Many owners have been spending much more time with their pets these last few months. Many pets will have been lapping up all the extra attention, photo bombing zoom meetings and for the dogs, loving the extra exercise as frustrated owners enjoy an excuse to get outside.

But what happens when normality resumes? When owners are back at work, kids are back at school and dog walks are back to a quick whizz around the block. Older dogs may reluctantly return to their pre-Covid routine, but for puppies who have only known constant companionship and unfettered attention, it could be a serious shock to the system.

Separation anxiety is the term given to the significant distress a pet, usually a dog, displays when its owner is not around. Some dogs will bark and howl when left, others will toilet in the house or become destructive. However, there are a few things you can do with puppies to get them used to being comfortable on their own.

Have a consistent area in the house where they can be left happily. It’s fine to use a crate or kitchen area if they are used to sleeping there, but if not, they may associate it with isolation, which may increase their anxiety when they’re left.

Get them used to the idea of not always being with their owner

Consider using stair gates to keep puppies in specific areas of the house. The puppy can still see beyond the stair gate so it’s not as scary as a solid door, and allows you to keep an eye on what your puppy is doing. Restricting them to certain areas of the house also gets them used to the idea of not always being with their owner, which can help when you have to leave them alone.

When the time comes to leave a puppy, try giving them an old t-shirt or item of clothing as a comforter. Leave the radio on as background noise and start with short trips to build confidence so your puppy doesn’t feel like it is being abandoned for hours at a time. Leave suitable toys or treats to entertain them and make sure they get an appropriate amount of exercise before they are left so they’re less likely to be bored or frustrated.

If you’re struggling with an anxious puppy, speak to your vet about what else you can try. If you’re a cat owner, don’t be offended if the cat is secretly happy to have the house back to itself!