Don't leave! - Learning to be alone (again)

I'm not even going to mention the big global issue, we will just call it the Thing. Life is going to resume eventually after the Thing, and we will all slowly transition back into office life, running errands, attending our social engagements and generally living life to the full. Whilst most of us are excited for that prospect, we are currently deeply embroiled in routine changes, working-from-home, not working at all (for some of us!) and generally hanging out with our dogs for 23+ hours a day. This might seem like it would be lovely for our dogs, but they're also sensitive to routine changes and some may even find this difficult!

As our dogs settle into a routine where we are around all the time, they begin to become accustomed to all of this togetherness. Transitioning back into leaving them for periods of time is going to also require some work, and some preparing so that they don't think the sky has fallen down the first time we go back to work! Just because they coped well a few weeks ago, doesn't mean that they will slot right back into being okay with alone time. We need to help them get used to any routine change that we might bring into our lives.

Maintain some semblance of normality
Continue to leave them, even if for short periods.

• Bringing the bins out, 
• leaving them in the house whilst we hang out the washing, 
• hanging out for short periods in the bedroom with the door closed (and the dogs in the hall outside) can help maintain their coping skills with being alone. 

Even going through the motions of morning work routine; getting ready, grabbing keys, locking up and sitting in the car for 20 minutes with a good book and a coffee can help our dogs a lot (and gives you some routine to your day too!). Keep some level of alone time present in your cooped-up day. It's good to still be following our normal timetable, even if from the same place we sleep and wake in.

Haven't maintained a schedule? No problem
If you've been home for a couple of weeks already and haven't incorporated any practice of alone time, don't panic. We can begin now, and we can begin slowly. Build up your alone time in tiny time

increments.

Maybe you can leave them for 15 seconds before they fuss, or 30 seconds, maybe your dog is coping well and you can leave them for 5 minutes. Great!

Identify your dogs comfort zone with time alone, and we can slowly build on that. Try it indoors first. Have your dog doing something like chewing on a stuffed Kong or sniffing for kibble in the garden. Close the door and leave for a short period of time, in and around their comfort level, then return or open the door BEFORE your dog misses you or fusses. Over time you can gradually add to that, building on their ability to be alone. Try practicing your normal morning routine of leaving; see how well they do with it.

Oh no, my dog isn't coping with alone time; what do I do?!
If your dog had previously coped well with being alone, but is no longer coping or is displaying behaviour that seems stress related when left alone, contact a professional to help you and further advise on steps you can take to help build their comfort with you being gone.