Home / Dogs / Dog training Let's Teach a Dog to Stay Alone Unfortunately sometimes one can't take his dog with him. In order to let the dog stay at home alone for several hours and to save the door from scratching and your neighbors from his whining, leave the dog in an empty room for a short while from the very beginning of study. As soon as he starts barking, enter the room and punish him with a vigorous "Leave!" or with a slight strike of rolled newspaper. Repeat the lesson again and again until the dog behaves himself calmly. Step by step increase the time of departure. At this point we've never had any problems with our dogs. By our behavior we make them know they can't follow us. Disappointed they curl themselves up into a ball in their place and sleep until we come back. Don't forget to take away shoes, cables, cloths, books, etc BEFORE DEPARTURE. Puppies chew these things just when they are bored. To avoid this trouble you'd better give him a bone made of ox hide or an old leather shoe to prevent him from breaking your best party shoes. There's also a danger that a puppy will bite a telephone cord. Russian National Club "Berner Sennenhunde"