Teach Your Puppy To Be Left Alone

When you spend every waking moment with your new puppy, you set a pattern. Then suddenly you need to go back to work or duck out for errands – and your pup is left alone for the first time. That sharp contrast can be scary, stressful, and overwhelming.

Puppies who don’t learn independence early may develop separation anxiety. This doesn’t just mean they “miss you” – it can look like barking, crying, destructive behaviour, or even harming themselves in a panic.

What often happens next? Owners panic too. They rearrange their lives so the puppy is never alone – but this only makes the problem worse. The longer a dog relies on constant company, the harder it is to teach them to cope alone.

That’s how you end up with an anxious adult dog who struggles every time you leave.

When people think about “puppy socialisation,” they picture exposing their dog to new sights, sounds, people, and places. That’s all true - but it also includes life skills.

One of the biggest life skills is learning that it’s safe and okay to spend time alone. This sets your pup up for a calmer, more confident future.

Some people think the answer is to get a second dog to keep their puppy company. While an older, stable dog can help model good behaviour, there’s a risk: your puppy may become dependent on that dog instead of learning real independence.

Even if you already have an older dog, make sure your puppy gets regular practice being completely alone – no humans, no other pets. You never know when life will require it, and you don’t want your dog spiralling into stress because they’ve never learned how.

Start small and gradually increase:

• Give your puppy short periods alone in a safe space, like their crate or pen.

• Pair it with something positive, like a chew toy or stuffed Kong.

• Stay calm when you leave and return – no big emotional goodbyes or greetings.

• Slowly build up the duration so your puppy learns that being alone is just part of normal life.

Consistency is the key. With practice, your puppy will learn that alone time = safe time.

Raising a confident, well-adjusted puppy doesn’t have to be overwhelming.

My Puppy Priorities course covers the essentials step-by-step – including socialisation, independence, and preventing behaviour problems before they start. Click here to sign up.