A quiet dog is not necessarily a relaxed dog. Some bark or destroy things; others spend hours staring at the door, panting or unable to lie down. Film practice sessions and note the first sign of tension.
Build seconds before minutes
First practise short separations while you are still at home. Return before distress and vary easy and slightly longer repetitions. Food only helps if your dog is relaxed enough to eat it. Arrange a sitter or daycare until training reaches the time you need.
Realistic limits
LICG advises that an adult dog should not routinely be left for a full working day; roughly four to at most six hours is an upper limit, not a daily target. Puppies need much more frequent care. Never punish damage after returning and seek veterinary and qualified behavioural help for panic or self-injury.
