Pet parents have difficulty confining a dog to one room at night or leaving it alone at home for a daily job or an errand.
Due to confinement and separation anxiety, keeping a dog confined to one room is challenging for both puppies and owners.
Although it is unavoidable for many of us, there are applicable ways to ease our minds and dogs’ experiences.
In this article, I will share my steps involved in confining a dog to one room with bonus tips for creating a perfect zone for your furry friend.
Is It OK To Keep A Puppy In One Room?
Yes, it is totally fine. The confinement of dogs in a room, in fact, is a more humane alternative to a cage.
It is a practical solution that provides benefits in certain circumstances like behavior training or the need for special accommodation.
- Behavioral Control: Locking your dog in a single room can aid in adjusting canine behaviors, for instance, stopping their destructive tendencies such as chewing on furniture, crashing decorative items, etc.
- Safe and Private Space For Dogs: Some dogs prefer a smaller haven which makes them feel more secure and relaxed, especially when prone to anxiety or fear-related disorders.
- Special Circumstances: There are some unavoidable events where you must keep your dog confined to one room.
It might be visits of guests with allergies, temporary accommodation in dog-restricted areas, etc., where dogs are restricted. A dog room is also beneficial for better security if a pet sitter attends to them.
Keeping A Dog Confined To One Room: Dos & Don’ts
From a canine point of view, room confinement seems much preferable to crate confinement.
You should understand and follow some guidelines before leaving your dog unattended for a few hours.
The following are the top important requirements of confining dogs to a room.
Dos
- Do find a suitable room for the confinement of your dog. It is ideal for providing your puppy with an entire spare room. Otherwise, the kitchen or living room is just fine.
Try to pay attention to the utilities of the dog zone, such as room size, hygiene, light, air, water, food, etc. These criteria are direct contributors to your dog’s wellness and comfort.
- Do take into account a dog-proof environment with a mindset of overall safety.
- Do consider providing dogs with certain means of entertainment, which might distract them from boredom and anxiety stress.
- Do spend time cuddling them or walking them outside after each confinement session. Keeping canines exercised at least twice a week is also advisable for healthier physical and mental conditions.
Don’ts
- There is a room your dog should not be left alone in, a bedroom. A new study discovers that dogs feel most unsettled and distressed when confined therein, causing them to drop their heart rate incredibly.
The garage, laundry room, or any room with toxic chemicals and hazards must be straightly removed from the list to prevent unwanted risks to your pet child.
- Do not share your dog’s room with other pets to avoid unexpected tension or attacks among them.
- Do not forget to trim your dog’s nails to mitigate the possibility of their destruction to the room.
- Never leave your pooch alone in a room for more than 8 hours per day. Excessive confinement for a long time harms his physical and mental health, not to mention its cruelty. It’s just like when a dog gets traumatized by crates.
Remember that dogs are typically energetic and social animals. Keeping them locked in a prolonged solitary space would gradually kill them inside.
Room Preparation For Dog Confinement
Trust me. Most dogs can handle short periods of alone time, especially if provided with a safe, comfortable, and fun space to stay in.
As stated above, there are a range of categories in the checklist you need to fulfill if intending to create a proper confinement room for dogs.
Keep going in-depth to know what a dog might need to safely and happily stay alone in a room.
Room Size
Regardless of the room or area where you plan to confine your dog, it must be big enough to accommodate your dog.
It is often mistaken that the larger the space, the better. However, it does not apply to all dogs.
Individual dogs have specific preferences.
But as mentioned, canines don’t like to be left in your bedroom or your porch, since they’re aware that you only use that room for sleeping, while the living room or kitchen makes ideal places for them.
So, considering several factors of your dog, including his size, breed, medical condition, habits, and temperament, helps you identify the most potential dog zone.
My rule of thumb is often a room that is three times as big as my dog’s cage. You can use a baby gate to separate him from other rooms without him feeling isolated.
Hygiene
Once you determine the room for dog confinement, your next task is to make it a clean space.
It is vital to regularly maintain adequate hygiene all over the room to ensure your pet’s overall health.
Ventilation is of the utmost importance, especially in small rooms. Assure your pooch has enough air to breathe normally when keeping him confined in a limited space.
Additionally, there should be at least a proper source of light in the room, either from nature or an electric bulb.
Removing trash and vacuum dust is a basic course of action.
More meticulous care, such as a humidifier, heater, or air conditioner, is also welcomed within your affordability.
In my case, I would like a slightly open but locked window for both light and air circulation.
Food
Is it OK to leave dog alone in room without food and water? They are, needless to say, essential sources for dogs to live on.
However, you should only serve his familiar types of food and fresh water.
In case of confining your dog in the kitchen, remember to keep leftovers and food particles out of its reach.
It could be a risk if he intakes some human foods poisonous to dogs, such as xylitol, chocolate, alcohol, etc.
Sleep
Do not forget to prepare a comfortable bed for your furry friend to relax and sleep.
If you keep your dog in your living room or bedroom, you can consider allowing it to use the master bed or sofa.
However, dogs who often lounge on the couch are more likely to be resource-guarding, so keep your wary eye on this reward.
Entertainment
Prolonged solitary confinement can make dogs feel extremely bored, so I highly recommend leaving toys or interactive puzzles to keep them busy.
Moreover, the use of calming aids, for example, a pheromone diffuser, white noise generator, or even their favorite blankets, can partially soothe dogs’ confinement anxiety and help your dog feel calmer and more relaxed.
Safety
A dog-safe zone is another must if you want to confine a dog to a room.
Scan for potential threats in the room, such as electrical cords, plastic bags, robotic cleaners, hazardous materials, unsecured heaters, and anything easily biteable and swallowed.
Do not leave any chance of your pet approaching one of those dangers.
If you do not feel safe enough, I suggest you install a smoke alarm, carbon monoxide monitor, and surveillance camera if possible.
Confinement Plan For Dogs
Creating a safe, comfortable, and fun dog zone is just halfway.
It requires certain techniques to keep a dog confined to a single room.
So, how do I get my dog to stay in one room? Keep reading to learn my tips.
Slow Introduction
Expecting a dog to immediately get used to solitary room confinement seems too rushed and hardly possible.
I chose to gradually introduce my animal companion to the new routine by starting to play with him in the dog room more frequently.
Positive Reinforcement
You should never force your dog into a room with threats and punishment.
Instead, try to encourage them with positive association.
Do not forget to praise and reward him with some tasty treats or toys whenever your furry child correctly follows your order to stay in the appointed room.
Routine Establishment
Again, do not attempt to make a shortcut.
The key to the successful setting of a new routine is consistency. Trust the process and keep it repeated for a sufficient period of time.
In my case, I kept my dog staying alone in his room after breakfast for 5 minutes; then, I constantly increased the required time day by day.
Monitor Your Dog
You need to pay close attention to your dog during confinement to protect your dog’s safety and well-being, especially at the beginning stage.
Ensure it has enough food, water, and a tidy, comfortable resting place.
Regularly observing their response to detect any signs of misery or discomfort.
Mental and Physical Stimulation
A healthy mind lives in a healthy body. It is way more beneficial to let your dog move its body.
Regular walks, social interaction, and frequent handling with your pet friend improve both canines’ physical and mental well-being, helping them to deal with stress and anxiety issues more easily.
Professional Help
In case your confined room or crate training method does not work as expected, I had a previous post of deeper discussion and a few drops of advice.
It is also highly advisable to reach out to a professional veterinarian for appropriate guidance on building the confinement plan or if you observe unwanted behaviors or any changes in your dog’s health condition.
FAQs
Do Dogs Prefer Being Alone?
It depends. Each dog has different characteristics, just like us. Some are highly sociable, while some are introverted. In any case, no one can understand your dog better than yourself.
How Can I Tell If My Dog Is Lonely?
There are several ways through which a dog expresses its lonesome. Common signs of a lonely dog might include lethargy, destructive or aggressive behaviors, decreased appetite, etc.
Bottom Line
Is it OK to confine a dog to one room? Yes, if you know how to do it right, and remember to not leave him in your bedroom or without food and toys.
Hopefully, you feel more relieved upon keeping a dog confined to one room with my pro tips.
