No body likes to leave their beloved fur babies at home alone, but unfortunately this is a necessity in this day and age unless house bound 😦
This past week has been training for Buddy, we have come through the chew everything stage! so the next step was to start to leave him alone for a while to see how he behaved and coped, coming from a shelter there is always something going on and they are never alone.
I wanted to do this gradually as he is still finding his bearings and learning to trust that this really is his home and that he wont be abandoned, so slow, slow was this part of his training and ours.
After a few days of settling in it was time! at first we just left him for 5 minutes, standing at the front door listening to see if he barked or whined or showed signs of stress ~ when we went back in we made a big fuss of him and gave him a treat so he associated with us leaving and coming back with something good ~ now dogs cannot tell time ~ so that 5 minutes could have been an hour to him.
The next time we left him was for half an hour ~ same routine on return, fuss and a treat.
Next step was 2 hours and this was timed to be on return it would be time for his afternoon walk ~ so after 2 hours I came back ~ no destruction, Buddy was just chilling, watching TV as we leave this on for him, radio is fine but I read somewhere that TV was better as its visual as well.
Great Progress is being made! and Buddy is happy
This was done for 2 days, then it was time to leave him at Grandma`s, we took him for a couple of walks before we left so he was tired and we were gone for 5 hours but made sure we were back before his evening walk time and dinner as this is when dogs would normally get stressed ~ I said earlier dogs have no sense of time but when it comes to walks and dinners ~ they know and feel its time 😉
Grandma report ~ he slept most of the time ~ she also put on the Dr Dolittle film for him (so sweet).
Of course all that saved energy meant Buddy was rearing to go when we got home, so a nice long walk was his reward.
Yesterday was the 4 hour graduation, (long walk given before leaving) the only thing was the TV was on a timer and on our return was on stand by! (come on Mum and dad sort it out!)
Buddy graduated with flying colours ~ the apartment was in tact, not a thing out of place, rewarded with a nice walk, dinner and some fresh cooked chicken.
Happy Family all around, for peace of mind for everyone it was worth taking the time to do this gradually, we can go out and enjoy ourselves knowing there is a happy dog waiting for us on our return 🙂
Next step finding a pet sitter for this little fur baby
From The Inside 