Dogs are social creatures who don’t like to be left alone. Sadly, most pet dogs spend a large part of their time by themselves. To prepare your dog to enjoy time spent at home alone, make sure that she frequently spends time by herself while you’re at home. You don’t want to set a precedent of constant companionship — this just sets your dog up to fall apart when you leave. Some dogs react to being left alone by indulging in their favorite pastimes. These might include being destructive to the home, barking, or marking the house with urine and feces.
Many owners have difficulty ignoring their dogs during the course of the day, especially when their dogs seek attention. Interacting with the dog almost constantly becomes a habit. Instead, try using a crate or tie-down. A tie-down is a leash that can’t be chewed through that you attach to a stable object or an eye hook in the wall. The tie-down should be only about 3 feet long, just long enough for the dog to sit, lie down, stand up, and turn around. It is sort of like a crate without walls. Put a couple of food-stuffed toys in your dog’s crate or by the tie-down to give her something to do while she spends time alone.