The trusty basset hound is currently the 34th most popular dog breed in the USA and their popularity has been steadily increasing over the last couple of years.
Due to there being a large number of potential basset hound owners out there researching the breed, we have noticed a spike in the number of questions that we are seeing from the community each month.
With so many people living a busy life where they will be out of the house for long periods each day, we have noticed more and more people asking if basset hounds can be left alone in the home throughout the day or not.
After seeing more and more people reaching out about leaving their basset hound alone with each month that goes by, we have decided to publish this article to try and help as many of our readers as possible who may be looking to add a basset hound to their family.
Can Basset Hounds Be Left Alone?
The short answer to this question is that yes, basset hounds can be left alone at home for periods of time.
While they are not the ideal breed of dog to leave alone for long periods each day, they can still cope better than some other breeds when it comes to being left on their own.
In this article, we will discuss everything that you need to know about leaving your basset hound home alone including how long they can be left for, what you need to do to prepare them and what signs you should look out for that may indicate that they are not coping well.
Are Basset Hounds Good At Being Alone?
While basset hounds are not the best breed of dog for being left alone, they are still better at it than some other breeds.
This is due to a number of reasons including their laid back and independent nature as well as their low energy levels when not being mentally stimulated.
Bassets are also less likely to suffer from separation anxiety than some other breeds which means that they are less likely to become stressed or anxious when left on their own.
Still, we would never recommend that you get yourself a dog if you will be out of the house for large portions of the day because over time, no matter the breed, this can result in destructive behavior.
Depending on the exact situation, this may also end up causing mental health problems with the dog too that can result in a number of other symptoms too.
How Long Can I Leave My Basset Hound Alone At Home?
As we have just mentioned, we would never recommend leaving your basset hound home alone for long periods of time but if you do need to leave them on their own occasionally, there are a few things that you should consider.
The first is the age of your basset hound as puppies and elderly dogs tend to need more human interaction than adult dogs.
Puppies, in particular, should never be left alone for more than a couple of hours at a time as they need to be able to go to the toilet regularly, eat and drink as well as get some exercise.
Elderly basset hounds may also need more attention than younger dogs too as they can often become confused and disoriented which can lead to them becoming anxious.
The second thing to consider is the temperament of your basset hound as some dogs are just better at being left alone than others.
If your dog is particularly clingy or has separation anxiety, they are going to struggle more when left on their own so it is important to take this into account.
In general, we would recommend that you do not leave your basset hound alone for more than 4 hours at a time but if possible, try to keep this to a maximum of 2 hours.
This will give them enough time to sleep, eat and drink as well as have a toilet break without them getting too bored or anxious.
Of course, the younger and more active your basset hound is, the less time they will be able to cope on their own for.
Do Basset Hounds Have Separation Anxiety?
While some basset hounds may suffer from separation anxiety, it is not as common in this breed as it is in others.
This is due to their independent and laid back nature which means that they are less likely to get stressed when left on their own.
Still, there are a number of things that can trigger separation anxiety in dogs including being left alone for long periods of time, a change in routine or even a change in the family dynamic such as a baby being born.
If you think that your basset hound may be suffering from separation anxiety, there are a few things that you can look out for including pacing, panting, whining, howling, barking, chewing, digging or scratching at doors or windows.
You may also notice that your dog becomes clingy and follows you around the house when you are home or that they become depressed and withdrawn.
Will a Basset Hound Bark And Howl Much If It Is Left Alone?
Barking and howling are two common behaviors in dogs that are left alone for long periods of time but this is not always the case with basset hounds.
This is because they are a relatively low energy breed which means that they are less likely to become bored and restless when left on their own.
Instead, they are more likely to sleep for large portions of the day which means that they will not make too much noise.
Of course, every dog is different and some basset hounds may still bark and howl when left on their own but this is generally not something that you will need to worry about with this breed.
Do Basset Hounds Destroy Things When Left Alone?
Another common behavior in dogs that are left alone is destroying things around the house but again, this is not something that you will need to worry about too much with basset hounds.
This is because they are a relatively low energy breed which means that they are less likely to become bored and destructive when left on their own.
Of course, every dog is different and some basset hounds may still destroy things when left on their own but this is generally not something that you will need to worry about with this breed.
How Can I Keep My Basset Hound Entertained When I Am Not Home?
There are a number of ways that you can keep your basset hound entertained when you are not home including providing them with toys, bones and chews as well as feeders and puzzles.
You can also leave the television or radio on for them to listen to or invest in a dog cam so that you can check in on them throughout the day.
Of course, the best way to keep your basset hound entertained when you are not home is to make sure that they have plenty of exercise before you leave.
This will tire them out and make them more likely to sleep while you are gone.
