Teaching Your Pup How To Be Alone – Separation Training

You’ve just welcomed your new fur baby into your home and the idea of leaving their side is almost unbearable. But trust me, teaching your pup to be alone is one of the most important things you can do for them.

As a Certified Canine Behavior Consultant in San Diego at Pack Method Prep – School for dogs in San Diego, I’ve seen firsthand how crucial separation training is. Dogs are pack animals, bred to be with us, so being alone can be a challenge. Some breeds are more independent than others, but every dog needs to learn this skill. Today, I’m going to break down how to build a positive association with alone time.

1. Key Terms
2. Step 1 – Prepare Your Space
3. Step 2- Exercise!
4. Step 3- Positive Association
5. Step 4 – Trouble Shoot
6. Step 5- Build It Up
7. Step 6- Flying Solo
8. Anxiety Warning

Key Terms

Separation training: The process of helping your dog to be comfortable alone, whether that’s in

a crate or safe area of the home. The goal is to be able to confidently leave your house,

knowing your pup is happy and safe!

Separation Anxiety: Anxiety induced by being left alone. Separation training will help you

PREVENT separation anxiety, not reverse existing anxiety. 

If your pup is already showing signs of anxiety, check out this article: 

All About Separation Anxiety

Crate Training: Crate Training is teaching your pup to be comfortable in a confined area,

whereas Separation Training is teaching your pup how to be comfortable when they’re alone, no

matter where they are. When your pup is young, it’s safest to confine them when unsupervised.

Confinement training (like Crate Training) is a necessary additional step to Separation Training.

Confinement Anxiety: Anxiety induced by being confined, like in a crate for example.

Crate training will help PREVENT confinement anxiety. If you don’t take the time to properly crate train before you attempt to leave your pup alone, your pup could develop

Confinement Anxiety – a disorder commonly misinterpreted as Separation Anxiety that will drastically slow down your attempts at creating a positive association with alone time.

STEP 1 – Prepare Your Space

Before you begin Separation Training, you’ll need to decide how you are going to confine your dog to keep them safe while you’re gone. There are 3 different options we recommend. Once you choose a confinement method, stick with it to keep your pup’s experience as consistent as possible.

Option 1: Crate
This is the most recommended option for confinement. If you have not begun crate training yet, and you plan to crate your dog when they are home alone, stop here and check out our article on Crate Training. Once your pup is comfortable in a crate, you can resume your Separation Training!

Option 2: Exercise Pen

An Exercise Pen is a good alternative to a crate because it still creates a defined, safe space for your pup. Since it is a type of confinement, you will still

need to follow the steps for Crate Training before proceeding with Separation Training. The downside is that it is not as secure as a crate, and some dogs may be able to knock it over or jump over it.

Option 3: Gated off area 

You can section off a designated area of the home, like a hallway or bathroom, using an exercise pen or baby gate. This will give your pup a bit more room to roam and may be a good option if you are already working through confinement anxiety. Make sure to puppy proof this area before leaving your dog alone. A properly puppy-proofed room has all potential hazards removed from any areas your pup even MIGHT be able to reach, and has anything important removed that your dog might be tempted to destroy or eat, for example trash, human food items, book report.

Make sure your pup DOES have access to water and a comfy place to take a nap!

Step 2- Exercise!

Exercise is a key component in your dog’s mental and physical health. Depending on the breed, dogs require 30 minutes to 2 hours of exercise every day! Younger dogs need more exercise than older dogs, peeking in adolescence and young adulthood. We all know a tired pup is a well behaved pup. So if you’ve exercised about an hour before you leave, your pup will have less energy to expend on unwanted and anxious behaviors when you’re gone. In addition, if your dog is meeting its daily exercise requirements on a regular basis, they are less likely to have anxiety overall, making your separation training a lot easier! See our article on Exercise and its effect on dog training!

Step 3- Create a Positive Association

Now that you’ve prepared your space fully by doing any necessary puppy proofing and confinement training, it’s time to start building a positive association with being separated from you!

First you will need a “Special Alone-Time Treat” like a chew, stuffed Kong, or treat dispenser toy (like a snuffle mat or puzzle). The treat should be high value and long lasting and something they rarely get to have. Bonus if it is also mentally stimulating! (just make sure that it’s safe and not a choking hazard)

Next, work through the following steps

1. Start with a means of separation that ensures your pup will still be able to see you.
   (Do NOT use a separate room with a solid door)
2. Place your puppy in their designated area and give them their “Special Alone-Time Treat”
3. Take a few Steps Away – Stay in the room and where they can see you, but avoid giving your puppy any attention (this includes eye contact, speaking, and touching).
4. Time yourself -Depending on your puppy, you may be able to start with 1-2 minutes, or you may need to start with 10 seconds.
5. Walk back to them – Release them from their space. Make sure to end on a success by releasing them BEFORE they show any signs of stress. You can even release them before they’ve finished their treat.
6. Repeat 3-5 times – when you are done practicing, remove the treat and allow your pup to access you fully again.

Step 4 – Troubleshooting

• If your puppy starts whining the second you place them in their crate or pen, you may need to go back a few steps and strengthen their positive association with their containment area (see Crate Training)
• If the whining starts when you walk away, then ignore and wait a minute or two to see if the whining stops. If it does, then great! Your pup was having a little anxiety over this new experience of being left alone, but by ignoring you taught your pup that it is not an effective way to gain attention.
• if you attempt to wait out the vocalizing and it continues or intensifies, go back a few steps. You may need to decrease the distance you are walking away and/or decrease the amount of time you are separated.
• If your pup is perfectly fine but then the whining starts a few minutes into being separated, then you probably waited too long before releasing them and should have ended the session while they were still calm. Wait for a quiet moment, treat your pup, then release. Next time, start with a smaller increment of time.

Step 5- Build It Up

Now that you’ve taught your puppy that they will survive not being lavished with attention at all times, the next step is to actually leave the room/ go out of sight. Don’t move on to this step until your puppy is comfortable being confined with you in the room for at least 20-30 minutes.

1. Place your puppy in their designated area and give them their “Special Alone-Time Treat”
2. Leave the room. – Stay in the house, but make sure your puppy can’t see or hear you.
3. Time Yourself – Stay out of the room for the count of ten to start with. When you have had multiple successes (pup does not seem bothered by you leaving) start to gradually increase the time.
4. End on Success – remember to walk back into the room to release your pup BEFORE they show any signs of stress.

   *Pro Tip* DO NOT get excited when you come back in the room and release your puppy. If you want your puppy to believe that being left alone is no big deal, then you need to SHOW THEM that it’s no big deal by calmly re-entering the room and dismissing them like nothing happened. If your puppy is overly excited when you re-enter the room, wait until they calm down before releasing from their separated area.

5. Repeat 3-5 times – when you are done practicing, remove the treat and stay with your pup.

Step 6- Flying Solo

Once your pup can be left alone with you in the house for at least 30 minutes to an hour, it’s time for them to fly solo. You are making the leap from being just a few footsteps away, to leaving the house completely. I can hear your new puppy-parent heart attack from here, but don’t worry! You’ve put in the work and you are ready to take the next step in teaching your puppy to be independent and confident.

1. Repeat the process above with one adjustment – incorporating your home’s most used exit (front door, garage door, back door). Instead of just leaving the room your pup is in, you will leave the house completely, through the exit door. 
2. Just as you did before, start with a count of 10-20 seconds and then slowly increase over time.
3. Do not leave a puppy for over 4 hours (they have tiny bladders!). For an adult dog you can go up to 5 or 6 hours, but for longer durations, consider a pet sitter or doggy Daycare!

Anxiety Warning

*Warning* If at any point during this process you see signs of extreme distress, for example urination/defecation, excessive whining/howling/barking, aggression, destructive behavior, or excessive drooling/panting, stop what you’re doing and consult a professional dog trainer. 

Some short term whining or mild stress is normal during the process of Separation Training, but any behavior that seems extreme may be a sign of Confinement or Separation Anxiety. Separation Anxiety will require the help of a trainer or behaviorist. While Separation Anxiety can often be prevented by Separation Training, if your dog has an anxiety disorder, or if stress signals are ignored during the training process, you can exacerbate or even be the cause of the Separation Anxiety, so it is best to enlist the help of a professional dog trainer if you’re not sure!

Conclusion

When you adopt a new pup there is so much to teach them! Between housebreaking and basic obedience, it’s easy to overlook the importance of Separation Training. By taking the time to teach your puppy how to be alone, your pup will become a more confident dog all around.

Unleash Your Dog’s Potential: Pack Method Prep’s Training Solutions

Building a strong bond with your pup takes dedication, but you don’t have to do it alone.

As a Certified Canine Behavior Consultant in San Diego at Pack Method Prep I understand the challenges you face. Whether it’s mastering separation training, overcoming behavioral hurdles, or simply wanting to deepen your connection, Pack Method Prep is here to guide you.

Our San Diego-based training programs offer tailored solutions for every dog and owner:

• Private Training: Address specific needs and behaviors.
• Group Classes: Train in a fun, social environment. 
• Virtual Training: Learn from the comfort of your home. 

Ready to embark on a transformative journey with your furry friend? 

Contact Pack Method Prep today. Let’s create a harmonious partnership built on trust, respect, and unconditional love.

Call us at (858) 230-7020 or visit our website to get started.