Back to Work with a Cavoodle: Preventing Separation Anxiety and Stress

If your Cavoodle has spent the holidays glued to your side, supervising every cup of tea, Zoom call, and couch cuddle… the return to “normal life” can feel a little dramatic. One minute they’re your full-time shadow, the next they’re feeling a bit of separation anxiety and wondering why you are suddenly leaving them. I know my girls Bambi & Daisy struggle when I have to get back to the busiest of running MyCavoodle.

Cavoodles are famously people-oriented and very used to being involved in everything you do. So when routines shift and the house suddenly goes quiet again, it’s completely normal 

But with a little planning, patience, and a few simple tweaks, you can help your fluffy bestie transition back to work-week life without the heartbreak (or the howling).

Here’s how to make the shift smoother for both of you.

Rebuilding Your Cavoodle’s Routine After the Holidays

During holidays and work-from-home stretches, routines often go out the window. Late nights, lazy mornings, extra treats, extra walks, extra cuddles. Lovely for us… slightly destabilising for a Cavoodle who thrives on predictability.

Start easing back into your regular schedule a week or two before the big return:

• Wake up and feed at your usual work-day times
• Re-introduce solo time in short blocks
• Walk at the times you’ll be out of the house

This helps your Cavoodle relearn that alone time is part of life and that you always come back.

Training Your Cavoodle to Be Alone Again

Instead of going from constant company to a full 8-hour workday, practise leaving in small, positive doses.

Pop out to the shops. Take a short walk. Sit in another room with the door closed. Let them experience separations that end quickly and calmly.

No big emotional goodbyes. No dramatic returns. Just normal, boring comings and goings that say: “This is safe. This is routine. This is okay.”

Creating a Safe Space When You’re at Work

When you’re not home, your Cavoodle should have a space that feels secure, cosy, and full of familiar scents. Try these:

• Their bed or crate in a quiet area
• A worn t-shirt of yours
• Favourite soft toys
• Gentle background noise (radio or TV)

This becomes their “safe den” where they can relax rather than stress-wait by the door.

Enrichment Activities to Prevent Boredom

A tired Cavoodle is a content Cavoodle. Mental stimulation can work wonders for dogs adjusting to being alone again:

• Lick mats
• Puzzle feeders
• Frozen Kongs
• Snuffle mats (like this one) 
• Long-lasting chews

Give these right as you leave so your departure is associated with something positive and distracting, not heartbreaking.

Don’t Accidentally Reward Clinginess 

It’s tempting to shower extra affection on a sad-looking Cavoodle, but too much fuss around anxious behaviour can accidentally reinforce it. (That’s the mum guilt kicking in too). Instead, reward calm independence.

Praise and treat when they settle. When they choose their bed. When they relax instead of shadowing you from room to room. You’re teaching them: “You’re safe, even when I’m not right beside you.”

When to Consider Doggy Daycare or a Dog Sitter

Some Cavoodles genuinely struggle with long days alone, especially after weeks of constant company. A few options to ease the transition:

• One or two days of doggy daycare per week
• A dog walker or sitter popping in at lunchtime
• A trusted neighbour for a short play or cuddle break

It breaks up the day and gives them something to look forward to.

Signs of Separation Anxiety in Cavoodles

A little sulking or extra clinginess is normal, especially for oodles. But keep an eye out for:

• Destructive behaviour
• Excessive barking or howling
• Toileting indoors
• Loss of appetite
• Pacing or drooling

If these appear, your Cavoodle may be experiencing separation anxiety rather than simple adjustment blues, and a trainer or vet behaviourist can help you create a tailored plan.

How to Handle Departures and Reunions

You’ve missed them. They’ve missed you. The reunion is adorable… but try to keep it calm and low-key.

Wait until your Cavoodle settles before the big cuddle party. This teaches them that arrivals and departures are just part of life, not emotional rollercoasters. (You can absolutely sneak in the extra snuggles five minutes later.)

So if you are heading back to the office, helping your Cavoodle feel safe when you go back to work is one of the most effective ways to prevent separation anxiety and build long-term confidence.