Can Mastiffs be Left Alone? (All You Need to Know)

Who doesn’t enjoy the company of mastiffs, right? They remain pretty calm and composed around their owner.

That being said, if you are an office-goer, you might not be able to stay with your furry friend all day long. Let’s take a look at if you can leave your mastiff alone.

Can mastiffs be left alone?

Mastiffs can be left alone, but not for a long period of time. An adult mastiff that gets plenty of mental stimulation and exercise can stay alone for four to eight hours. However, mastiffs handle being left alone the best when they have another dog to play with.

As most mastiffs can stay alone, let’s dig in deep to know more about them.

Tibetan Mastiff:

Tibetan mastiffs don’t need their owners’ company all day long to remain lively and happy. They are one of the most self-sufficient dog breeds. Thus, while working, you can leave the Tibetan mastiffs on their own.

Nevertheless, they love their family members’ company, so you should not leave your Tibetan mastiff alone for a long time.

Bullmastiff:

Bullmastiffs demand attention and love, and if they don’t get it, they become agitated. They are also stubborn, which can pose problems, mainly if you don’t fulfill their demand.

So, it’s crucial that you train your Bullmastiff to be alone for brief periods of time before keeping them alone regularly.

English Mastiff:

English mastiffs like to be with their family and are not suitable to spend lengthy periods of time alone at home or outside. If they are left alone without any human contact for long hours, separation anxiety or hostility might easily develop in them.

That can be a serious issue for the owner of such a large dog.

Neapolitan Mastiff:

Neapolitan mastiffs are massive dogs, and they love the company of their family. Because they are so close to their families, separation anxiety might arise. So, you shouldn’t keep them alone for more than eight hours a day.

Although the Neapolitan mastiffs are gentle giants, they are highly protective of their family members and distrust outsiders. As a result, you shouldn’t leave them alone outdoors without proper fencing.

French Mastiff:

The french mastiffs are very affectionate and well-mannered dogs. They are not aggressive by nature. The one thing they need the most to stay happy is adequate family time. So, these dogs don’t do very well if they don’t have their family members around for too long.

Italian Mastiff:

The Italian Mastiffs are definitely not the type of dogs who enjoy being left alone for a long time. They want to stay with their family members all the time.

The Italian mastiff also has a keen sense of what is going on around them and what is expected. If they feel it has been too long since you have left them alone, your dog may even become violent and disorderly.

Pyrenean Mastiff:

The Pyrenean Mastiffs are independent breeds that can live on their own. That isn’t an excuse to leave them alone all day, as every type of dog thrives in the presence of love and company.

However, as long as they get proper attention and exercise regularly, they are unlikely to mind if you leave for a couple of hours.

Can I get a mastiff if I work 9 to 5?

Getting a mastiff while working 9 to 5 means your dog will stay alone for more than eight hours. This time period is too high for a dog to handle being left alone, even if it is given lots of mental stimulation.

So, if you work 9 to 5, you can get a mastiff, but only if you are convinced that he will not stay alone all day long.

How long can a mastiff be left alone?

The amount of time a mastiff can stay alone without any issue depends on the environment, exercise, and affection they get. It also largely depends on their age.

An adult mastiff with adequate mental stimulation can be left alone for eight hours, and a puppy can stay alone for four hours.

How to keep your mastiff occupied while at work?

You might feel bad while leaving your furry friend alone while going to work. There are a few ways by which you can keep your pet entertained when they are alone.

Let’s take a look at some effective methods to keep your mastiff occupied while at work.

Tire out your mastiff:

Possibly one of the easiest ways to keep your mastiff occupied while at work is by burning off its excess energy. By taking your mastiff for a walk and playing fetch before leaving for work, you can easily tire it out.

By doing so, you can ensure that it falls asleep or takes rest for a long period while you are at work. As a result, they won’t feel trapped all day indoors and won’t chew your furniture and belongings.

Give it a window seat:

A good view is something that mastiffs enjoy. They are also naturally quite tenacious guard dogs, so they are always curious about what’s going on outside.

Allow your dog to have a nice view throughout the day by leaving the curtains open. Make it comfortable for them by putting their bed in it. This will encourage them to spend time there and remain occupied while you work.

Provide food games:

Mastiffs enjoy sniffing for food and goodies. So, you can keep your pet entertained and active by using built-in games like a treat dispenser.

Place the food games all around the house before you leave for work. Try to vary things up a little, so it doesn’t become a habit, and your mastiffs will spend the day sniffing out tasty treats.

Keep them engaged with toys:

One thing dogs love the most is playing. Your mastiff can literally play for the whole day with its favorite toy. By giving your dog various toys, you can also help your dog to burn off its excess energy. As a result, with the help of toys, you can keep them occupied all day long.

How to train a mastiff to stay alone at home?

Mastiffs are quite clingy to their owners. They might develop separation anxiety if not given sufficient mental stimulation and exercise before leaving them alone at home. So, you should train a mastiff properly to stay alone at home without any issue.

You should prepare your mastiff to stay alone at home by leaving him alone for 5 to 10 minutes at first. Increase the time from 10 minutes to 15 minutes and so on. Carry on with this routine, increasing the time gradually.

By doing so, you can accustom your dog to spending time alone.

When can my mastiff be left alone all day?

A mastiff can be left alone all day when it becomes an adult. You can leave your mastiff of above 18 months alone for up to 8 hours each day. In addition to that, an elderly mastiff can be left alone for 2 to 6 hours.

Do mastiffs get lonely?

Mastiffs love the company of their owners and family members. They can get lonely if they stay alone for an extended period of time without any human contact and attention. Out of loneliness, they can get sad and anxious and can even develop destructive behavior.

Do mastiffs have separation anxiety?

Mastiffs will have separation anxiety when they are left alone for too long. It is a serious behavioral problem, due to which your mastiff will be unwilling to remain alone.

When your furry friend has separation anxiety, It will pull your legs over you and cuddle you to prevent you from leaving.

How do I stop my mastiff’s separation anxiety?

You should make your office routine as simple as possible to stop your mastiffs’ separation anxiety. To prevent your dog from getting anxious about separation, be careful when it is time to say goodbye and give proper affection.

You can also improve your mastiff’s mood by going for a walk before going to work.

Can you fly with a mastiff?

You can usually fly with a mastiff. However, since Mastiff is a pretty large dog, it can’t travel with you in the cabin. Your dog will have to fly in the cargo hold, along with luggage and other items.

Final Thought:

Mastiffs are independent and well-behaved when they receive adequate exercise and love. So, you can leave a healthy mastiff alone during your working hours. However, you should give proper training before keeping it alone to prevent it from developing separation anxiety.