Most dogs are very sociable animals. They love being around human and furry friends, learning from them, playing and building important relationships. They naturally seek companionship and don’t like spending long periods of time alone.
But busy lives mean we can’t always take our dogs with us. Some dogs might cope well with quiet time, whereas others struggle without enough interaction. But how do you know if your furry friend is struggling? What are the signs your dog is lonely, and what can you do to stop boredom or stress turning into behavioural issues?
One of the most effective ways to support social, energetic pups is through dog daycare. With regular interaction, fun play and supervised socialisation, daycare can provide the stimulation and companionship that many pups need.
Dogs are pack-oriented by nature. Whilst it may be hard to imagine your little French Bulldog running around in a pack hunting for food, that’s exactly what their ancestors did. When a dog is left alone for extended periods of time, particularly regularly, they can start to feel frustrated and isolated from the pack (i.e. you and your family).
Over time, loneliness can show up in a variety of behaviours that signal your dog is not getting the engagement and mental stimulation they need.
Different dogs react differently to being left alone. It’s therefore really important to know the signs so you can address the issue early on. Dogs often communicate their feelings through behaviour, and certain patterns may indicate they are craving more interaction.
This is the most common indicator of loneliness. Dogs might chew furniture, shoes, cushions or other household items while their owners are away. This can be a sign that they’ve got too much pent-up energy and nothing ‘better’ to do. It can also be a way of getting attention from you, even if you’re not best pleased with their behaviour.
Chewing can be normal for dogs as they often discover the world through their mouths. But big changes in destructive behaviour can be a sign of something else going on, potentially loneliness.
Many dogs like to be vocal; it’s their way of communicating with you. But do you notice that your pup starts to bark or howl more when you’re making your way to the door to leave? It may be them trying to express their distress.
Even if you don’t notice it, your neighbours might. So check with them if you’re unsure.
Some dogs respond to loneliness through self-soothing behaviours, which can help to destress them. This can include licking, chewing or pulling at their fur. When they do this excessively, it may lead to irritated skin or bald patches.
While medical issues should always be checked (ask your experienced dog groomer if you’re not sure), stress and boredom are common causes of repetitive grooming.
Lonely dogs may lose interest in food or start to show different eating patterns. You may notice that their bowl is full when you come back from work, or they may become fixated on treats as a form of comfort.
It’s really important you get to know your dog’s behaviour as appetite changes can often be linked to emotional well-being as well as physical health.
A lonely pup may become extremely attached when their owner finally returns. While affection and excitement are normal, being by your side all of the time and visibly becoming distressed when you leave again can be a sign of emotional dependence and upset.
Some pups react to loneliness by becoming unusually quiet or withdrawn. They might not fancy running after their favourite ball, playing with their friends and they might be disinterested in going for a walk. This can be easy to overlook, especially if you think your dog is just tired, but it’s an important behavioural signal.
Puppies are especially vulnerable to loneliness because they are still learning how to interact with the world around them. Their early experiences and feelings shape the kind of pup they’ll become in the future.
Without proper puppy socialisation, young dogs may struggle to interpret social cues or feel anxious in new situations with new people and smells. Safe and positive exposure to other dogs helps pups develop healthy behaviour patterns and can stop them from becoming lonely.
While getting used to their own company is an important lesson for puppies, it’s not a good idea to leave young dogs alone for long periods. It can cause all kinds of disruptive behaviour that they may take with them into adulthood.
Dog daycare is a practical solution for many Melbourne families when it comes to combatting loneliness. Rather than spending the day alone at home, trying to entertain themselves, they can enjoy mental and physical stimulation in our purpose-built facility.
Our daycare programs are designed to keep dogs safe while learning important socialisation skills.
One of the biggest benefits of doggy daycare is the opportunity for dogs to interact with others. They get to play, practice communication skills and enjoy natural pack behaviour with their best friends. Our facility has pens for different levels of energy. So your dog can run around for a while before resting up for a snooze with some of the older pups.
Social play helps reduce boredom and provides healthy outlets for all that built-up puppy energy.
As well as spending time with other furry friends, it’s really important that dogs get used to spending time with other humans. Positive interactions with our trained daycare staff throughout the day help reinforce confidence and emotional security.
Experienced handlers can recognise behavioural changes early and guide play sessions appropriately.
We all know that dogs need physical exercise, but mental stimulation is just as important. Without mental exercise, pups become frustrated and disruptive. At The Dog Dazzlers, we have plenty of fun stimulation toys for the dogs to play with, and if that’s not enough, you could always book them in for a one-on-one enrichment session with a handler.
One reason why pups don’t like being left alone is that it feels unpredictable. They worry about when it’s going to happen again.
Taking them to daycare a few times a week helps to build a balanced routine that they can look forward to.
If your dog is starting to show signs of being lonely, or you’re worried about it becoming an issue in the future, dog daycare could be perfect. A typical daycare day includes periods of play, social interaction, and downtime to ensure your pup is happy throughout the day and does not develop undesirable behaviours at home.
Our specially designed dog daycare in Burwood is ideal for busy Melbourne families in the Eastern suburbs looking for a place where their dogs will be well cared for and happy. Get in touch with the team at The Dog Dazzlers to help your pup have a fun and engaging day!
Based in Burwood, our purpose built facility provides pups with all their daycare and grooming needs – find out more now:
If you’d like to book your furbaby in for a groom, please give us a call on 03 9808 3289, or complete the form below and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can!
All existing clients can book in below, and new clients can register their dogs for daycare.
If you have any questions, please call us on 03 9808 3289.
