When you and your dog got together, it was to give him a forever home. You’re so glad he’s yours, and you’re his! Unfortunately, you can’t always be together. You have to work, and you are not among those who are able to take their pets to work with them.

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9 Best "Home Alone" Dog Breeds

If you’re thinking about getting a dog that you know will spend time alone at home, do your homework first. Some breeds don’t tolerate being left alone, so you would be wise to consider this when choosing a dog to share your life. Here’s a list of dog breeds that don't like being alone:

1. Toy Poodle

This sweet little ball of fur is affectionate and will bond strongly with you. Unfortunately, the toy poodle can be overly dependent on your presence and develop severe separation anxiety if left alone for long periods of time, resulting in negative behaviors like urinating or defecating in your house. 

2. Australian Shepherd

The lovely Australian Shepherd is an extremely intelligent dog that loves nothing better than working for you. Easily trained, he is energetic and athletic and needs an outlet for that energy. Leaving him alone can cause an undue amount of stress, and he can actually be self-destructive if left alone for too long.

3. American Pit Bull Terrier

This is an affectionate breed that wants to guard and protect his family. Without company, he may become anxious and destructive or noisy. A wonderful addition to your home if you do not leave him alone for too long, you’ll want to consider how to keep him entertained when you are not there.

4. Chihuahua

This engaging little dog is a favorite housepet and often treated more as a child than a dog. Carried around with her human makes her extraordinarily affectionate, but if left alone for extended periods of time she may become so anxious as to be destructive or even aggressive.

5. Bichon Frise

These adorable balls of fluff are affectionate and love just about everyone. They crave human attention. That’s why, when left alone for long periods of time, they are apt to develop anxiety issues, which can lead into frustration and its own list of problems.

6. Italian Greyhound

Like a small greyhound, hers is a breed that was bred to run and hunt. Though this elegant dog loves to be in your lap, she needs lots of exercise and an outlet for her energy. Left alone too long, she may become anxious, destructive and even aggressive.

7. Maltese

Like the Chihuahua, the cute little Maltese is often treated more like a child than a dog. He quickly becomes accustomed to being the center of your attention, and becomes resentful and jealous of your focus after being left alone.

8. French Bulldog

These little powerhouses are not as fond of exercise as they are of snuggling with you, and they covet your complete attention. Addicted to human company, they can become jealous if your attention is divided between them and someone else. They absolutely hate to be alone.

9. Fox Terrier

An intelligent, very active breed, Foxy is not much of a people pleaser. He loves to learn, however, and needs an outlet for his extreme energy. Left alone too long, he is apt to become destructive, wreaking havoc in your home.

10. Pomeranian

Other Dogs That Hate Being Alone

In addition to dogs breeds that hate being alone, some dogs that shouldn't be alone are that way because of personality or other factors. If you have a mixed-breed dog, for example, your dog may struggle when you go to work because he or she has a more high-strung personality or more energy. Another possibility is a dog without obedience training or a dog who is not used to being alone. A dog that hasn’t had to spend much time alone may get upset if you suddenly leave them to go to work.

Finally, puppies do not do well at being left alone, in many cases. Just like human babies, young dogs seek extra attention. They also may not have the training needed to stay safe while you’re gone.

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Even if your dog is not on this list or is not considered an at-risk dog for separation anxiety, he or she may not like being left alone.

Dogs left alone can experience extreme stress and fear even if you aren’t gone very long. So imagine how unhappy he might be if you’re gone for eight or ten hours at a time. Our list of 10 dog breeds that don’t tolerate being left alone is not an exhaustive list. Even though purebreds are more likely to suffer from time spent alone, the mixed breed is not exempt from the pain of separation, either.

What to Do When You Leave

For dogs that can't be alone, being left behind can be upsetting. Such dogs may wander from room to room, whining, barking and remaining upset. They may feel stress or anxiety, and if they bark, they may be disruptive to others living in your area. Some dogs may have too much energy, and may run around or destroy furniture. This can be costly and dangerous for the dog, as the dog might swallow something dangerous.

There are things you can do to help your dog cope with being left alone and avoid the problems that can arise. Giving him an extra-long walk before you leave, providing interactive toys, leaving treats around for him to find, or installing a doggy-door to an enclosed backyard can all help. You can also hire a dog sitter or take your dog to doggie day care, although you will want to vet any dog caregivers carefully.

For dogs that can’t be alone, there are other potential solutions. You may want to speak to your vet about things you can do. There may be medical options to explore. You can also work from home part of the time. Some dog lovers choose to keep their dogs in a kennel while they are away. By associating positive experiences with a kennel, it can become a place of calm and can also keep dogs from destroying a home.

Some dog lovers choose to get a second dog to give their canine companion a friend. Unfortunately, this can mean a dog suddenly has a partner in crime for causing havoc in a house and may not necessarily reduce the risk of problems.

Furbo Dog Camera is an ideal way to keep an eye on Fluffy and stay in touch with her while you work. Not only will she feel better for hearing your voice during the day, but you will be more comfortable knowing you can see, hear, and interact with her, too.

Furbo is a two-way communication system, so you can not only monitor your dog, but you can also communicate with them via voice and a treat dispenser. This allows you to entertain and soothe your pup.

The dog alert feature can also be tremendously useful in helping you determine whether your dog is in distress. In many cases, dog lovers do not even know their dog is upset at being left alone. After all, how can you know whether your dog is barking or showing signs of upset while you’re gone? You’re not there!

With Furbo, you don’t have to worry about missing this important information. You can monitor your dog to see how they react to being alone and you can get alerts that will tell you how much your dog barks when you’re not there.

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