DoggMatch
← All lessons

Life at home

Being happily alone

Short, calm absences that teach your dog you always come back.

10 minBuilding confidence

You'll need: A comfortable bed, Something to chew, A watch or timer.

Being happily alone — a dog and their person practising together

How to do it

  1. Step 01

    Start with seconds

    Step out of the room and come straight back in. Make both the leaving and the returning completely unremarkable.

    Illustration: Start with seconds
  2. Step 02

    Build slowly

    Ten seconds. Thirty. A minute. Vary it, so your dog can't predict a long absence.

    Illustration: Build slowly
  3. Step 03

    Watch how they settle

    Film a few minutes on your phone. A dog who lies down and sighs is fine; a dog who paces or cries needs a shorter step.

    Illustration: Watch how they settle
  4. Step 04

    Keep goodbyes boring

    No long farewells and no big reunions. Calm comings and goings are the whole message.

    Illustration: Keep goodbyes boring

If your dog panics when left — constant barking, drooling, destruction or trying to escape — please don't push on alone. Separation distress responds well to help from a qualified behaviourist, and your vet is a good first call.

How did it go?

Tell us about your dog and we'll keep track of what you've worked on, and suggest what to try next.

Tell us about your dog

A good one to do next

Settling on a matGive your dog a place where nothing is expected of them.