Dogs That Can Be Left Alone

Most dogs dislike being alone for long stretches, but some cope better than others. The right choice depends on separation-anxiety risk, exercise, age, training and whether your routine gives the dog enough predictability.

Top Breed Matches

Mal-Shi

Small · Crossbred

1. Mal-Shi

Developed in Australia, The Mal-Shi is a Maltese crossed with a Shih Tzu, and it does exactly what you’d expect from that pairing.

Boston Terrier

Small · Purebred

2. Boston Terrier

Boston Terriers look like they’re permanently dressed for a black-tie event. The crisp markings, square build and alert expression give them the air of a small dog expecting cocktails at any moment.

Pomapoo

Small · Crossbred

3. Pomapoo

The Pomapoo is a Pomeranian crossed with a Toy Poodle, and the combination produces a small, fluffy, alert dog that inherits the Pomeranian's confidence and the Poodle's intelligence in a low-shedding package.

Pomeranian

Small · Purebred

4. Pomeranian

The Pomeranian started life as a much larger Spitz working dog from the Arctic and Iceland, then got progressively shrunk by selective breeding, most famously under Queen Victoria, into the 1–3 kg version we s…

Greyhound

Large · Purebred

5. Greyhound

The Greyhound is a 40 kg couch potato wrapped in silk pyjamas and built like a piece of aerodynamic engineering.

Lhasa Apso

Small · Purebred

6. Lhasa Apso

The Lhasa Apso has been guarding Tibetan monasteries for over a thousand years, and it still carries itself that way.

Lwchen

Small · Purebred

7. Lwchen

The Löwchen — “Little Lion Dog” — has been a companion to European nobility since the Renaissance, often depicted in paintings beside their owners in that unmistakable lion clip. They weren’t just decorative.

Silky Terrier

Small · Purebred

8. Silky Terrier

The Silky Terrier is an Australian breed developed in Sydney in the late nineteenth century from a cross between the Australian Terrier and the Yorkshire Terrier.

Affenpinscher

Small · Purebred

9. Affenpinscher

Meet the “Monkey Dog.” The nickname comes from the German Affen (ape or monkey) and Pinscher (a terrier-type dog), and one look at their face explains the rest.

Dachshund

Medium · Purebred

10. Dachshund

Everyone calls them “sausage dogs,” or "wiener dogs" usually with a laugh, as if the shape is a joke. The Dachshund disagrees.

Dandie Dinmont Terrier

Small · Purebred

11. Dandie Dinmont Terrier

Looking like a walking moustache with legs and a gravity-defying topknot, the Dandie Dinmont is one of the more eccentric creations in the terrier world.

Basset Hound

Large · Purebred

12. Basset Hound

The Basset Hound was built to trail scent through the dense undergrowth of French countryside, and every square centimetre of the dog reflects that job.

How These Breeds Were Chosen

  • Lower separation-anxiety risk
  • Moderate energy needs
  • Independent temperament
  • A routine that avoids excessive isolation

Common Questions

Can any dog be left alone all day?

Regular full-day isolation is hard on most dogs and should be planned around walks, enrichment or support.

Are independent dogs unaffectionate?

No. Independent dogs can still be affectionate; they may simply cope better without constant contact.

Does crate training solve separation anxiety?

Crates can help some dogs feel secure, but they do not fix panic or unmet needs by themselves.