Can a Corgi be left alone?

You would like to have a Corgi, but you are working? Now you are thinking, can a Corgi be left alone? Or how long a Corgi can stay alone?

Whether a Corgi is the right dog for you we clarify in this article.

A Corgi does not like to be left alone – especially not all day. However, with the right training, you can leave a Corgi alone for between 2 and 4 hours. Corgis are herding dogs that form a deep bond with their owners. They prefer to be with their owners. This makes them rather unsuitable for full-time working people.

Can a Corgi be left alone for 8 hours?

A Corgi cannot be left alone for 8 hours. Because of their original use as herding dogs, they have always been with their owners, herding livestock together.

Therefore, they have formed a deep bond with humans and are not made to be left alone for long periods of time. At the same time, from the characteristic of being a herding dog, one can deduce that a Corgi needs a lot of exercise and activity.

Basically, no dog should stay alone for 8 hours.

However, there are differences between breeds. Some tolerate it better, others even get sick if they are left alone too long and too often.

There can also be significant differences within a breed.

How long can a Corgi be left alone?

After my research in different blogs and forums I can only say: It depends.

There are Corgis that can easily stay alone for 4 hours and for other Corgis it is already clearly too long.

However, with the right training, they should be able to be left alone for 2 to 4 hours without any problems.

Unfortunately, you can not make a general statement that applies to all, because each dog is different.

It would be best if someone is always at home and you only leave your Corgi alone for everyday things such as shopping, doctor’s appointments, birthdays, etc.

No one can guarantee that your Corgi will be able to be left long time.

You don´t know that your corgi will handle it well if you leave him alone for 3 hours every day because you have to work.

At what point can a corgi be left alone?

Once you have taken in a Corgi, it is advisable to get him used to being alone as soon as possible,

Even if it is not necessary today, circumstances can change quickly within a year and you will inevitably have to leave your corgi alone. If he can’t do that yet, or you don’t know if he can, you’re in for a big problem.

You should not leave a Corgi puppy alone for more than 2 hours until it is 4 months old.

You get the puppy when it is between 8 and 10 weeks old. This means you can expect 8 weeks of “full time care” to come your way.

Getting your Corgi used to being left alone

Once your corgi is used to his new home and has formed a bond with you and the rest of the family, you can start training him. If you are a beginner getting a Corgi, you can start with these tips.

The important thing is that you build it up in very small steps. Don’t leave your Corgi puppy alone for 30 or 60 minutes straight away and listen at the door to see if he cries!!!

The following approach has helped us get our Broholmer to stay alone with no problems.

• Leave the room your puppy is in for one minute and close the door. After one minute, go back.
• Gradually increase the length of your absence.
• Leave the house for a minute to get the mail. Here, too, gradually increase the length of your absence.
• Put on your jacket and shoes and leave the house a little longer. First 10 minutes, then 15 minutes and so on…

You recognize the principle? You have to get your Corgi used to be left alone very slowly and that this is completely normal. You come back again and again.

Important!!! Don’t make a big goodbye or welcome scene. It must be normal for your dog that you leave the house and come back – it is nothing special

Tips on how to keep your corgi better alone

To make being left alone more comfortable and easier for your Corgi, I can recommend the following tips.

• Corgis need a lot of exercise and activity. Make sure your corgi gets a big walk, run or other activity before you leave the house. If your corgi isn’t exercised, the time alone won’t get any easier.

• Excuses like, “But I have to leave the house early, I don’t have time for that”. don´t count. Then get up earlier. You are responsible for the dog and you chose to do it!

• On the walk, make sure your corgi has done his business. If he has to go out to pee while you’re gone but can’t and stands whimpering at the door, it can ruin everything for you.

• Provide distractions. If you find a toy that your corgi loves, you can bring it out specifically for that time and distract him with it. He will then see the time as not so bad because that is exactly when he gets the great toy.

• Put a worn shirt in your corgi’s dog bed. Your smell can have a calming effect.

• Build him a den or provide him with a dog crate. Dogs feel safe and protected in a den. This may help your Corgi to cope better on his own.

How do you know if your corgi can be left alone?

Just because your Corgi doesn’t bark excessively when left alone doesn’t mean he’ll tolerate it well.

He may also be completely restless and nervous walking around the apartment. These are stress symptoms that are not good for your corgi.

To make sure that your Corgi is doing well, you can install a dog camera and watch your Corgi that way.

My tip !!!

FURBO dog camera*

• 1080p Full HD, 160° wide angle and 4x zoom
• Two-way communication (talk to your dog and listen when he barks)
• Fill the Furbo with treats and reward your dog via app
• Stable and flexible to use

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Signs that your corgi can’t be left alone

You can tell that your corgi is not doing well when he is alone by the following symptoms:

• Excessive barking. A Corgi tends to bark more. Now if they have to be left alone for too long, this can intensify.
• Your Corgi starts to destroy things. For example, he chews on furniture or other objects.
• As already mentioned, he runs restlessly back and forth.
• Although your Corgi is housebroken, he also pees on the couch or in the apartment.

If you notice your corgi exhibiting this behavior, you need to take action. Contrary to the general recommendation that a corgi can be left alone for 3 hours, this may not apply to your corgi. Even if you have trained him reasonably.

Actions to take if your corgi can’t be left alone

Try to take your corgi with you. Include him in your daily routine if possible. The advantage is that this is a good way to socialize your corgi in parallel.

A corgi is usually welcome everywhere thanks to its small size and cute appearance.

Talk to your boss and ask if you can take him to the office.

If you need to go shopping for a short time, you can let him wait in the car for 10 minutes. Then come back and drive to the next store. For many dogs, the car is basically just another room.

It makes a difference if your corgi is alone for 3 hours or if you go with him first to the supermarket and from there to the doctor. The time away is much shorter and in the meantime you are together.

Attention. Do not leave your corgi alone in the car with the window closed in the summer. Even if you park in the shade, the sun will move and in no time your car will be in the sun.

Leave the windows open a bit and put a water bowl for your corgi. To be on the safe side, avoid leaving your Corgi alone in the car in the summer to protect him from the heat.

Conclusion: Can a Corgi be left alone?

The Corgi is definitely not a dog that likes to be left alone. However, with the right training from the beginning, you should be able to leave your Corgi alone for between 2 and 4 hours. It is not possible to make a blanket statement, as every dog is different.

A corgi is definitely not a dog for working people who are out all day. Even with 4 hours a day everyday, I would consider having a dog sitter.

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