If you’re constantly asking, “Can bernedoodles be left alone?”, we’ve got you covered. Below, we’ll go over exactly how your pooch will act on his lonesome, and share some tips and tricks for making your absence as comfortable as possible.
Though we all love our dogs, it’s virtually impossible to be with them 100% of the time. However, if you have an adorable gentle giant at home, it may be difficult to imagine leaving your pooch on his own.
Breed Profile
Bernedoodles are the oh so cute cross between the Bernese Mountain Dog and Poodle. You can expect these pups to have some of the goofiness of Bernese Mountain Dogs while still possessing some of the poodle’s extra smart wit.
This breed is pretty social and loves to spend time with family and other dogs. You can expect your pooch to be incredibly loyal and affectionate. bernedoodles also come in both toy and miniature varieties depending on the Poodle parent, which are typically more high-energy than their standard-size counterparts.
These dogs love to stay active, even if it’s indoors with some challenging puzzle toys or a focused training session. Having one of these curly bundles of joy as part of your family is truly a blessing.
Can bernedoodles Be Left Alone?
In an ideal world, we would be able to have our dogs by our side 100% of the time. Unfortunately, this is not always possible. That being said, Bernedoodles appreciate being in a household that has people or playtime partners home most of the time.
This breed thrives on companionship, so it’s definitely something that you’ll want to take into consideration before bringing one of these beauties into your life. Bernedoodles make great family dogs and can be incredibly good around children.
Since they are so social, Bernedoodles can be prone to developing separation anxiety. This is when your dog expresses distress and behavior problems whenever left alone. Below, we’ll detail how you can combat canine separation anxiety if you see your Doodle struggling with their independence.
It’s ok to leave a Properly trained Bernedoodles alone. Remember that this process can take time, but as your Bernedoodle puppy grows older, they’ll become more and more comfortable with their prospect of independence.
What Do Dogs Do When They’re Left Alone?
So, what do dogs do when they’re left alone? Before spilling the scoop, it’s important to recognize that dogs who are suffering from separation anxiety operate a lot differently than dogs who are comfortable with their independence.
If you’re not sure how your Bernerdoodle reacts to when you are not home, it might be a good idea to get a dog webcam to keep tabs on what they’re up to.
Generally speaking, a confidently independent pooch will engage in the following activities while they’re alone:
- Sleeping or Relaxing: Dogs are much more likely to engage in this positive behavior while you’re gone if they’ve played or exercised beforehand.
- Window Watching (and the occasional bark and the neighborhood squirrel)
- Playing With Toys
However, even a confident dog craves attention and human interaction, so you should always try to be with your dog when you can.
A dog that’s struggling with separation anxiety might:
- Dig or Scratch at Doors or Windows
- Destructive Chewing
- Excessive Howling, Barking, or Whining
- Improper Release – House trained Dogs – defecate or urinate.
If you see your dog exhibiting signs of separation anxiety, make sure you use the guidelines listed below to help ease those aches.
How To Deal With Dog Separation Anxiety
In order to start your dog off on the right foot, you’ll want to start with preemptive care to make sure your Bernedoodle puppy doesn’t develop separation anxiety. One thing you can do is practice leaving your puppy for short periods of time (like 10 or 15 minutes) while they’re undergoing training.
Give them a high-value treat like peanut butter stuffed Kong when you leave so that they have something to occupy their time. As your dog gets older, you can gradually increase the amount of time that they’re left on their own.
If your Bernedoodle is already suffering from separation anxiety, here are a couple of things you can do:
- Try to exercise or play with your dog before leaving so that they’re more tired and relaxed when you leave
- Keep your dog’s routine relatively the same so that they know what timeline they can expect on a regular basis
- Invest in crate training
- Whenever you let your dog out of the crate, remain calm and collected.
- Keep greetings to a minimum whenever you return home
- Consider hiring a dog walker or sitter to come to check in on your dog periodically while you’re away
How Much Time Can Your Dog Be Left Alone?
Dogs build up a tolerance when left alone as they age. You’ll want to go slow with your puppy. Generally speaking, a Benerdoodle puppy (Bernedoodles under the age of 18 months), should not be left alone for more than 2 hours.
Keep in mind that this doesn’t necessarily mean you specifically have to see your puppy. Hire a dog sitter to check-in and do a play session when you are gone. Or, divide your responsibilities amongst your family members. Doing so will set your pooch up for success.
When your Bernedoodle has reached adulthood, leave them alone for up to 6 hours. Preceding that he’s trained to handle independence previously in smaller increments. Make sure you start this training while your Bernedoodle is a puppy. So that he’ll have the best chance of accepting his independence.
Things To Consider When You Leave Your Dog
Though you are able to leave your Bernedoodle home alone, there is a right and wrong way to do so. Just like us, all dogs are prone to becoming bored easily. Our dogs need proper stimulation to stay happy and healthy.
In order to keep your pooch as happy as possible while you’re away. Here are a couple of things you can do:
- Interactive Puzzle Toys: Interactive puzzle toys give your pooch a chance to use their brain to earn a treat even when you’re not there. At the very least, make sure that your dog has a variety of different toys to choose from. Something plush, something that rolls and something that can be pulled like a rope toy is a good place to start.
- Make Sure Your Dog Has A Safe Space: Dogs need to know that they have a safe space where they can relax and unwind entirely on their own. This is why many dog trainers recommend crate training, as a crate can serve as a great private den for your pooch.
- Reward Desired Behavior When You Can: Keeping your dog comfortable when they’re alone can be an incredibly difficult and arduous process. You’ll need to start early and young, making an effort to give your dog some time alone even when you’re physically present.
Whenever your dog successfully calms themselves down or exhibits calm behavior when in their safe space or crate, reward them with training treats. Make sure that you do your best to not promote the habits you’re trying to eliminate.
This means making sure you give your dog the chance to accept their crate or newfound independence. While initial crying as a puppy is natural and very tempting. Try to only rejoin your dog once they have composed themselves. This will teach your dog how to self-soothe, making them better equipped for independent hours.
- Calming Treat Aids: Your veterinarian might recommend calming treats to help ease your dog’s anxiety. While these can certainly be helpful. It’s also a good idea to make sure your dog is getting enough exercise and play before being left alone.
- Medication: In more intense cases, your dog may be prescribed some form of light medication from your veterinarian.
- Create Quality Time: To ease separation anxiety. Make sure the time you do spend with your dog is full of high-energy bonding. That way, by the time you leave, they’ll be ready to rest.
- Other Calming Aids: As an alternative. You could also try using aids like the thunder jacket or heartbeat dog to keep your dog calm, cool, and collected. Remember that every dog is different, so it may take time to find the appropriate soothing method for your pooch.
Bernedoodles Are Dedicated Buddies
Your Bernerdoodle no doubt loves spending time with you and your family. It is okay to leave them alone on occasion with the proper precautions. By giving them something to play with and a safe space. You can make it much easier for your pooch to feel right at home even when you aren’t present.
Just like anything else, our dogs can learn to tolerate being alone for short periods of time. Give your doodle the proper tools to succeed, and they’ll be happy independent campers in no time at all.
Below is a Pinterest friendly photo…. so you can pin it to your Doodle Board!!
