A new puppy at home brings happiness and joy, but sooner or later you will have to leave him home alone. This separation anxiety can cause your pup great mental anguish, so it’s very important to slowly get your new friend used to the realities of life. Animals display a wide range of emotions, and unlike dealing with a human, we cannot reason with them through language. Leaving a new puppy alone can leave her feeling desperately abandoned, creating fear and mistrust, so be sure to take steps to slowly introduce her to independence from her.

1. Start with a short-term separation period of thirty to sixty minutes. Although this may seem like a blink of an eye to us, for a puppy, this period of time is enormous. Speak in a soothing tone and lock him in the house alone for less than an hour. When he gets the idea that you’re always coming back, lengthen the time apart until he can relax. Work schedules and emergencies can warrant leaving you for eight hours or more, and you need to make sure the pup has taken all the necessary steps to reach this goal.

2. The new puppy gains confidence when he hears the sounds of human voices. For your initial short-term breakups, leave the radio or TV on to keep you company. The sounds of the media do not replace the person he loves, but the voices distract him from his loneliness.

3. To deflect his grumpy attitude, make sure his favorite toys and snacks are within reach. Creating his own activities with a ball or chew toy does wonders for calming and quieting a frightened pup and he can bide his time on his own terms until you come home.

4. Remind your pup that when he has to go, it’s no big deal. If you play the situation with a very nervous tone in your voice, the puppy will get the idea that leaving him is a bad thing. Rather, he must learn that people have things to do and places to go that don’t include him and that you need to return before his next meal. Greet him warmly when you open the door, but if you’re always playing the drama queen, separation anxiety can get worse.

5. If you must leave your pup after dark, be sure to leave a small light on or plug in a nightlight. The dark room may encourage him to nap, but total darkness can be stressful for a baby puppy. A room with a light is enough to keep you quiet until you get home.