pooch provisions

Is it best to leave a dog in a crate or give it the run of the house if you leave it alone during the day? According to the Humane Society, you should never leave your dog alone all day.

“Social interaction is vital to your dog’s well-being,” says Michael Helmstetter, development director of the Longmont Humane Society, “and leaving your dog alone all day creates social isolation and denies your dog of one of its most basic needs.” However, if you must leave your dog alone, here are some recommendations:

• Make sure your dog has access to fresh water at all times.
• Install a doggy door so your dog can relieve itself outdoors, or hire someone to stop by every four hours to let it out.
• Give your dog safe toys to relieve stress and to keep the animal occupied. These include a hard rubber Kong or a Buster Cube, which can be filled with treats.
• Hire a dog walker to visit your pet two times a day for social interaction, exercise and play sessions.
• Take your dog to doggy day care at least twice a week for social encounters and to alleviate isolation.
• Include your dog in family activities on weekends.

People used to think a fenced yard was all a dog needed. It provided a comfortable place to play and rest, freedom to move about, and a secure environment.

Now we know dogs are pack animals that require social interaction to lead a happy life. Leaving them alone all day outdoors or indoors is detrimental to their social development and can lead to aggression and separation anxiety.

The Humane Society of Boulder Valley does not recommend leaving your dog alone outdoors during winter, but if you have no alternative, be sure to provide the following:

• A waterproof shelter that is insulated and off the bare ground.
• Fresh water in a thermal-heated dog bowl so that it won’t freeze.
• A coat for shorthaired dogs.
• Safe toys, like a hard rubber Kong or a Buster Cube that can be filled with treats to occupy your dog’s attention and serve as stress relievers
• Intermittent social interaction throughout the day. The Humane Society suggests three play and exercise sessions a day. If you work and can’t go home during the day, hire a dog walker.

—Kika Dorsey

> See feature article "Pampered Pooches"

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