Leaving Your Maltese Puppy Alone at Home

There are many people out there who believe having a dog can be a problem when you work and you have to be out all day long because of it. But for all of us dog lovers, who cannot conceive the idea of not having this friends (and sometimes lifesavers), there has to be some way to keep it all balanced. Having our dog safe and calm in our home while we are at work, without the main concern: will Fido be ok and not make a mess while I'm out?

Well, for all dog-owners, there are some techniques and ways to keep our dog alone, minimizing the possibilities of barking and destroying.

• Create an indoor den. Leaving your dog outside all day long is a bad idea. There are a few factors to consider: sudden bad weather, annoying neighbors and bad behavior because of too much freedom. Try using a crate if you or a surrogate come in during the day to let your dog out for a break. If no one is coming, another option is to make a toilet area in the farthest part of the room. If you are willing to do the cleaning, you can use newspapers; if you have the money, you can buy a dog litter tray.
• Create a haven. Most of you know that a bored dog is a destructive dog that can harm himself by chewing and/or swallowing all the wrong things. To prevent this, leave a blanket, toy and a nice comfy bed in the place your dog will be during the day.
• Create mental stimulation. There are treats available for you to give your dog, which will have him entertained during most of the day. Try leaving a Kong toy or a Buster Cube filled with some treat (like peanut butter, meat, or dry food). Your pet will spend most of the day trying to get the treats.
• Create pleasant sounds. Something that has always worked for me is leaving my dogs with the radio or the TV on. Classical music works like a charm, also the sound of human voices. Some people tape their own voices and leave that playing all day long. Remember it has to be something soothing and calmed, not rock or heavy metal music.
• Create sustenance. Always a bowl with food and one or two with water should be left (just the necessary amount of food of course).
• Create unemotional leaving and return. Try not to make of your leaving and your arriving home a big show. It'll only get him anxious. Before you leave, spend some tie with your dog. Playing with him till he is tired and taking him to the potty work really well.
• There are some other alternatives, but try all these before thinking of giving your mood stabilizers. There is a Prozac for dogs. It's not addictive, but it's a last resort that should only be used under veterinarian control.