How Long Can Maltipoos Be Left Alone?
We know, Maltipoo Puppies are so cute, who would ever want to leave them alone? But the harsh reality is there are times that require us to be away for longer than we’d like. In this article, we will offer some guidelines for keeping your Maltipoo safe and entertained while being home alone.
There are many factors to consider when thinking about how long to leave your puppy home. Their age, size, temperament, and how much training and practice they have in house manners. One of the most important things you never want to forget when you get a puppy, and that is teaching your puppy how to enjoy being alone.
Also, puppies need to use the bathroom a lot more often than adult dogs.
How long is Your Maltipoo Required to “Hold It”?
One important factor to consider is how long between potty breaks your puppy or adult dog can be expected to hold it. The main guideline to use is age. As a puppy matures, its bladder will grow much stronger. From only being able to hold it for 1 hour or so, to holding it for 8+ hours. Here are a few age guidelines you can use to consider the frequency your dog should go out.
8 to 10 weeks:
When you just adopt a puppy is when you should stay with them the most, just so they can become more familiar with you and their new environment. They also have really small bladders, so they are more likely to have an accident if you leave them for too long.
So when they are this young, they should only be left alone for about an hour in a puppy safe place like a kennel or a playpen with toys and comfortable bedding
10 to 12 weeks:
Once they are a little bit older, they start to gain some independence, but they still can’t be left alone for a full day because they are still curious. Instead, puppies should be alone for no longer than two hours, but you should still be aware that accidents are still very likely to happen.
So when you do leave, use baby gates to keep them in a hard floor area and this will make cleanup a lot easier.
3 to 6 Months:
Once your puppy reaches about 3 to 6 months, you can consider the one-hour-per-month rule. 3-month-old puppies can be alone for three hours, and 4-month old puppies can be alone for four hours.
Bathroom issues will be less common, but not completely gone. Maltipoo’s bladder also used the same month rule, so however old they are is how many hours they can hold it, Maltipoo Training by Age. Also, remember that negative reinforcements don’t generally work, especially when it’s hours later when you return.
Now, you can also extend the area that they are left in, but before you do, it’s best to make sure that it is safe and do a test run that is shorter and ease your puppy into the longer times and make sure they can handle it.
7+ Months:
By now, they can hold their bladder long enough, and you can leave them alone if they show signs that they are ready.
However, there is another issue that you need to be aware of, before they are 1 year old, puppies are likely to chew, bite, and ruin things if they begin to feel scared or upset. So if you ever come home to some furniture chewed up and ruined, your puppy might be telling you that they're not ready to stay alone for that long yet.
How Long Can You Leave Your Maltipoo In a Crate?
Crate training is very important, the first thing to remember is to keep it positive, like give them treats or other things so, to them, it feels like a reward. It’s better to start slow and limit how long they stay in there. When you are first training them, try 10-15 minutes and see if they're ready for more time or if they need more help. If they are having a harder time in the crate, try leaving the crate open.
Maximum time in crate recommended by age:
8-10 weeks: 30-60 minutes
11-14 weeks:1-3 hours
15-16 weeks: 3-4 hours
12+ weeks: 4-5 hours (Although, it is not healthy to do this very often)
Also, having a crate trained puppy has so many benefits, it creates a place where the puppy can feel safe if they ever feel scared, it also makes housebreaking a lot easier. Another big benefit is you can transport the puppy safely and they’ll enjoy it. You do want to make sure you’re not leaving them in there for too long otherwise they won’t like it and will have a harder time staying in there in the future.
How Can You Train Your Maltipoo To Manage Alone Time?
First of all, your dog needs to learn to let you leave and come back. Maltipoos whining is one problem owners face when leaving the house. Even though your dog showing you that he misses you by running up to you, it’s not good for them to have this type of behavior.
Train your dog to let you leave.
First, walk to the door with your shoes as if you were leaving. Walkout and come back, if your dog jumps up and runs after you, command them to go back and sit in a faraway spot. Repeat this procedure and when they stay, reward them with a puppy treat.
The next thing is to train them to stay calm when you come back home. Usually, they’ll get excited and bark happily, but you should ignore this behavior completely until they quiet down.
Then, command them to go sit in a spot and when they listen, give them a treat and all of the attention and love they deserve, because you’ll probably miss them too! Training isn’t about withholding attention, it’s about giving it to them at the right time.
How Can You Make Being Alone Easier For Your Maltipoo?
If your dog isn’t super bored while you are gone, they tend to behave better while you are gone or when you get back. There are many ways to make sure your pup has fun while you’re gone too.
For starters, tiring out your little friend before you leave is a great idea. Like taking them for a walk, or even playing a fun game in the yard that lets them run around. Then, they are more likely to take a nap while you are gone.
Get some toys for your puppy that will keep them occupied, like some puppy puzzles, which most of the time have a spot where you can put a treat for when they solve the puzzle. You can get a lot of different kinds here.