¶How long can a dog be left alone?
Dogs need contact with people and other dogs to feel good. How long they can be left alone varies from dog to dog, but puppies can barely handle being alone at all. It’s still important to train your dog to be on its own so that later on it can manage several hours alone at home if needed. If you delay this training, it will only become harder and more stressful for the dog.
An adult, well-trained dog can usually cope just fine on its own for 4 to 5 hours, but under Swedish law you are not allowed to leave a dog unsupervised for too long and you should take it out for a walk at least every six hours. There are many dog daycares where you can leave your dog while you’re at work, either for shorter or longer periods.
¶Time and patience for your dog
There are two key factors when you have a dog – having time and having patience. Dogs must not be left alone for long periods. You should have time to take your dog for several walks every day – regardless of the weather or how you’re feeling. It’s important to keep your dog active through exercise or play to stimulate it and help it feel well.
¶What kind of dog suits me?
Once you’ve decided to get a dog, it’s time to start thinking about what type of dog is right for you. There are many options and a lot of things matter – for example, whether you live in a townhouse, a detached house, or an apartment. Do you want a dog for companionship, hunting, or shows? Feel free to try our Breed Guide here to help you choose.
Depending on how you answer our questions, we try to identify a breed that suits you. But you should only see this as suggestions from us. Also ask other people and read up on the different breeds. You can read more about breeds here.
¶Do all dogs get along with children?
Some dog breeds are better with children than others. We offer tips in our Breed Guide, but in general larger dog breeds tend to be more child-friendly than small dogs. This is because small dogs can be afraid of children due to their small size. They are more fragile, and children are often not as careful with dogs and may accidentally hurt them. But whether the dog is big or small, you should always keep an eye on your child when they are with a dog.
