Once lockdown is finally over and we humans go back to work, our poor dogs will be left feeling lonely and confused. They will have got used to having their ‘best friends’ around 24/7 and they are bound to miss all the extra attention, walks and cuddles that they have been getting for weeks.

Separation anxiety occurs when pets are separated from their owners for longer periods of time through the day and leaves the dog feeling distressed, which can lead to bad habits such as barking, howling, pacing, scratching doors, chewing furniture, excessive licking and increased heart and respiratory rates.

The lockdown has required most of us to be based at home for much longer periods than ever before. Many of us will have played more games and invented new creative ways to engage with our pets mentally, as well as physically, during this time. The end of lockdown will be a huge shock to our poor dogs and the last thing any of us want is for our pets to suffer indirectly because of the current situation. It has been hard enough for humans to understand the stress involved, but our ‘fur babies’ will be left wondering where all the attention has disappeared to.

Now we are hopefully nearing the end of lockdown, we should start preparing our pets for our return to work to enable them to cope better when we are not there all day, every day. Each day, spend some time away from your pets. Start with 30 minutes a few times a day, even if it's only a door or a child gate that separates you from your dog, then build up to an hour whilst you do some chores. Getting your dog into a more normal, structured routine now with set times for walks, exercise and quiet ‘alone’ time will help to make the transition back to normal life easier for your pet to cope with when you are back at work.

A younger pup may have more trouble adjusting because they have become so used to company in their short lives, this could lead to a bored dog becoming destructive as they try to find new ways to entertain themselves. Of course an older dog in a house full of children will probably be relieved to have a peaceful house back to themselves again! A cat, on the other hand, will be celebrating hours of uninterrupted sleep as calmness descends!

By setting a routine now we can all help our pets feel less anxious when life eventually returns to normal.