Whether you’re taking a vacation in the sun for a week or just heading out for an evening and leaving a particularly needy pooch, learn about your options for pet care, and discover how AlfredCamera can help you keep an eye on your little loved one.
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Differences Between Cats and Dogs
Before even considering where and how you can leave a pet alone for some time, it’s important to understand how much socializing your pet needs. Babies, whether puppies, kittens, or something else, should not be left alone during the ‘sensitive period’ (the beginning of socialization at 3 weeks of age).
Regardless of species or breed, an animal needs a lot of attention in its first few months.
Experts generally suggest that dogs need far more attention than cats. This is because they are descended from pack animals. Cats, on the other hand, can be a little more aloof, and so are less likely to cause a fuss at being left alone than their canine cousins.
That being said, breeds themselves differ wildly in how much socializing they need: a Chihuahua, for instance, enjoys its alone time, whereas a Persian cat is notoriously attention-seeking. Bear these factors in mind when deciding whether it’s appropriate to leave your pet alone at all.
Where Can I Leave My Dog For A Few Days?
While it largely depends on just how long your pet is going to be left alone for, there are actually several options for your pet to spend their time away from you aside from commercial kennels—some conventional, others less so.
Here are our top five.
1. Kennels
Kennels—and, for our feline friends, catteries—have a mixed reception, and occasionally even a bad reputation. That’s why it’s crucial to do your research well in advance, so that you won’t struggle to find a reputable, safe environment for your pet at short notice.
A good place to start is to ensure that the establishment is licensed and has a legitimate certification, like from the Pet Care Services Association (PCSA) or the International Boarding & Pet Services Association (IBPSA).
Dogs are sociable animals and need the company of other dogs, and kind carers, to relax and be at ease. On the flipside, cats can become distressed around unfamiliar animals, so it’s important to place them somewhere that they will be kept separate from other cats, thereby reducing the risk of injury (and unwanted pregnancies!).
According to HomeGuide, the current average cost of a kennel is $40 per night–rates range from $25 to $85. Interestingly, the average cost is almost half for cats, at about $25 per night in a cattery.
2. Pet Sitters
Having a pet sitter come to your home is a great way to avoid upsetting a pet that’s a bit of a homebody. Traditionally, a pet sitter is someone you already know and trust who comes to stay at your home for an extended period.
While this does mean your fridge may be raided on occasion, it does give your pet the option to not only stay home, but to be around someone they trust.
No one around to help out? Fret not. In the age of smartphones and instant food deliveries, it’s hardly surprising that pet-sitting apps are all the rage. Rover is noted as among the largest pet sitting apps.
You can find local sitters and cross-references their ratings to find the best sitter for your pet. Of course, having a stranger in your home could be rather invasive, so be sure to leave AlfredCamera on to check up on your sitter and protect your things.
According to Thumbtack, pet sitters charge between $25 and $30 a day on average. Overnight pet sitting is usually between $75 and $85 per night.
3. Family/Friend or Neighbor
If having someone live in your home is a hard no (we get it), consider having a neighbor check in twice a day to feed, water, and change litter trays.
While it helps if the neighbor spends some time petting and playing with your pet, it shouldn’t be too much of a problem if they don’t, particularly if said pet is a cat or a rodent. Dogs, on the other hand, need to be walked at least three times a day.
As with a live-in pet sitter, having a neighbor or friend check in on your pet does run a slight security risk. After all, you will be entrusting them with your front door key.
Again, having a subtle security camera like AlfredCamera running can help alleviate any stresses over leaving your pet (and property) in the hands of someone else.
For morality’s sake, do make sure to notify the neighbor beforehand that they will be recorded.
Perhaps the greatest benefit for owners is that, other than a friendly gesture as thanks, having a neighbor pop in a couple times a day is free! That is, unless your neighbor is utterly heartless.
4. Pet Boarding
Perhaps a little unconventional, ‘pet boarding’ refers to taking your pet to someone else’s property to leave them there.
Again, a number of these services exist in app form, but it’s well worth meeting with the sitter beforehand and checking out their home to best gauge how appropriate the space will be.
Pet boarding can be great for a particularly sociable animal, since it will give boarding animals the chance to socialize with other animals, assuming the individual boards multiple pets at once.
More importantly, it also helps avoid the awkward question of home security, since no one will be either entering or staying in your home, yet still feels like a much more natural and comfortable environment for your pet than a kennel.
That being said, it’s always wise to have a security setup in place before leaving for extended periods.
Pet boarding rates can vary quite drastically, depending on the type of establishment you leave your pet at. Chances are, a small home-run business will be cheaper than something resembling a kennel.
According to HomeGuide, a week is about $150, while a month could be upwards for $500.
5. AlfredCamera
In addition to the above recommended methods, AlfredCamera can also be of great use to pet owners leaving their pets for short periods.
If you’re only going to be absent for a night or so, it isn’t out of the question to leave your pet home alone. And leaving them alone doesn’t necessarily mean having no eyes on them at all.
Since AlfredCamera can livestream footage to a linked device, see in low light, and notify you when it detects unfamiliar movement, it works great as a pet cam. You can even talk to your little loved one through two-way communication, keeping an eye on them at all times no matter where you are. Check out our guide to put your old phones to use!
AlfredCamera is available on the App Store and Google Play Store. Free, with the option for premium.
Recommended reading: Pet Cameras: Gimmick, Or Every Pet Owner’s Next Essential?
What Users Are Saying About AlfredCamera
Curious about how you can use AlfredCamera to check on your pets? Check out what users are saying about how the app is helping them monitor their pet’s lifestyles!
‘I use AlfredCamera at home to monitor what my active mischievous dog is doing and make sure my dog walker comes and goes as reported.’
‘I am a K9 Officer who frequently has to leave his dog unattended in the vehicle. While it is equipped with temperature monitoring equipment, I use AlfredCamera to monitor him while I’m away. AlfredCamera gives me peace of mind at the touch of a button. Here’s a moment I caught my buddy enjoying his favorite bone.’
See AlfredCamera in action
‘My 2 year old Great Dane, Archer, is too big for a cage or kennel. So with the help of Alfred, I can safely give Archer his own bedroom. It has been a lifesaver! Literally! About a year ago, I was able to rush home the moment I found the dog trying to eat a dryer sheet. I used the speaker feature to tell him to stop chewing on it and got home before he could swallow anything dangerous!’
‘I just LOVE AlfredCamera because it reassures me my babies are safe! I have 6 dogs & they are my big babies. AlfredCamera helps me relax by letting me check in on them visually & with audio, so I know if there’s barking, howling, whimpering. I make minimum wage so I could never afford this kind of thing if it wasn’t for you guys!’
5 Top Tips to Keep Your Pets Happy Home Alone
1. Water
Always make sure there’s adequate water for your furry friend.
2. Food
Have a food dispenser release food gradually so that your pet doesn’t munch through it’s supply!
3. Air
Make sure your property is well ventilated, but fight the temptation to leave the window open: not only is this a huge security risk, but your pet might be prone to jumping out!
4. Heating
For colder properties, leave the heating on between 69 and 72°F (thick fur means they prefer it cooler in the winter). In the warmer months, 75-78°F will do.
5. AlfredCamera
Trust AlfredCamera with looking out for your pets—keep an eye on them at all times, and even talk to them through your device!
FAQ
How long can you leave a dog alone legally?
There isn’t a universal law determining this. In fact, most states only prohibit leaving the dog tethered outside, and the length of this depends entirely on the state. The Animal Welfare Act 2006 simply requires all basic needs of pets to be met, without specifying timeframes as to how long they can be left.
Experts suggest 8-10 hours is the maximum amount of time you should reasonably leave a dog alone.
Can I leave my dog somewhere for a week?
Absolutely! Kennels and pet boarding services often have package deals sold by day, week, and month.
Will my dog miss me if I leave him for a week?
Perhaps you should be asking yourself, will you miss your dog if you leave him for a week? If the answer is yes (and it should be!), then chances are your dog will miss you too. That being said, assuming the dog isn’t puppy age, it won’t adversely affect him, so long as his basic needs are met and he is given plenty of attention by whoever is caring for him.
Do dogs get sad when you leave for a long time?
While it’s totally normal for your dog to miss you when you leave, excessive crying, trembling, and breaking toilet training are among the behaviors associated with separation anxiety. Encouraging independence from a young age is crucial to avoiding separation anxiety in dogs. The older they get, the harder it becomes to break the pattern. Use AlfredCamera to keep an eye (and ear) on your dog while you’re away, so you can monitor their behavioral patterns and determine whether they are alarming.
Conclusion
There are a range of options available for pet care, and one of the options is sure to meet you and your pet’s particular needs. And by using AlfredCamera, you can keep an eye on your beloved fluffball even when you’re a hundred miles away so long as the internet’s on!
What’s especially important is to make preparations long before you intend to leave your animals alone. Making arrangements on the cusp can result in upset pets and even be detrimental to your home’s security, since you might have strangers either living in or coming in and out of the property.
By arranging in advance, you avoid distressing your pet—and your belongings.
Recommended reading:
Do Dogs Miss Their Owners When They Go to Work?
How To Make A Cat Feel Comfortable In A New Home: 8 Top Tips