In this question, can Rat Terriers be left alone? Lets in this article take a look at some helpful tips that will help get our Rat terrier to stay alone at home while we are at work, or going to social functions, even certain restaurants.
Bear in mind that, leaving them alone for a long period of time might cause them separation anxiety and kind of destructive behaviors.
Chewed-up shoes, stains on your carpet, or howling will likely annoy your neighbors. But these can be solved by setting up fun games for them before you leave to work.
Can Rat Terriers Be Left Alone
Yes, Rat Terriers can be left alone! By the time we maintain certain routines like providing them with a lot of fun such as feeding, setting up toys for them to keep them happy and safe when you are not around.
Also engaging them with exercise will keep them busy and tired till you come back. But, how long is too long when leaving your Rat terrier home alone?
An adult Ratties can be left alone for up to four to six hours a day, the reason is that; These Ratties are used to being home alone. They have learned to sleep when you are not home.
While Puppies can be left alone for two hours a day is the limit. The reason is that; They are not used to being home alone. They need to pee more and can develop separation anxiety.
The following are some helpful tips that will help get our Rat Terriers be alone at home while we are at work:
1. Provide Crate training for your Rat terrier
Rat Terriers can be left alone, provided you introduce them to crate train. This will help them stay alone while you are not home.
The absolute time to help your Rat terrier get used to being alone is by giving them this crate training when they are a puppy.
And this will serve them as a comfortable, and safe place to stay for short periods of time.
However, it is not advisable to leave puppies and adult Rat Terriers in the crate for a long period of time.
Because leaving them there in their crates longer time could cause them stress and limit their ability to interact with their surroundings.
Since, it’s not going to be the best way to provide your Rat terrier free rein of the house, possibly when you’re at work, or on a social functions, especially at their young age.
For me I will say, just make sure they’re comfortable in a set ‘safe’ area which can be expanded over time.
2. Turn on some background music for your Rat Terrier
With the help of background music or noise, Rat Terriers will be able to stay alone while you are gone.
Here, you can keep your Rat terrier busy and company when you are not around. This is to tell you, that there are many television stations and apps out there you can play for them.
For example, we have many dog activities that are being shown on television and have been scientifically developed, programmed, and designed in a DOG TV, to help relax your Rat terrier when they watch while you’re away.
By so doing, leaving your television or your radio on for your Rat terrier while leaving for work.
The background noise will keep your Rat terrier company and reduce the stress he might be encountering if he hears a lot of outdoor noise such as dogs barking, car noise, lawn mowing, etc.
3. Consider a dog day-care for your Rat terrier
Introducing a dog day-care for your Rat terrier to take control of them while you’ve gone out will help them be alone and not missing you, even at old age.
What we are saying here is whenever you are going to stay outside or leave the house for a long period of time, I would suggest there’s a need you can take your Rat terrier to a dog day-care to take over your responsibility.
But, this doesn’t really work out for a new puppy who is just settling into a new environment, it will work well for Ratties who are sociable dogs and who like to play with other dogs!
Frankly speaking, in terms of socializing your Rat terrier and meet their physical need for exercise, I think a Dog day-care is a great way.
As a dog lover, it’s required of you to research and ensure the day-care service you choose is a clean, well-designed location with qualified staff who can manage interactions between your Rat terrier carefully.
4. Maintain your Rat Terrier’s interest by giving him something to do
Maintaining your Rat Terrier’s interest in giving them something to do will help them stay alone until you are back.
Meanwhile, try to create and organize a constructive way your Rat terrier should spend their time and be busy when you’re not at home.
Also, providing a food-dispensing toy for your Rat terrier instead of their regular food bowl will seem to be a challenge to them and occupy their time.
There are many dog toys that are made to be hard for dogs to be playing with, which will keep your Rat terrier busy, active, and engaged while you’re at work or away.
Therefore, you should provide small tasks and fun toys for your Rat terrier to be playing with before they get bored and become destructive when you’re not there, and make sure that none of the toys could be chewed apart or swallowed.
5. Teach your Rat terrier to identify when you’re about to go out
If you train and teach your Rat terrier to recognize when you’re leaving or about to go out will help them stay alone at home.
It’s obvious you can let your Rat terrier understand while you will be outside for a certain period of time by leaving them alone using different signs you train them to have the knowledge of.
For example, if you teach your Rat terrier that a wave and a word like ‘bye’ could help them understand that you’re not around and will see them in 4 hours’ time.
The same process by raising your hand and saying something like ‘won’t be long’ can also let them understand that you will be home soon.
Some dogs may be fine without a ‘bye’ but it’s best to avoid any fuss when you’re departing or arriving.
6. Before leaving tire your Rat Terrier
The need to tire your Rat Terrier before leaving the house will help them stay alone at home while we are not around.
Taking it as a tax to engage your Rat terrier in some exercise will be a good idea before you can think of going out.
Because if you engaged them in such activities like morning walk exercise, this will help them tire out and likely fall asleep after said and done.
In that case, your Rat Terrier can be left alone and this gives you the chance to leave the house without your Rat terrier feeling worried.
7. Let a friend or neighbor come over visit
The need to invite a friend or neighbor who loves dogs and would want to visit your Rat Terrier is a good idea to break up your Rat Terrier’s alone time.
Very interesting that with this your Rat terrier can be left alone and have the chance of having a regular bathroom breaks.
By so doing, before you can introduce a friend or your neighbor to your Rat terrier, make sure that your Rat terrier is comfortable with any visitors ahead of any drop-in.
To let a friend or neighbor come over to visit, I think your Rat terrier will love this sort of visit and will enjoy it if you make it to be a new sense of routine and also make it a regular occurrence!
8. Demonstrate to your Rat terrier that being alone at home isn’t bad
The need to demonstrate to your Rat terrier that being alone at home is not bad at all will trigger him to stay home alone until you come back.
Rat Terriers can be left alone if you take this as a responsibility at the initial time when you go on to adopt one into your life.
The reason why is that it is part of the training you should give to your Rat terrier while leaving him home alone and running to errands or being at work is not a bad thing at all.
In the sense, you demonstrate to your Rat terrier that being alone at home isn’t a bad thing.
Whether you stayed longer at work than expected, your Rat terrier will not suffer from separation anxiety, and he knows you will eventually come back.
9. Employ a dog walker for your Rat Terrier
By hiring a dog walker for your Rat Terrier will make a very good difference and help them stay home alone.
If you will be able to hire a dog walker for your Rat terrier to visit your house when you are not around your Rat Terrier will not feel home alone.
Again your Rat Terrier will feel relaxed around other dogs with confidence.
Employing a dog walker for your Rat Terrier or paying for someone to come and assist you will help make up your Rat Terrier’s day while you are outside.
The good time they should come between your Rat Terrier is when they are in extremely lonely and do their job by taking them out for the toilet and walk them out to exhaust some energy and relax.
They will also help in bringing your Rat Terrier with treats, making their day with interactions and socialize with other dogs.
With the help of a dog walker services, to your Rat Terrier, they will be able to enjoy quick home visit and a long walk during the day.
10. Devote more time to your Rat Terrier
Devoting more of your time to your Rat Terrier will help them stay home alone.
Quite sure, you are not at home frequently because of work time, if possible in order to make your Rat Terrier feel at home I will advise you consider working from home on occasion.
By devoting more time to your Rat terrier you might bring your Rat Terrier with you to work.
If you could consider coming home during your lunch break and visit your Rat Terrier there’s no way your Rat Terrier won’t be comfortable at home because you devoted your time to him.
You can also make an arrangement for other household members to help in turns drop in and visit your Rat Terrier.
According to AKC: Using a Safe Confinement Area; A safe confinement area, like an exercise pen or crate, is perfect for this purpose.
FAQs
Do Rat Terriers have separation anxiety?
Yes of course! Rat Terriers do have separation anxiety when left alone for an extended period of time, Rat Terriers might experience separation anxiety.
As a result, disruptive behaviors such as digging, chewing, and jumping on your fence wall may arise.
Do Rat Terriers run away?
Rat Terriers are best known for their ability to escape (escape artists).
They do have a natural tendency towards running. They may feel tempted to escape if they have been alone and bored for a long period.
However, they may be left alone if we follow certain routines, including as feeding them and setting up toys for them to keep them entertained and secure when you are not around.
Do Rat Terriers like to cuddle?
Yes of course! Rat Terriers cuddle to stay warm when they are cold.
Rat Terriers are also a way for them to show us how much they care about us.
This is why it is so satisfying when your Rat Terrier approaches you and snuggles up to you.
