The summer holidays are a wonderful time for our pets. They enjoy a full house, kids running around, and endless attention throughout the day. When the school term starts and the adults head back to work, the sudden quiet and empty house can be a major shock to their routine. This abrupt change often leads to a common behavioural issue known as separation anxiety.

Dogs are highly social pack animals and naturally prefer company, while many cats also form strong attachments to their daily human interactions. Being left entirely alone for eight hours a day requires a significant adjustment. Our guide will help you spot the signs of distress and provide actionable steps to make the back-to-school transition much easier for your furry family members.

Recognising the Signs of Pet Anxiety

Pets cannot tell us they are feeling stressed, so they show it through their behaviour. The signs of separation anxiety usually start as soon as you prepare to leave the house, or within the first thirty minutes of their isolation.

Look out for these common indicators

• Destructive chewing on furniture, shoes, or door frames
• Excessive barking, howling, or crying while you are gone
• Scratching or digging at doors and windows to escape
• Suddenly toileting inside the house despite being fully trained
• Pacing, panting, or trembling as you get ready to leave
• Over-grooming or excessive licking, particularly in cats

How to Ease the Back to School Transition

Handling this change requires a bit of preparation. The goal is to build their confidence and show them that being alone is safe and temporary.

Start the New Routine Early

Do not wait until the first morning of school to change your pet’s schedule. A few days beforehand, start waking up, feeding, and walking your pet at the times you will during the school term. This helps their internal body clock adjust before the house actually empties out.

Practice Short Absences

Help your pet build tolerance to being alone by practicing short departures. Leave the house for five minutes, then return and reward calm behaviour. Gradually increase this time to twenty minutes, then an hour. This teaches them that you will always come back.

Keep Departures and Arrivals Calm

Making a big emotional fuss when you leave or return validates your pet’s feeling that your absence is a major event. Try to ignore your pet for the first few minutes after you get home until they have settled down. A calm, low-key greeting helps normalise the process of people coming and going.

Keeping Them Busy During the Day

Boredom makes anxiety much worse. Providing mental stimulation gives your pet a job to do while you are away, keeping their mind off the empty house.

Ditch the standard food bowl and use interactive puzzle feeders instead. KONG toys stuffed with dog-safe peanut butter and frozen overnight can keep a dog occupied for hours. For cats, try hiding small portions of their dry food around the house so they have to hunt for their meals. Leaving a radio or television playing softly in the background can also break up the silent house and provide comforting white noise.