The AKC's breed page is direct about it: "This breed does not want to be a pet left at home; they want to be your partner in life." Still, every dog gets left sometimes, for work, school or a trip to the store. The AKC says it may seem like a natural skill, "but puppies need to learn how to be alone, and it's a gradual process." Here is how long a Dutch Shepherd can be alone, how the AKC says to teach it, and how to tell a bored dog from an anxious one, with Humane World for Animals on the hard cases.

Dabo, working-line Dutch Shepherd, lying on a rug at home with an orange ball between his front legs, ears up
Dabo at home with his ball. Alone time goes better with a job.

How long is too long?

The AKC ties a puppy's limit to age, and reminds owners that puppies need to pee often. Its guideline:

If the safe spot is a crate, keep to the shorter limits in our crate training guide.

Even adult dogs, the AKC says, shouldn't be home alone for much longer than six to eight hours without a bathroom break. In another AKC article, veterinary behaviorist Dr. Vint Virga gives the same six-to-eight-hour maximum and adds: "For a dog to spend all of their day alone is too much. Dogs are very social animals." That article's general guideline is at least two hours of dedicated social time a day with people or other dogs, which can be split into chunks. Dr. Virga also notes that "some dogs will do better with more alone time than others."

Start before you ever leave the house

A new puppy has likely never been alone before. As the AKC puts it, "It's unfair to expect them to go from constant companionship to immediately spending an entire eight-hour workday on their own." Obedience instructor Mary Janek, in an AKC article, suggests you "plan on some vacation time from work so your puppy can get acclimated to the new environment."

If your puppy cries, the AKC says you likely started before the spot felt good, or left too long. "Don't make a habit of letting them out when they fuss. Otherwise, you will teach them that whining opens the door and earns attention." Shorten the time to what your puppy can handle, and build more slowly. The pen or crate is temporary. Once your puppy is confident alone and knows potty training and house rules, the AKC says to open up the house one room at a time. Our crate training guide and house training guide cover both.

Give them a job while you're gone

"Leaving a puppy alone with nothing to do in their safe area can be a recipe for trouble," the AKC says. Give your puppy something constructive every time.

Dr. Virga's AKC article recommends activity puzzles before you head out the door, which can help keep a dog busy for up to a few hours. Humane World suggests long-lasting treats like a stuffed, frozen Kong. In the words of veterinarian Dr. Nellie Goetz: "Anything more interesting than the fact that you're gone." For more ideas, see Brain Work.

A tired dog settles

The AKC suggests a walk, energetic play or a training session before you leave, so your puppy is likely to fall asleep once you're gone. Humane World's Lindsay Hamrick, a certified professional dog trainer, calls tiring a dog out physically and mentally the best tool for treating separation anxiety. Humane World suggests a long walk on new routes with lots of sniffing. The AKC adds that exercise "can't cure separation anxiety, but it certainly can help treat and prevent it," and says plenty of age-appropriate exercise matters especially for large, high-energy dogs.

One catch from the AKC: do these things at other times too. "If your dog only gets that sort of attention right before you leave them alone, they'll realize it means you're about to go." Our exercise guide covers how much a Dutch Shepherd needs at each age.

Azul and Dabo, Dutch Shepherds, lying side by side on the carpet at home in bandanas
Azul and Dabo at home. Calm is something you build.

Make comings and goings boring

The AKC notes these skills show up in its own programs. The S.T.A.R. Puppy test has the puppy wait on leash with another person while its owner walks 10 steps away, and the Canine Good Citizen test includes 3 minutes with a trusted person while the owner is out of sight. Our dog sports guide has more on AKC programs.

Bored, or anxious?

The AKC describes separation anxiety as extreme stress from the time you leave until you return, and, citing Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist Patricia McConnell, compares it to a panic attack. It's not the same as boredom or a little mischief. Before you label a chewed cushion, the AKC says to check the basics: is your dog 100% potty trained, and does it know good manners even when you're not watching? Audio or video of your dog while you're out is one of the best ways to see what's really going on.

Signs the AKC lists. Several of them, on a regular basis, may point to separation anxiety:

One or two signs now and then may not mean separation anxiety. Dr. Virga's AKC article says the best way to tell it apart from a bored or frustrated dog is a visit to a vet or a veterinary behaviorist. On crates, the two sources differ: the AKC says some dogs feel safer in a crate while others panic, so watch which yours does. Humane World says a dog with separation anxiety will still show anxiety in a crate and may even injure itself trying to escape, and suggests a safe room with windows, toys and things that smell like you. The AKC suggests working with a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist or a veterinary behaviorist once separation anxiety has taken hold. Humane World says treatment can take months.

When you're gone all day

Janek's advice for workdays: "Come home for lunch or hire someone to do it for you." The AKC suggests a midday dog walker for a potty break and company, and says even adult dogs can benefit from it. Dr. Virga adds doggy daycare, or a neighbor or friend who drops by for a walk, a meal or just some company.

The question to ask before you apply

Janek says it plainly: "How long the puppy is going to be home alone should be considered before bringing home a new puppy." And: "If you don't intend to spend lots of time with the dog each day, morning, afternoon, and evening, maybe a different pet would be a better fit." With a breed the AKC says wants to be your partner in life, that question matters even more. It's why our application asks how many hours the dog will be alone on a weekday.

The short version: from 3 to 6 months, the AKC's guideline is about one hour per month of age, and no more than six to eight hours for older puppies and adults without a bathroom break. Teach alone time while you're still home: a safe spot, a chew toy, a few minutes at a time. Give your dog a job, tire it out, keep comings and goings boring, and never punish what you find. If signs of panic show up regularly, talk to your vet or a veterinary behaviorist.

Planning the first year? Read our guide to the socialization window and The Off Switch.

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