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Can a Poodle be Left Alone?

small brown poodle sitting on a rug with tile floors and wooden table legs in the background.

Yes, you can leave a poodle alone but not for very long. They have a great craving for companionship and can get bored very easily. Due to this reason, a poodle can’t be left alone for several hours. Long spells of loneliness can also make your poodle anxious or stressed.

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For How Many Hours Can a Poodle be Left Alone?

variety of different clocks on a rustic brick wall

Many dog owners are very keen to know the exact duration for which their pups can be left alone. The truth is that you can’t give an exact answer to this question because every canine is different. This is because the ‘loneliness tolerance’ of your poodle depends on several factors, like mood and bathroom needs. However, there is a general rule of thumb that can help you to schedule your (and your pooch’s) routine.

Experts have created a relation between the age of your dog and the duration for which he/she can stay alone. This estimation is based on the time for which a dog can hold his/her pee. According to this rule, a one-month-old puppy can be left alone for 1 hour. Similarly, a two-month-old poodle can stay alone for 2 hours, a three-month-old pup for 3 hours, and so on. A poodle who has passed its first birthday can hold the urge to pee for 8 to 9 hours.

Do Poodles Get Separation Anxiety?

Close up of a sad poodle laying down on a dog bed.

Yes, poodles can suffer from separation anxiety if they are continuously left alone for long spells. It can have a great effect on the behavioral and emotional state of your pooch. Most people confuse separation anxiety with isolation distress and consider both of them the same. Although they are closely related to each other, separation anxiety is more dangerous.

This is because it makes things extremely uncomfortable and stressful for the dog. In this state, your poodle becomes so attached to you that he/she won’t even tolerate small durations of separation.

Signs of Separation Anxiety

Some of the most common symptoms of separation anxiety are listed below.

  • Sadness (and crying)
  • Constant barking
  • Vicious behavior
  • Showing frustration when the owner is leaving the home
  • Over enthusiasm on the arrival of the owner
  • Increased frequency of housebreaking accidents

How to Help Your Poodle with Separation Anxiety?

Poodle kissing a woman's face.

Separation anxiety is one of the major reasons behind several negative habits that dogs do. Therefore, it’s extremely important to identify this problem and solve it as soon as possible. Adopting a behavioral training course for your poodle can help him/her to deal with this problem. For example, “Brain Training for Dogs” can be an effective option.

Other than that, Poodle Report explains some other ways to fix separation anxiety in your poodle.

  • Give your dog a lot of attention
  • Provide plenty of exercise
  • Play calming music
  • Purchase engaging and interactive toys for prolonged play
  • Hire a pet sitter
  • Canine Aromatherapy

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