Can Dobermans Be Left Alone at Home? A Dog Lover‘s Guide

As a devoted Doberman owner and veterinary professional, I‘m often asked by fellow Dobie lovers: "Can Dobermans be left alone at home?" It‘s a great question, given this breed‘s intense loyalty and attachment to their people. The short answer is yes, many adult Dobermans can be trained to stay home alone – but it depends on the individual dog, and it takes some work to get there. Let‘s dive into what Doberman owners need to know about leaving their pups solo.

Bred for Close Partnership

To understand why Dobermans often struggle with alone time, it helps to know a bit about their history. Dobermans originated in Germany around 1890, when a tax collector named Louis Dobermann wanted a formidable but obedient protection dog to accompany him on his rounds. Through careful selection, Dobermann developed a breed that was supremely loyal, intelligent, and athletic – perfect for guarding and working closely with a human partner all day.

Over the decades, Dobermans became popular police, war and personal protection dogs thanks to their courage, trainability and devotion to their handlers. But that also means Dobermans are hard-wired to form extremely tight bonds with their people. They thrive on companionship and mental stimulation. Leaving a Doberman alone goes against much of what they were bred to do, which is why many struggle with the isolation.

Separation Anxiety in Dobermans

According to a survey by the American Veterinary Medical Association, about 17% of all dogs in the U.S. suffer from separation anxiety – and that number is thought to be even higher in Dobermans. A study in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior found that Doberman Pinschers have a relatively high incidence of separation anxiety compared to other breeds.

So what is separation anxiety, exactly? Dr. Laurel Braitman, author of Animal Madness: Inside Their Minds, defines it this way: "Separation anxiety is the technical name for a very common canine behavior problem in which the dog becomes distressed when left alone or separated from his owner, and shows it by barking, howling, chewing or otherwise destroying the house."

Common signs of separation anxiety in Dobermans include:

• Excessive vocalization (barking, howling, whining)
• Destructive chewing or digging, especially targeted at doors/windows
• Urinating or defecating indoors, even if normally house-trained
• Pacing, drooling, panting or other signs of panic
• Attempting to escape crates, pens, or rooms to get to owners

Some of these behaviors, like non-stop barking or destructive chewing, can also simply be signs of boredom in a high-energy, under-stimulated Doberman. But true separation anxiety has a more panicked, compulsive quality and happens nearly every time the dog is left alone.

Doberman Puppies and Alone Time

Being left alone is extra tough for Doberman puppies, whose smaller bladders and higher energy levels make extended absences unrealistic. A good rule of thumb is that puppies can hold their bladders for about one hour per month of age. So an 8-week old Dobie puppy needs a potty break every 2 hours or so, while a 6-month old may be able to wait 5-6 hours max.

Here‘s a handy chart of approximately how long Doberman puppies can be expected to hold it between potty breaks:

Keep in mind, just because a 6-month old can theoretically hold their bladder for 6 hours doesn‘t mean they should be regularly left crated that long. Young puppies need plenty of interaction, socialization, training and exercise throughout the day to grow into well-adjusted adult dogs. Doberman puppies also bond most deeply with their people during the first 6 months of life, so it‘s crucial to spend lots of quality time with them in this formative stage.

If you work full-time, consider hiring a pet-sitter or recruiting a trusted friend or family member to give your Doberman puppy a potty break and some playtime in the middle of the day until they mature. Doggie daycare can also be a great option for Doberman puppies if you find a reputable facility that keeps young pups separate from rowdy adults.

Preparing Your Home for a Doberman

One of the keys to leaving an adult Doberman alone is having a safe, comfortable environment ready for them. That means Doberman-proofing your house so your pup can‘t get into trouble or hurt themselves if they become anxious or bored.

According to a study of over 3,000 Doberman owners, the top 5 most common behavior problems reported were:

1. Excessive barking (35%)
2. Destructive chewing (28%)
3. Digging (19%)
4. Inappropriate elimination (16%)
5. Separation anxiety (14%)

So it‘s essential to put away anything you don‘t want chewed, lock up trash cans and food sources, and restrict access to carpets or couches if your Doberman is still learning house manners. Crate training is an option for when you need to leave a Dobie pup for a few hours. But it‘s best to give adult Dobermans more space than a small crate if you‘ll be gone all day. A spare room, laundry room, or sectioned off part of the house with baby gates often works well.

Make your Doberman‘s alone-time area as cozy and enriching as possible by including:

• A comfortable bed with blankets that smell like you
• Plenty of durable rubber chew toys and food puzzles
• Long-lasting treats like bully sticks or stuffed Kongs
• A battery-operated fan or white noise machine for soothing sounds
• Puppy pads or doggie litter box in case of potty emergencies
• Multiple water bowls in case one gets tipped over

If you need to leave your Doberman loose in a fenced yard, make absolutely sure it‘s secure with no way for them to jump, climb or dig their way out. Dobermans are notorious escape artists! Provide a weatherproof, insulated dog house so they can get out of the elements. Avoid leaving them outside all day in very hot or cold weather.

Training a Doberman to Be Alone

Even with the perfect environment set up, most Dobermans need practice learning to cope with being alone. It‘s ideal to start alone-time training during puppyhood, so your Dobie can gradually get used to some solo time as they mature.

Start by teaching your Doberman puppy a "place" command, which simply means go to a designated bed or mat and stay there until released. Practice leaving them in their place while you briefly go into another room, then come back and reward them. Build up the amount of time they stay put as they show they can handle it.

Once your Doberman puppy has a solid place command, practice actually leaving the house for a few minutes at a time. Give them a food puzzle or long-lasting chew before you leave so they start to associate alone time with good things. Keep your departures and returns very calm and matter-of-fact.

Slowly extend the length of your absences over a period of weeks, starting with just 5-10 minutes and working up to 30 minutes, an hour, and so on. Vary the length of your absences and the time of day you leave so your Doberman learns that sometimes you‘re gone for a little while, sometimes a long while, but you always come back.

It‘s also key that your Doberman gets plenty of exercise, training, and enrichment when you are home. Meeting their needs when you‘re together makes it much easier for them to settle and relax when they‘re alone. Most adult Dobermans need a minimum of 2 hours of physical activity per day, broken up into multiple walks and play sessions.

Coping with Canine Separation Anxiety

What if, despite your best training and preparation efforts, your Doberman still shows major signs of distress when left alone? Separation anxiety that involves destructive behaviors or self-injury needs professional intervention.

"The first and most important component of treating separation anxiety involves changing the owner‘s departure routine and decreasing the anxiety associated with departures," advises veterinary behaviorist Dr. Valarie Tynes. This is often a multi-pronged approach that includes:

• Desensitization training to teach the dog departures aren‘t scary
• Uncoupling "trigger" cues like putting on shoes or grabbing keys
• Using pheromone sprays or diffusers to promote relaxation
• Providing calming music, audiobooks or TV sounds
• Natural supplements or prescription anti-anxiety medications

Working with a certified professional dog trainer (CPDT) or veterinary behaviorist is essential for severe separation anxiety cases. Look for a specialist who uses science-based, force-free behavior modification methods. Your veterinarian may also prescribe an anti-anxiety medication like fluoxetine or clomipramine to help your Doberman relax enough to learn new coping skills.

In the meantime, it‘s best to avoid leaving an anxious Doberman alone for more than they can handle. Arrange for a pet-sitter to stay with them or drop them off at a trusted doggie daycare facility if you need to be gone all day. You may need to adjust your work schedule or come home at lunch until their alone-time tolerance improves.

The Bottom Line

As much as we wish our Dobermans could be velcroed to our sides 24/7, the fact is most of us have to leave them alone sometimes. The good news is that with proper training, exercise, and acclimatization, many adult Dobermans can learn to happily hang out solo while their people are gone.

Puppies need more frequent check-ins than adults, and some Dobermans will always be prone to separation distress. But in general, a well-adjusted adult Dobie may be okay for a typical 8-hour workday alone, provided they get plenty of exercise and attention when you are home.

Every dog is an individual, so it‘s important to go at your Doberman‘s pace and not push them past their alone-time limits. Be patient, stay consistent, and don‘t hesitate to enlist professional help if you‘re struggling. With some effort and TLC, your Doberman can be a confident, contented pup even when they‘re holding down the fort at home.