time being away from their loved ones or caregivers. This condition isn’t limited to dogs; other animals and humans can also suffer from this emotional condition.
Dogs can exhibit negative behaviors from the added stress that the situation causes them.
Some breeds suffer more than others. The Goldendoodle dog breed can and does suffer from this emotional condition.
Proper planning, ritual, and a backup plan can help create the right environment for their happiness. Time and a pattern that allows the Goldendoodle to understand and know what is coming can help them adjust more comfortably to this situation.
The Goldendoodle’s personality is easygoing, but it can bring about unsavory behaviors and negative tendencies when they suffer from separation anxiety, it is best to be patient and understanding of what they are going through in these moments.
How is Isolation Distress Described?
Isolation distress refers to the conditions that affect dogs that fear being left alone at any specific time. They prefer to be around other creatures. The dog will not be fussy and would be comfortable even when left with a cat, a fellow dog, or a human being.
On the other hand, dogs with separation anxiety must be around people or humans. It is not just any human, but once they have bonded and formed a close relationship. Their stress levels will continue to rise despite being left in the care of other people until their returns.
What can be done if my Goldendoodle hates being left alone?
There are quite a few things that can be done when leaving an unhappy Goldendoodle home alone.
Proper planning is necessary, but so is a routine or ritual followed each time the owner or family leaves home and the dog.
It can be as simple as sitting for some snuggle time right before leaving, offering some soothing words and a hug goodbye followed by a treat or two. Whatever method is used, it should be done consistently so the dog comes to understand and know what is coming.
With time and patience, they will know when certain words or a particular series of events happen that next, they will be home alone.
This doesn’t mean that the Goldendoodle won’t still suffer from anxiety or challenging behaviors while their owner or family is away. It can, however, minimize the potential for problems.
Having multiple tricks and methods will help each family or individual determine what works best for their Goldendoodle. Each dog is unique and will respond to what works best for their emotional and physical needs.
Picking The Right Doggy Daycare/Dog Walker
Your dog is your best friend, you want to make sure they are safe and receiving the best care possible whether it be someone that comes once a day to walk your dog or a daycare where your dog is at all day, you want to make sure they are professional and keeping your pup safe and happy, here are some tips for picking the right professional care for your dog possible!
For a walker:
- Check their licensing/insurance and qualifications, experience as well as their reviews and those who might recommend them!
- Talk to their customers and see how happy they are with their service.
- Spend time with them with your dog to see how they interact.
- Discuss pay and hours when you’d like them to come, consistency is important!
- Make sure to exchange contact info so they can always reach you in case of an emergency.
Before you leave your dog to be taken on walks consider the following:
- Their tags are up to date
- Inform walker of any issues beforehand any behavioral issues on walks such as if they pull, try to run away, are aggressive towards other dogs etc.
- Leave route instructions if needed, any places needing to be avoided (aggressive neighborhood dog etc.)
For a doggy daycare:
- Ask trusted friend/pet owners for recommendations as well as your local vet office as they might have one they recommend
- Google them, check their ratings/reviews
- Tour the daycare and take note if they have adequate space, staff, how many dogs will attend etc.
- Other things to consider is if they have cameras/live stream so you can check on your pup as you please, report cards on how your dog did that day/ate/play etc.
- Ask questions such as their rules and regulations for breaking up dog fights, giving dogs breaks, sanitation, hours etc.
Can mini Goldendoodles be left alone?
Miniature Goldendoodles can stay home alone for a few hours. Because of their smaller size, they will need to be let outside to go potty more frequently than standard Goldendoodles, but a well-trained mini should still be able to make it up to 8 hours.
If the Mini Goldendoodle is a puppy and not trained to use the bathroom in a designated place, then they should be left in their cage or playpen instead of roaming around the house.
Leaving a mini Goldendoodle alone is much the same as leaving a standard one. However, these smaller dogs have smaller bladders and therefore cannot hold their potty breaks for as long as larger dogs.
You may find it more difficult to train your mini Goldendoodle to hold it in for long periods of time. But other than that, the process for leaving your mini Goldendoodle home alone is much the same as for standards.
In Conclusion
Being alone is hard for everyone, dogs, and humans alike. The loneliness and boredom a dog feels can happen fast, just as soon as their owner closes the door.
If we take a moment to reverse the roles and see how much they depend on us for every aspect of their life, we can understand how our family pets must feel.
Proper planning and a few tricks can make it easier for a Goldendoodle to be left home alone for a long period of time every once in a while.
Thankfully, most of us that have one of these fur babies for a family member will find it hard to stay away for too long anyway. So run that short errand, but don’t forget that adorable cutie you left behind. They will be waiting with lots of love to share as soon as you return!
