Alone is a skill she has to learn in slices
A young dog who has spent her whole life with people nearby does not understand that an empty house is safe; she only learns it from many short experiences where being alone was brief, boring and always ended with your ordinary return. Problems begin when owners jump from constant company to a three-hour absence because she seemed fine asleep on the sofa — asleep with you in the next room is not the same skill as waking to find the house empty. Every stage below should feel almost too easy before you move on.
Practise separations before you leave the house at all
Start by making your movements inside the home unremarkable. Step into another room and close the door for a few seconds while she has a chew, then return without ceremony. Pick up keys, put on shoes and a coat, then sit back down and make tea, so the leaving routine stops predicting departure. Leave a piece of worn clothing near her resting place, and reward calm behaviour when you reappear rather than launching a joyful reunion — your returns should be the least exciting part of her day.
Build the clock honestly, in small increments
Once indoor separations are dull, step outside for two minutes, then five, then ten, returning before she escalates rather than waiting out barking — coming back during a lull teaches her that quiet waiting works, while repeatedly returning to a frantic dog confirms her fear that something was wrong. A cheap camera or a phone call to a neighbour tells you what actually happens after the door closes; pacing, drooling and scratching at the door mean the step was too big, whatever she managed last time. Increase one variable at a time — duration or time of day, not both together.
Set up each absence to succeed
Leave her after a walk and a toilet opportunity, in the room where she already chooses to rest, with water, a safe chew she has had before, and curtains closed if passers-by trigger barking. A radio left at normal volume can soften sudden outside noises, but it is not a substitute for the gradual build-up. Never leave a young dog longer than she can comfortably hold her bladder, and arrange a midday visit from a neighbour or walker for any stretch approaching a full working day — bladder pressure alone can undo months of calm training.
Know the line between training and a problem needing help
Most young dogs progress steadily over a few weeks of patient increments. If she injures herself trying to escape, soils herself despite a recent toilet break, howls for most of every absence even at short durations, or her distress is worsening rather than easing, stop increasing the time and talk to your vet, who can check for pain or anxiety that needs proper support and may refer you to a qualified behaviour professional. Sharing the staged plan at home keeps progress intact, and KinsLe Care Teams lets you assign each practice absence and check-in visit to a family member and confirm it happened with a timestamp.