Can Corgis Be Left Alone? Time Limits & Considerations
By Kit Copson
Updated on
So, you love your Corgi to pieces (with good reason) but, like any other dog parent, you have a life outside them, too. Much as you’d love to spend all day with your adorable “smiley-faced” dog, there’s work, socializing, and daily errands to run. This begs the question “can my Corgi be left alone”?
The short answer is yes, Corgis can be left alone providing it’s not for too long. The length of time a Corgi can be left alone depends on many factors, though.
In this post, we’ll explore the appropriate amount of time to leave a Corgi alone and share some tips for making your dog’s alone time as comfortable and stress-free as possible.
How Long Can a Corgi Be Left Alone?
How long a Corgi can be left alone depends on their age, health status, and any emotional or behavioral issues they may have (such as separation anxiety). Healthy adult Corgis shouldn’t be left alone for any longer than 6–8 hours at the most.
If you’re going to be away longer than this, it would be a good idea to recruit the services or a pet-sitter or ask a family member, friend, or neighbor to check in on your Corgi, walk them, and let them relieve themselves.
How Long Can a Corgi Puppy Be Left Alone?
Puppies need to pee more often than adult dogs and haven’t yet been trained to be alone—especially very young puppies. According to the AKC, the length of time a puppy can be left alone increases monthly. Their guidelines are:
- Under 10 weeks: 1 hour
- 10–12 weeks: 2 hours
- 3 months: 3 hours
- 4 months: 4 hours
- 5 months: 5 hours
- 6 months: 6 hours
- Older than 6 months: 6–8 hours
How Long Can a Senior Corgi Be Left Alone?
Like puppies, senior dogs often need to use the bathroom more frequently than young dogs. They’re also more prone to health conditions, so how long you can leave your senior Corgi alone for depends on how healthy they are and how often they need to go to the bathroom.
There’s no set number of hours a senior Corgi can be left alone for. You may be able to leave them alone for up to six hours or as little as thirty minutes—it really depends on their health. If you’re unsure how well your senior Corgi will hold up being left alone, consider having someone check in with them throughout the day.
Alone Time for Dogs: Tips
- Create a comfortable, cozy environment for your dog filled with their favorite blankets, toys, etc.
- Give your dog a puzzle that will take them some time to figure out.
- Consider crate training. Crate training helps get your dog used to spending time alone and offers them a safe place to go whenever they need it.
- Leave a dog audiobook playing while you’re away—these are designed to comfort dogs feeling a bit lonely or stressed.
- Consider hiring a pet sitter or dog walker to check in with your dog.
- Consider doggy daycare, even for just one day per week (it’s not recommended to send your dog to daycare every day as this isn’t good for teaching them to spend time alone).
Conclusion
When it comes to leaving your Corgi alone, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. A healthy, well-adjusted adult Corgi may be able to spend six to eight hours per day alone and do perfectly fine, whereas a Corgi with separation anxiety or another health issue may only manage an hour or two.
If you’re concerned that your dog might be suffering from separation anxiety, please consult your vet or a dog behaviorist for advice.
Featured Image Credit: LoveCorgi, Shutterstock
