How Long Can Boston Terriers Be Left Alone?
Just because you have full time job that takes you out of the house ever day doesn’t mean you don’t want to come home to a dog at the end of the day. Heck, it probably means you want a dog at home even more.
Some dog breeds are more ok with being left alone than others, and it’s important to keep this in mind before you get a Boston Terrier and leave them for your next full shift.
How Long Can Boston Terriers Be Left Alone?
Boston Terriers can be left alone for a maximum of ten hours, but this depends on the individual dog as some Boston Terriers may not be comfortable with that. And while you can leave them alone for up to ten hours, eight hours or less is better.
Each dog is individual, and while this breed doesn’t usually have trouble being left home alone, some dogs may have a personality or temperament that doesn’t deal well with long periods apart.
Parents will have to gauge how their Boston Terrier behaves while they’re gone for the first few days to determine what is acceptable.
No dog should be left alone for more than ten hours.
It is often better to leave the Boston Terrier home alone for a few hours and have a trusted friend, family member, or other person come in to care for them.
Expecting a Boston Terrier to go such a long time without a bathroom break or some attention and company is a lot for any dog.
In cases where a parent must always be away from home for more than eight hours, it is often best to either have someone check in on them or put them in a doggie daycare center.
Eight hours is manageable, but it is possible with some dogs to leave them alone for up to ten hours. This length of time should not be the norm.
If the parent must stay late for work or runs into traffic on a few occasions, ten hours will be fine.
Many parents may leave their Boston Terrier or other dog alone for more than eight hours, but this is not healthy for the dog.
What they can tolerate and what they should, are often two different things when it comes to your fur baby.
When the parent is away, the Boston Terrier might get lonely, and since they can’t tell time, they won’t know when the parent will be coming back and miss them.
They might also need to use the bathroom, need some food or fresh water, and there is even the potential for the Boston Terrier to get into some trouble or harm out of boredom.
When it comes to leaving your Boston Terrier home alone, it is better to err on the side of caution and be away from home for a shorter time.
It is far better to have someone check in on a Boston Terrier that is home alone than to come home twelve hours later and find they broke something and have glass in their paw.
Aside from that, we as pet parents must realize the emotional impact our time away has on their health.
Without other dogs or people to entertain and care for them, a Boston Terrier may become lonely, depressed, confused, or anxious.
Taking them to a daycare or having a dog sitter come on the days you will be away longer than eight hours is a good idea for their happiness.
Like having human children, furry children require lots of attention, planning, and adjustments to our own life to consider their overall health and happiness.
What should I do if I must leave my Boston Terrier home alone?
If you must leave your Boston Terrier home alone, you should have a plan before that time comes.
This is incredibly important if they have never been left home alone and the time you need to leave your Boston Terrier alone is longer than an hour or two.
A few hours away from home can be fine for your Boston Terrier if the house is safe, and they have food to eat and water.
After that time, the longer you are away without some thoughtful planning can mean problems.
More time away means there is a higher chance the Boston Terrier will get into trouble or act out when you come home.
A simple plan can mean ensuring the home is safe and the Boston Terrier has food, water, and some toys for entertainment.
The plan should include a departure routine and return routine to help the Boston Terrier learn the schedule if this is to be a regular habit.
With the plan set, you should have a backup plan in place in case something comes up that keeps you away longer. This plan B can include a trusted dog sitter coming into the home to check on the Boston Terrier.
In the first few days you will want to limit your time away from home or have someone come into the house to check on them.
These days help you and your Boston Terrier learn this new scheduled routine.
With time a Boston Terrier can learn to endure time away from their loved ones, even if they don’t like it. They can learn to manage while you are gone and with training behave their best during that time apart.
Some dogs may not enjoy their owner being away from them.
Each dog will be different in how much time they will comfortably tolerate, and with time the parent will learn what is best and adjust their lifestyle and choices accordingly.
In Conclusion
Any dog can be left alone for a brief time, even those with nervous energy who suffer from anxiety.
Boston Terriers can be left alone for eight hours but no more than ten hours. Once this time is reached, there can be safety issues and emotional and physical health concerns.
When leaving your Boston Terrier alone, it is best to have a plan and err on the side of caution for your peace of mind, and they’re well-being. Adjustments may need to be made and schedules and choices adapted to plan for your Boston Terriers health and happiness.
Doing so for the ones we love, including our furry family members, is a labor of love, so the adjustment or adaptation should be easy to do!
