The shift to home working changed dog welfare patterns, with dogs adapted to owner presence potentially struggling as return-to-office arrangements create new separation challenges.
The work-from-home dog welfare story has an ironic arc: acquisition during the pandemic created constant-presence conditions predisposing to separation anxiety, followed by return-to-office conditions triggering it. Proactive independence training - scheduled daily absences even when owners are home - builds tolerance that prevents anxiety. Dogs whose owners invest in independence training during constant-access periods are better protected when circumstances change.