Teaching your dog to be alone — without the drama
Some dogs never learned that being alone is safe. Maybe they were adopted during a time when someone was always home. Maybe they’re naturally velcro dogs. Whatever the reason, alone-time training is one of the most important skills you can teach — and one of the most overlooked. Here’s how to do it right.
“I work from home and realized my dog had zero coping skills for being alone. Bubbas helped me build his confidence in small steps. Now he sleeps through my errands without a peep.”
Why dogs struggle with being alone
Dogs are social animals. Being alone isn’t a natural state for them. But domestic dogs need to tolerate solitude — it’s a skill, not an instinct.
Many dogs never got the chance to learn this skill. Puppies adopted during remote work periods, rescue dogs with unknown histories, and breeds with strong attachment drives can all struggle. The result is a dog who panics, destroys, or vocalizes every time you step out.
The fix isn’t flooding your dog with alone time and hoping they “get used to it.” It’s teaching them, gradually and positively, that your absence is temporary and safe.
Step-by-step: Teaching your dog to be alone
Alone-time training follows a simple principle: start absurdly easy, and build slowly. Here’s the framework Bubbas uses.
- Step 1: Practice separations within the house. Close a door between you and your dog for a few seconds. Return before they react. Reward calm.
- Step 2: Increase duration. Build from 10 seconds to 1 minute to 5 minutes. Always return before your dog hits their stress threshold.
- Step 3: Add pre-departure cues. Pick up keys, put on shoes, then sit down and stay. Break the association between cues and leaving.
- Step 4: Practice real departures. Leave for 1 minute. Then 3. Then 10. Track your dog’s calm threshold and push it forward gradually.
- Step 5: Build to real-life durations. Once your dog can handle 30 minutes alone, most dogs progress quickly to 1–2 hours and beyond.
Common mistakes that set training back
Alone-time training is simple in concept but tricky in execution. These mistakes are the most common reasons people stall out.
- Pushing too fast. If your dog can handle 2 minutes, don’t jump to 20. Progress should feel boring — that’s how you know it’s working.
- Making departures dramatic. Long goodbyes and excited returns teach your dog that your leaving is a big deal. Keep it neutral.
- Skipping days. Consistency matters more than session length. Five minutes daily beats one long session weekly.
- Punishing anxiety symptoms. Your dog isn’t being bad. They’re scared. Punishment makes anxiety worse.
How Bubbas makes alone-time training stick
The hardest part of alone-time training isn’t knowing what to do — it’s doing it consistently, tracking where you are, and knowing when to push forward vs. when to hold steady. That’s exactly what Bubbas handles for you.
- A personalized plan that starts at your dog’s current threshold
- Daily sessions that tell you exactly what to practice and for how long
- Progress tracking that shows improvement over days and weeks
- AI coach available when you’re unsure about your dog’s reaction
- Household sync so everyone follows the same approach
Frequently asked questions
How long does alone-time training take?+
Most dogs can learn to handle 30–60 minutes alone within 2–4 weeks of daily practice. Building to full workday absences typically takes 6–8 weeks. Bubbas tracks your progress and adjusts the plan as your dog improves.
My dog is fine for 10 minutes then falls apart. Why?+
Your dog likely has a “stress threshold” around the 10-minute mark. This is normal and very common. Bubbas helps you identify this threshold and build duration gradually, staying just below the panic point and extending it over time.
Does crate training help with alone-time training?+
It can, if your dog already has a positive association with their crate. But crating an anxious dog who hasn’t been crate-trained can make things worse. Bubbas’ plan includes crate conditioning as an optional component for dogs who benefit from it.
Can older dogs learn to be alone?+
Yes. Older dogs can absolutely learn this skill. They may take a bit longer than puppies, but the process is the same: gradual, positive, consistent. Age is not a barrier.
Build your dog’s confidence, one session at a time
Bubbas creates a personalized alone-time training plan for your dog.
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