Does Leaving the TV on for My Puppy Help Him?

Although bringing a puppy home can be exciting, you most likely won't be able to be with him 24/7. Demands of everyday life come into play and you might have to leave your furry pal home alone for several hours at a time. Leaving the television on for your puppy might seem like a form of entertainment, but can sometimes have an adverse affect. With some trials and tribulations, you can determine what your puppy's preference is.

  1. Sight and Hearing

    • By the time your puppy reaches the age of 5 weeks old, his sight and hearing are fully developed. If you leave the television on for him while you're away, he might not show any interest in it. This can be because he doesn't see vibrant colors like red, yellow and orange, he sees colors in muted shades of grayish-green. Additionally, his hearing is about four times more sensitive than human hearing, and sudden, loud television advertisements or noisy programming can be irritating and unsettling.

    Anxiety

    • If your furry pal profusely cries, barks, digs or chews while you're away, anxiety might get the better of him. Leaving the television on can be beneficial as long as it's used as a safety cue that indicates that you'll be back. Before leaving the house, turn the television on for some soft, background sounds. When you return, turn the television off. With consistency, your puppy will associate the television with your exit and return and might get less stressed when he's alone.

    Preference Test

    • To determine whether having the television on is beneficial when you're not around, observe your puppy's reaction. If he hides or goes to another room when you turn the television on, it might indicate he dislikes the noise. If he sits near the television or moves closer to it, he might like having it on. Rather than turning on a station that plays hard rock or heavy metal music, opt for classical music or turn on programming that you watch when you're at home for a soothing, calming effect. You can even get DOGTV, a television channel that features around-the-clock, stimulating, relaxing and entertaining segments created especially for dogs.

    Other Alternatives

    • If you don't want to leave the television on, but still want to break the sound of silence while your pet companion is home alone, turn on a radio or use a stereo system to play soothing music. Ideally, use a timer so the sound goes off after about one hour, because listening to music for hours at a time without being able to turn it off can become a nuisance rather than have a soothing effect. White noise, such as that of an out-of-reach, active fan or a trickling water fountain, can also be soothing.