As coronavirus restrictions are gradually being lifted, more people are returning to work, or planning a return over the next few weeks.

During the lockdown many family pets have become used to constant companionship, unlimited attention and extended playtimes.

Dogs, in particular, will have benefited from the lockdown with extra long walks, even multiple daily walks with various family members.

Such things will shortly come to an abrupt end and be replaced with the early morning scramble to get to work, and long periods of solitude.

Many dogs suffer from separation anxiety, and you will need to seek advice from your vet or a dog trainer if the problem persists.

There are some things you can do to help your dog cope, though, such as:

â?¢When departing and returning, do so without any fuss - stay calm and relaxed, and refrain from hugging and petting your dog.

By consistently doing this you will teach your dog that leaving and returning are perfectly normal routines, and not something to get excited or anxious about.

â?¢Wake up earlier so that you can take your dog out on a long walk before he or she is left alone, and consider making breakfast the main meal of the day. Tired out and with a fully belly, your dog may then be happy to spend a few hours sleeping.

â?¢Leave some stimulating toys, such as Kongs, around the house and make sure your dog has something to chew on that isn’t your favourite slipper or chair-leg.

â?¢Switch on a radio or TV so that your dog can hear human voices and music.

â?¢And never scold your dog if he or she has had difficulty adjusting to their new routine, and has made a mess while you were out - just be patient.

By staying calm you will help your dog adjust.

A recent study in Sweden has confirmed that dogs have empathy and that if you are stressed or anxious there is a good chance that your dog will be too.

If you put a human or a dog in a scanner and try to make them sad, similar parts of their brains will light up.

Play a dog a recording of a human, or other dogs, and it will act to match their mood.

The more we study dogs the more we realise that they experience the world, in terms of emotion, very much as we do.

Whether Spotify, the music streaming service, has the answer to separation anxiety is open to question.

In conjunction with the RSPCA it has launched a podcast called ’My dog’s favourite podcast’, which is designed to soothe lonely dogs and help them relax when they’re left alone.

The podcast is full of ambient sounds like wind rustling through trees, and it uses well-known actors to voice positive and affirmative comments like ’I’d stay here and stroke you all day long if I could â?¦’.

The streaming service has also launched a pet playlist feature which generates tracks based on a user’s musical tastes and their dog’s personality.

Spotify’s research suggests that 71% of its users play music for their animals.

We’re pretty sure that Kovi, the one-year-old Slovakian hound, will like any music you choose to play for him because he’s such a people-pleaser.

He enjoys the company of other dogs, too.

He’s full of energy and so he’ll need an active, attentive home environment where his bubbly personality can be appreciated.

Please call the kennels on 851672, option one, if you would like to find out more about Kovi (and leave a message on the answer machine if there is no-one to answer straightaway).