{"id":2493,"date":"2022-02-16T14:11:11","date_gmt":"2022-02-16T14:11:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pitbulltribe.com\/?p=2493"},"modified":"2022-02-16T14:12:21","modified_gmt":"2022-02-16T14:12:21","slug":"can-american-pitbulls-be-left-alone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pitbulltribe.com\/can-american-pitbulls-be-left-alone\/","title":{"rendered":"Can American Pitbulls Be Left Alone?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As the owner of an American Pitbull, you\u2019d love nothing more than to bring your cuddly canine along with you on every trip \u2014 but we all know that this isn\u2019t feasible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Life happens, and we all have jobs, errands, and other things to tend to where dogs aren\u2019t always welcome. As such, there will come a time when you\u2019ll have to leave your beloved American Pitbull at home alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can you leave a Pitbull alone?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

American Pitbulls can be left alone as long as they’re properly trained. During the adjustment period, however, adults shouldn’t be left alone for more than four hours, and puppies no more than two. The best way to leave your dog at home without incident is to implement it into his training routine.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To help you better prepare for leaving your American Pitbull at home, I\u2019ve created this article which outlines how long these dogs can be left alone, what you should do if you have to leave your beloved pet home for longer periods of time, and what you can do to minimize unwanted behaviors during your absence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read on to learn more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Long Can Pitbulls Be Left at Home Alone?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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We all have lives and responsibilities of our own \u2014 jobs, families, social lives, events, meetings \u2014 so it\u2019s not always possible to bring your sidekick along. Therefore, it\u2019s inevitable that you\u2019re going to eventually be in a position where you\u2019ll need to leave your American Pitbull at home alone, if you haven\u2019t already done so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because of their high-energy levels, it\u2019s not recommended to leave an American Pitbull alone for long periods of time, especially during the adjustment period<\/a> (which can take up to three months).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, don\u2019t plan any long trips or events, and plan to be home as often as possible during this time. If you must <\/em>leave for longer than four hours at a time (or two hours, in the case of an American Pitbull puppy) during the adjustment period, you\u2019ll need to prepare in advance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leaving an American Pitbull Alone During a Short Absence<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You can\u2019t sit at home with your American Pitbull forever. Sometimes, we need to make a quick run to the grocery store or pharmacy, and it\u2019s highly unlikely that your local businesses allow you to bring your American Pitbull pet inside to shop alongside you (unless it\u2019s a service animal).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, short trips are the easiest way to start training your American Pitbull to be home alone. It\u2019s not as frightening as leaving them home alone for extended periods. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even though you\u2019re unsure of what to expect, you\u2019ll be able to get back in time to ensure that they\u2019re safe and not engaging in any negative, destructive, or dangerous behaviors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With that said, it\u2019s important that you not <\/em>leave your American Pitbull alone until you\u2019re in a good place with their crate training and housebreaking.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Begin with very <\/em>short trips, such as walking to the mailbox or picking up the newspaper from the end of the driveway. Over time, slowly lengthen the amount of time you\u2019re away \u2014 drive up to the gas station to fill your tank, or take a 15 minute walk around the block.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you return, see how they\u2019ve behaved. If they seem fine \u2014 there were no incidents or destroyed items (and your neighbors didn\u2019t complain about excessive whining or barking) \u2014 then that\u2019s a good sign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, if you find your American Pitbull in rooms that it\u2019s not supposed to be in, or it\u2019s stolen a snack off of the counter, then you may want to consider using the crate until you\u2019ve established boundaries that your beloved pet understands and respects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Six to Ten Hour Absence<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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If you have a job outside of the home, then you\u2019re most likely going to have to end up leaving your American Pitbull home for six to ten hours at a time, depending on your work schedule. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For most of us, this isn\u2019t an option \u2014 it\u2019s a necessity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, if you have a job and your American Pitbull is still in the adjustment phase, try to find a reputable pet-sitter who can tend to your dog while you\u2019re away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, you\u2019ll need to implement crate training<\/a> during this time \u2014 and you should prepare yourself ahead of time, because crate training is not <\/em>easy, especially at first. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll withstand many nights of whining, crying, and barking, so grab yourself some ear plugs and melatonin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best way to start is by putting your American Pitbull in the crate at night while you\u2019re home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before putting your dog in the crate, make sure that they\u2019re well exercised, they\u2019ve had water, are fed, and have relieved themselves through urination and defecation within the past hour.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a few weeks, the whining and crying should subside, but it could still take up to six months to fully get your pup comfortable being in the crate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, as long as you’re consistent, you could see results in as little as a few weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If anything happens while you\u2019re at work that will keep you longer than usual, have a backup plan available. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contact a trusted friend or family member (one that your dog is familiar with) that can enter your home and let your American Pitbull out of the crate to use the bathroom and get water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Extended Absence<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re ever in a position where you need to leave your American Pitbull home for periods longer than ten hours, it\u2019s highly recommended that you either take the dog with you, find a pet-sitter, or pay a boarding facility to care for your canine while you\u2019re away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You cannot trust an American Pitbull (or any dog, for that matter) to stay at home for extended periods of time, as they\u2019re unable to let themselves outside to use the bathroom, or to get themselves food and water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As such, it\u2019s irresponsible to leave them alone, especially longer than 24 hours at a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, you should never leave a dog in a crate for that long. At the very least, you should have a familiar friend stop by every five hours or so to let your dog out of the crate to use the bathroom, provide them with fresh water, and perhaps give them a walk around the block to stretch out their legs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If it\u2019s a puppy, the bathroom trips should be more frequent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t Leave American Pitbulls Alone Immediately After Adoption<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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If you\u2019ve just adopted your American Pitbull, it\u2019s important that you don\u2019t start off by leaving them at home unattended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

American Pitbulls, like most dogs, go through an adjustment period when they\u2019re first brought into a new home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a scary time for them, as they decompress and become familiar with new people and their surroundings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important that you\u2019re available to ensure that your dog is safe and secure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This adjustment period is a critical period, and it\u2019s necessary for both American Pitbull puppies and <\/em>adults. As such, new Pitbull puppies should not be left home alone or outside of a crate for more than two hours at a time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adults that are new to the home shouldn\u2019t be left alone for more than four hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

American Pitbulls Often Suffer from Separation Anxiety<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As with all canines, American Pitbulls may suffer from separation anxiety<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a common reason why many dogs end up in shelters \u2014 anxiety presents in many ways, from destructive behaviors such as chewing, or other undesirable behaviors such as urinating, defecating, whining, or barking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Separation anxiety can happen at all ages with an American Pitbull. Unfortunately, in many cases these dogs are labeled \u201cbad,\u201d when in reality, they\u2019re just nervous creatures who miss familiarity.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dogs do not have a concept of time. What\u2019s five minutes to us may feel like a lifetime to them. They don\u2019t know if you\u2019re coming back \u2014 they may essentially feel as though you\u2019ve abandoned them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, because dogs have a pack mentality, they feel that their survival depends upon the pack \u2014 and you <\/em>are their pack! In their minds, they may feel scared, insecure, and as though they need to fend for themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your dog is suffering from separation anxiety, then patience is key. It\u2019s important to, over time, slowly train them to be home alone. Start with very brief one to two minute trips. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Offer them chew treats, toys, and other mental stimuli while you\u2019re away. Close the blinds to remove any distractions that may cause excessive barking. If needed, confine them to a specific room or space to prevent them from becoming destructive or excessively noisy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reward them when they do not produce any undesirable behaviors while you\u2019re outside. Continue this training often and slowly space out the amount of time that you\u2019re away until your pooch is comfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How To Leave a Pitbull Alone<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When you leave your dog alone, you probably worry about destructive behaviors, separation anxiety, or accidents in the home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not to mention, you don\u2019t want your lovable, furry friend to feel abandoned or neglected. Therefore, it\u2019s critical that you implement being alone into your American Pitbull\u2019s training routine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you believe that your dog is ready to be left alone, you can take steps to ensure that it doesn\u2019t cause problems while you\u2019re away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n