Disclaimer: this article contains affiliate links, and we may receive a commission on sales when you use those links, at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products we use and genuinely love.
A lot of dog owners are going back to work after a long period of working from home. Many of us have been home nearly 24/7 with our dogs, and in the case of mid-pandemic adoptions and “covid puppies,” many of these dogs have not been left home alone for a long period of time since being introduced to their new homes.
This leaves dog owners wondering if their dogs will really be okay being left home alone for the first time.
Naturally, at Lugaru K9 Training we are asked fairly frequently about ways to soothe dogs when leaving them home alone for the first time. Many pet parents want to know if leaving the TV on can help soothe their dog or make the transition to being home alone during the day easier on their new friend.
Do dogs like the TV left on?
Many dogs do enjoy the background noise that comes from leaving the TV on. Dogs are capable of seeing images on-screen in the same way humans are, and are generally smart enough to make sense of many images and sounds that come from the TV.
While many dogs seem to enjoy the sounds and images in a more passive way, some dogs actually will actively watch TV, at least for some time. In some cases, dogs will even prefer to hang out where the TV is, and some dogs will indeed watch the TV, going so far as sitting in front of the screen and responding to what happens on the screen.
When I was a child, I always thought it was so entertaining to see my dogs run up to the TV when a dog appeared on-screen, or tilt their head at the sound of a bark, whine or howl. In a lot of ways, watching their reactions was even more entertaining than the TV itself.
Determining how much a dog likes having the TV left on is a matter of the individual, a lot like people. If you see your dog looking directly at the TV screen or reacting to what’s going on on-screen, that’s a great indicator of your dog’s interest.
Is it okay for my dog to watch tv?
In a general sense, it is perfectly okay for dogs to watch TV. There is no real health risk associated with dogs being around a TV or even watching it directly.
That said, it’s a good idea to make sure your dog isn’t becoming a “couch potato” and spending too much time in one spot. Dogs do need a lot of exercise, often a whole lot more than most dog owners think.
It’s also generally advisable to make sure your dog is not sitting immediately in front of a bright screen for long periods of time, as this can cause issues with eyesight and sleep patterns just like it can in humans. Viewing from the couch, crate, or dog bed, however, is usually a non-issue.
If your dog gets amped up or overly-excited from images on the screen, it may be best to abandon the idea of TV while you’re not at home to monitor and respond to their behavior.
If your dog gets too excited from being able to see the TV when you’re not home, but you’re set on leaving something for them while you’re gone, there are other options. I’ve had clients that had success leaving on music, calming radio (NPR, or National Public Radio is popular to leave on for dogs, for example, due to the mellow tone of most of the programming), white noise YouTube videos, or audiobooks for their dogs.
You can also leave the TV on in a different room than your dog will be in, or out of direct eyesight of their crate. This can reduce the amount of stimulation while still having some white noise on in the background.
What kind of TV Do Dogs like to watch?
Dogs are always going to seem most interested in TV that mirrors their interests in the real-world. For many dogs, this means seeing and hearing other dogs, animals, and humans. You might see your dog head-tilt, approach the TV, or try to engage with the images when they see these kinds of images on the TV.
It can be difficult to find exactly these programs to leave on for your dog if that is your goal. This is because post programs on cable and streaming services are specifically made for humans, not dogs.
And even when you find a program that frequents the kind of content you’re looking for, most streaming apps meant for people will have an auto-message to make sure you want to keep playing after a number of episodes or a certain time period. This means that leaving Netflix or Hulu on for your dog will eventually lead to a confirmation screen, and the program will stop at a certain point while you’re gone.
For people looking for the kinds of TV programs that dogs tend to be most interested in, we tend to recommend DogTV. DogTV is a streaming service made specifically for dogs, and it’s a great option for dog lovers who want programming specifically for their pup. I’ve had clients who swear by DogTV for their dogs while they are left home alone during the day, and they have an absolutely massive library of content tailored to dogs of all types.
One of the best things about DogTV is they have different program lists for different needs. They have programs for:
- Stimulation: Playful and exciting content meant to entertain and engage dogs
- Relaxation: Calm and soothing scenes and sounds to help your dog relax (most helpful for including in a separation anxiety training plan)
- Exposure: Limited-exposure programs to help dogs get used to sights and sounds like doorbells and car rides
- MyDogTV: For the humans, video tutorials and helpful content featuring recipes, activities, and more
DogTV features tons of content for as low as only $6.99 per month, plus they have a 3-day free trial for new subscribers. You can click the banner below to learn more about DogTV directly from their website.
Does leaving the TV on help with separation anxiety?
Whether leaving the TV on helps with separation anxiety depends a lot on the dog.
The white noise from the TV can absolutely help drown out outside noises that dogs may get startled by or react to. There’s also value in this white noise from a desensitization perspective.
If your dog is particularly sensitive or interested in television, having the TV on may also help desensitize to sounds and triggers. It’s also great for socializing puppies to sights and sounds in a more indirect fashion. If you’re using the TV for desensitization purposes, however, it is best to use it exclusively when you can supervise your dog and respond appropriately to their reactions.
There are certainly trains of thought that include TV and other white noise as an aid to separation anxiety, and it can be an effective part of your training program, depending on the individual dog. If your dog seems to become overly-excited by sounds and images on the TV, it will actually be detrimental to your separation anxiety training to leave it on when you’re not home. If your dog has a more neutral reaction and shows that they can relax with the TV on while you’re home, there is no reason to write it off as one ingredient of your training plan.
That said, remember that leaving the TV on won’t cure separation anxiety on its own. Leaving the TV on may provide a helpful crutch to help you in your training, and if your dog is not elevated by the images or sounds, it can be a nice thing to do for your dog while you are away from home.
But if you need help with training separation anxiety for your dog, we have a free written resource with actionable advice for training separation anxiety in our article How to Fix Separation Anxiety For Good.
