Your Dog and the Return to the Office

The quiet cost of a changed routine

Dogs who grew used to someone always home can find a sudden empty house genuinely distressing. Separation-related behaviour — barking, pacing, chewing, accidents — isn't spite or boredom alone; for many dogs it's real anxiety at being left. Preventing it is far easier than curing it.

Practise absences before they're real

Don't go from all-day company to eight hours away overnight. Rehearse short departures — minutes at first — and build up gradually, keeping arrivals and departures calm and low-key. A dog who learns that you always come back settles far more easily.

Set them up to cope

A good walk before you leave, a long-lasting chew or food puzzle to greet the quiet, and a comfortable, safe resting spot all help. Some dogs relax with background sound. The goal is a dog who's tired, occupied and secure rather than watching the door.

Get help early if it's real distress

If your dog panics, destroys things, or soils only when alone despite a gradual build-up, that's separation anxiety — a treatable condition, but one that rarely fixes itself. A reward-based behaviourist and your vet can help. Dog walkers, daycare or a sitter can bridge the longer days meanwhile.