A dog with separation anxiety experiences genuine distress associated with being separated from an attachment figure. This can look dramatic—persistent vocalisation, escape attempts or destruction—but some dogs show much quieter signs such as pacing, panting, remaining unusually still or refusing food.

Start socialising your puppy early with short, controlled and positive experiences. Introduce them gradually to the people, animals, sounds, surfaces, handling, transport and environments that may form part of adult life, while allowing them to observe or move away rather than forcing interaction.

Pet enrichment is the deliberate creation of opportunities for animals to express important natural behaviours and engage meaningfully with their environment. Depending on the species, that might involve foraging, sniffing, digging, climbing, hiding, chewing, hunting-like play, training, exploring, bathing, flying, social interaction or simply being able to choose where to rest.

Start puppy training as soon as your puppy comes home, using reward-based methods and short, manageable learning opportunities throughout everyday life. Reward behaviours you want to see again, prevent situations in which the puppy is likely to fail, and teach an appropriate alternative instead of relying on punishment.