Can Flat Coated Retrievers Be Left Alone? (Explained!)

The flat coated retriever is a lovable dog that many families love to bring home. They are loyal and have enough energy to keep up with the kids and to have a lot of fun. They can even get along with other pets in the home if they are given the right training to do this. However, when you need to go to work and leave them alone, you may wonder if it is a good idea to leave this breed on their own.

Flat coated retrievers do not like to be left alone. They have a ton of energy and like to bounce around all day long. They need a lot of exercise as well. Leaving them alone can make them go through separation anxiety and could cause them to destroy different parts of the home if you are gone too long. It is best to train them how to act alone in the home or take them to a dog daycare to help.

Your flat coated retriever is an active dog that likes to move around and have fun. Let’s take a closer look at some of the things to consider when you want to leave this dog breed home alone while you are at work.

Can Flat Coated Retrievers Be Left Alone?

It is possible to leave your flat coated retriever at home. Their age, how well they are trained, and how much energy they have when you leave them at home will all determine how that will go for you.

When the retriever is young, you should not leave them at home alone for too long. This can cause them to feel abandoned and may set off some issues with separation anxiety. They will also be too young for training or to go all day without eating and drinking. Even if you leave the food out, they could make a big mess as well.

It is best to stay home with the puppy when they are very young or have someone else who will be able to come take care of them during the day.

As your flat coated retriever gets older, they may be able to handle staying at home some more. You will need to make sure that they get the right training before you decide to do this. Crate training can help keep them contained a little bit better to avoid issues with destroying the home.

Giving them lots of attention and some good exercise both before and after you leave will be important as well to make this dog breed happy.

While you can leave the flat coated retriever at home during the day, keep in mind that they will not be that fond of the idea. They like to be around their humans and will feel lonely and upset when they are left at home on their own.

They may not like it and can act out when you decide to leave them behind. Giving them a lot of love and attention when you come back is often the best way to deal with this.

Will the Flat Coated Retriever Destroy My House?

Without the proper training, the flat coated retriever may decide to destroy your home. They have a lot of energy, needing at least 90 minutes of running and jogging around each day. If you are leaving them cooped up all day with no outlet for all of that energy, they will usually find a way to get it out. And this could result in your home being destroyed.

There are a few steps that you can take to help prevent this. First, you need to work on training your dog how to behave. When you train them, teach them how to stay in the crate or another area of the home when you are not there. This can give them some security and will ensure that you are not going to have the whole home destroyed.

Restrict them to just the part of the home where you would be comfortable having it destroyed during the training period. This at least will protect most of the home.

You also need to make sure that they get their energy out before you leave. A half an hour walk or longer if you can manage it in your busy morning can help. this will calm the dog down and they may even take a nap when you get back home.

This will get rid of the extra energy that they may have and can reduce the chance that they will want to run around and destroy things in your home.

Should I Take My Flat Coated Retriever for a Walk When I Get Home?

No matter how well you train your flat coated retriever, they are still going to have a lot of energy. That is just how this dog breed works and is part of the reason that some families like to keep them around. If you leave them at home for any amount of time, then you need to get ready for them to be energetic and ready to run around.

You will not be able to sit down and get comfortable after leaving this dog breed sitting around the home all the time. They just will not like it. They have been good all day and need to wear out a bit and run around more. You should be ready to do this as well.

Most flat coated retrievers will need lots of time outside to help them wear out. Most of these dogs will need at least 90 minutes of walking and intense exercise a day or they will go a little bit insane. If they have been sitting around the home all day long, then they will need to get that energy out somehow.

You do not have to do all of the exercise at the same time. You may find that it helps to take the dog on a walk in the morning and then one at night when you get home. This helps to split up the time you are moving around and also wears the dog out a bit before you decide to leave them at home on their own.

You can also have the kids take them out back and run around, play fetch, and do other things while you get supper done and then take everyone on a walk.

Black Golden Retriever

The important thing to remember here is that you can’t expect the flat coated retriever to behave and sit alone all day, and then ask them to do the same thing again when you get home. If they have been good and not destroyed the home, they are going to have a lot of built up energy when you get home.

Be prepared to take them out for at least a bit and give them a chance to run around in the backyard if nothing else while you get ready.

Should I Use a Dog Daycare for My Flat Coated Retriever When I am Gone?

While there are different training methods that you can use to help your dog get more comfortable staying at home alone, if you plan to be gone most of the day on a regular basis it may be a good idea to consider a dog daycare. These centers can be beneficial to both you and your dog.

First, the dog is going to get a lot of love and attention while they are at this facility. They are given healthy foods and snacks and will get to socialize with other dogs along the way to make life easier. They will get to run around and can go on walks, which will help to reduce some of the energy that they have at the end of the day.

Some dog daycares will even teach your dog some new tricks to keep their mind active as well. And when they get to come home with you at the end of the day, they will be so excited to see you again.

Pet owners can benefit from these centers as well. They will get a dog who is more socialized, which will prevent them from struggling around other pets during walks. Your dog will also get a chance to run around during the day so you will not have to get up and do a long walk right when you get home.

And you will have the peace of mind knowing that your dog is in a safe place and not wrecking up your home when you are not there.

Deciding to Leave Your Dog at Home

The flat coated retriever is a great dog breed to bring into your home. They have a lot of energy, loyalty, and love to give to everyone.

But leaving them home alone when you need to go to work or school can be hard. With the help of some of the tips above, you can make sure that your dog is safe and taken care of, even when you are not able to be there.

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