What should I do to prepare my dog for being home alone safely?

Being only 6 months old, it is safest in a kennel until he gets used to the new routine. It will prevent him from having an accident and destroying things out of bored and possibly ingesting something that may harm him. If you can start getting him used to the kennel before you leave to let him know it is a safe spot that would help. make sure you give treats when he gets in there. Leave him toys as long as he does not destroy or ingest them, and make sure to rotate toys so he does not get bored with the same one every day.

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Having someone come to the house is a great idea, it will keep Canela happy in her own environment. Consider having the friend bring Canela for walks if they can. Also, consider calling and 'skyping' Canela while you are gone. Another thing to prepare for your vacation is to discuss with your vet and your emergency clinic that you are going away, and what you wish to happen with Canela in the event of an emergency. Stress can bring on some conditions (but you are doing everything to minimize this already which is great!), so giving your vet/the emergency vet your contact information, and some people will leave their credit card information with financial limits and wishes, so that if something happens in the middle of the night and you cannot be contacted Canela is given the care you desire. Best of luck on your vacation, and it sounds like you are prepped and Canela will be well taken care of!

It sounds like your dog has a degree of separation anxiety. I would recommend first getting him crate trained. If you keep him in a crate while you are gone this will keep him safe from hurting himself or damaging other things in the house. I would also recommend taking him on a fast-paced walk for 20 to 30 minutes before you leave the house. This will help drain some of his nervous energy. It would also help to give him a toy or a treat to play with and keep him busy while he's in the crate. If these tips aren't working for you, you may consider talking to your veterinarian about getting Bruno started on an anti-anxiety medication. I hope this helps. Best of luck

I would recommend keeping toys out she can play with. Some toys allow you to hide treats and even rubber Kong’s have room for peanut butter. If you use a rubber Kong I would put freezer to make the peanut butter harder. Hope that helps

It sounds like Bruno is an excellent candidate for crate training. This will provide Bruno with a comfortable, safe place to stay while you are away from home and give you the comfort of knowing that your house is staying in one piece while you're gone. I am going to link you to the article on our website that describes crate training in detail. In addition, you should be able to find countless YouTube videos to help you along the way. Hope this makes sense. https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-crate-train-your-puppy-or-older-dog/

You will need to do it gradually. Begin by leaving for one or two minutes, then returning. Gradually increase the amount of time you are out. Use a special toy or treat to be given only when you leave. Pick it up upon your return. Don't make a big deal about leaving or returning. If Eli is overly excited when you return, ignore him for 15 minutes or until he settles down. Be patient and be consistent.

I would start with very short absences (just out to get the mail, or something similar), and always leave her with some tasty treats or a food puzzle toy such as a Kong stuffed with peanut butter to keep her busy while you're gone. Over time, as she gets more comfortable, you can work up to longer absences. I would also recommend leaving her in a crate or x-pen to prevent her from getting into trouble while you're not there to supervise :)