How Long Can Goldendoodles Be Left Alone?

As a Goldendoodle owner, you’ll probably have a hard time leaving your beloved dog alone at home. Unfortunately, it’s often necessary to leave for extended periods of time to go to work or school.

Every Goldendoodle will react differently to being left at home. Some dogs will be good at coping with being left alone, while others will just miss their owners too much.

So, how long can Goldendoodles be left alone? Goldendoodles can be left alone for about 4 to 6 hours at a time. If they were left alone any longer than that, they will suffer from separation anxiety and start displaying some destructive behaviors. If you need to leave your Goldendoodle alone, consider asking a friend to stay with it or hiring a dog-sitter.

Keep reading to learn more about what separation anxiety is, how long you can leave your Goldendoodle alone, and how to prevent it from developing separation anxiety.

What Is Separation Anxiety for Dogs?

Separation anxiety is a condition where dogs are extremely attached to or dependent on their owners or family members.

Dogs who develop separation anxiety tend to follow their owners around everywhere and refuse to be separated from them. They will also become increasingly distressed if they notice that their owner is leaving without them or if they were left alone for too long.

What Are the Signs of Separation Anxiety?

Separation anxiety can be a serious concern for many dog owners. So, here are some signs that your dog might have developed separation anxiety:

• Excessive barking and whining
• Panting or drooling
• Destructive behaviors like chewing on household objects or pawing harshly at the floor
• Peeing or pooping inside the house even when potty-trained
• Running around fast and jumping at the sight of their owners
• Increased attempts at escaping or trying to follow their owners

How’s Separation Anxiety Different from Isolation Distress for Dogs?

Isolation distress is a condition where dogs hate to be left alone for a period of time.

Dogs who develop isolation distress need to have another creature to keep them company at any time, whether it’s their owners or another pet.

Separation anxiety and isolation distress are two different conditions because the dogs with isolation distress are not dependent on or attached to a certain individual as they can normally cope well by anyone keeping them company.  

Meanwhile, dogs with separation anxiety need to have the individual they’re attached to around.

Will Goldendoodles Develop Separation Anxiety?

Goldendoodle are highly social animals. They naturally love getting attention from those around them and they hate being alone.

So, if Goldendoodles feel like they are not getting as much attention as they are used to or if they were left alone for extended periods of time, they will begin to develop separation anxiety which will cause them to display some destructive behaviors to express their frustration.

Can Goldendoodles Be Left Alone?

Goldendoodles can usually be left alone for short periods of time. Most of them can cope really well once they have been acclimated to a regular routine and as long as they have an understanding that you are coming back to them.

However, if they are left alone for too long, they will begin developing separation anxiety and cause a lot of trouble.

How Long Can Goldendoodles Be Left Alone?

On average, Goldendoodle puppies can be left alone for no longer than 2 hours, while adult Goldendoodles can be left alone for no longer than 4 to 6 hours.

Leaving your Goldendoodle alone longer than 6 hours will cause it to develop separation anxiety. How long you can leave your dog alone will also depend on how often it needs to be fed or taken out to pee.

By the way, you can also check out my post on can golden retrievers be left alone here. Since Goldendoodles are a mix between Golden Retrievers and Poodles, many of the things that apply to golden retrievers will also apply to Goldendoodles, so it’s definitely worth checking out.

Can Goldendoodle Be Left Alone in the Crate?

Many owners will leave their dogs alone in their crates when they’re leaving home. This can be very effective in preventing the dog from causing too much trouble while alone at home, but only for short periods of time.

When it comes to energetic dogs such as Goldendoodles, it’s not a good idea to leave them alone in the crate for too long as they need lots of space to move around.

Being shut in the crate will also cause them to develop confinement anxiety which is a condition similar to claustrophobia in humans.

Can Goldendoodles Be Left Alone Outside?

Goldendoodles cannot be left alone outside the house no matter how well-prepared and secure your backyard is.

Aside from suffering from the effects of separation anxiety, there are other dangers to leaving Goldendoodles without supervision outside as they might accidentally hurt themselves or even get stolen.

Their coats are also ill-suited for outdoor conditions and they’re prone to get extremely dirty. As for the weather, Goldendoodles do not do very well in hot weather conditions but they are tolerant of the cold weather, however, they still should be left outside. You can learn how cold is too cold for Goldendoodles here.

How to Prevent Your Goldendoodle from Developing Separation Anxiety?

In order to prevent your Goldendoodle from developing separation anxiety, you need to train it properly to help adapt to being left alone.

This is a long process that involves various factors, so let’s break them down in more detail:

Socialize Your Dog

You need to properly socialize your Goldendoodle when it’s young in order to teach it not to feel threatened in new situations

Socialization involves exposing your dog to various situations and allowing it to interact with different sounds, scents, animals, and people.

The most effective way to socialize your dog is to take it on daily walks in a busy park or to socialization events held by pet shelters where it can meet others and learn how to be around them.

Crate Train Your Dog

Crate training will help your Goldendoodle get used to having its designated space at home where it can feel safe especially when it’s left alone.

You need to make sure that the crate is big enough to fit your dog and to place the crate in an area in the house where your dog feels comfortable.

You also need to make it more inviting by putting some of the dog’s favorite toys inside. This will encourage your dog to stay inside the crate without feeling confined or abandoned.

Spend Enough Bonding Time with Your Dog

Make sure to spend enough time bonding with your Goldendoodle and give it all the attention it needs.

You can do various activities such as playing around, exercising, or learning new tricks. You can even sit in silence while petting your dog. Just make sure that your Goldendoodle knows that your all attention is focused solely on it.

Discipline Your Dog 

Make sure to discipline your dog at a young age by using proper techniques to encourage or punish certain behaviors.

If you want to encourage good behavior, it’s recommended to use the positive reinforcement method which involves identifying what motivates your dog the most (treats, toys, or praise) and using it to reward the dog whenever it displays good behavior to encourage it to continue displaying this kind of behavior in the future.

If you want to punish bad behavior in your Goldendoodle, it’s recommended to simply ignore the dog and avoid using any kind of violence such as hitting your dog or yelling harshly at it as this will only provoke the dog and cause it to lash out.

Engage Your Dog in Physically and Mentally Stimulating Activities

You need to engage your Goldendoodle in various physical activities to help it release any excess energy in a healthy manner.

On average, an adult dog will need around 60 minutes of exercise in a day. Some of the physically stimulating activities you can do with your dog are going on daily walks, climbing stairs, or playing games that involve a lot of movement like fetch or tug of war.

You also need to engage your Goldendoodle in various mental activities or they will get bored and act out. Some of the mentally stimulating activities you can do with your do include teaching it to do new tricks or giving it a puzzle toy to solve.

What to Do If You Need to Leave Your Goldendoodle Alone at Home?

If you need to leave your Goldendoodle alone at home, there are some things you need to do first to ensure that your dog will settle down fine while you’re not around.

The most important thing you need to do before leaving is to feed your Goldendoodle a healthy nutritious meal that will make it feel full for a long time, then you need to take your dog out on a potty break, so it wouldn’t have to go while you’re gone.

It’s also recommended to exercise your dog or play with it for some time before leaving so it will be all tired out and calm while you’re gone.

Alternatives to Leaving Your Goldendoodle Alone at Home

No matter how prepared you are, leaving your Goldendoodles alone at home can still be troublesome, especially if your dog has developed separation anxiety or isolation distress,

So, here are some alternatives to leaving your dog alone at home:

Consider Asking Friends or Neighbors

Ask a friend or a neighbor to check on your Goldendoodle from time to time during the day or to stay with the dog the whole time you’re gone if possible.

Make sure the person you ask also has a dog or at least some experience in dealing with pets to ensure your dog will be taken care of.

Consider Hiring a Dog-Sitter

Dog-sitters can stay at home with your dog the whole time you’re gone. They will keep your dog company and make sure they’re fed and taken on potty breaks when necessary.

They will have professional experience in dealing with dogs, so your dog will be properly taken care of. However, you still need to make sure that the sitter you hire is trustworthy enough to be left alone at your home.

Consider Taking Your Dog to a Doggy Daycare

If you’re not comfortable with the idea of leaving a stranger at home to stay with your dog, you can take it to a doggy daycare where it will be taken care of the whole time you’re gone.

This option is relatively more expensive, but it will be completely safe for you and your dog. It can also be a good opportunity to socialize the dog and introduce to new friends.

Related Questions

Can Goldendoodles Be Left Alone with Children?

Goldendoodles can be left alone with children as long as they were properly trained and socialized. However, it’s recommended to supervise all of their interactions as there are various risks that come with having dogs around your children and accidents can still happen.

Can Goldendoodles Be Left Alone with Other Pets?

Goldendoodles can be left alone with other pets as long as they were properly socialized and trained. If they were raised around other pets from a young age, they will get along well as they get older. However, if they were only introduced to other pets later in life, they might get territorial.

How Smart Are Goldendoodles?

Goldendoodles are extremely smart. They can learn new commands quickly and respond to old commands with little practice. They are also very perceptive and can effectively communicate their needs to their owners. It’s recommended to constantly engage them in various mentally stimulating activities.

Helpful Resources 

Five Steps to Preventing Dog Separation Anxiety

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