I wonder if anyone has any advice. We have a 9 month old lab called Poppy. She is left on her own once every 2 weeks for about 7 hours, and for 3 hours twice a week. We have a pet sitter that comes in half way through the day and takes her for a walk and gives her some attention. She is left in the garage which has a dog flap to the garden and so has the run of outside as well as a warm inside (garage has light and heater, sofa, carpet - basically like a front room). However, she seems to spend most of the time barking or howling, or destroying everything in the garden or worse still scratching at the french windows - she's damaged the pvc handles and scratched the actual windows!! She has also eaten a few of the plants - vet has checked her out and all is fine. She doesn't display any of this behaviour when we are at home, but everytime we leave her, she goes mad. Can anyone help - please!!

You need to get her used to being comfortable with being left for short periods when you are around.  Use baby gates to confine her to another room for a few minutes at a time,  Do not return to her until she is settled, so make the absenses short and when she is resting.  Build the time up gradually.

Also many dog get upset with the leaving routine.  so go through the routine of puttin her into her place getting ready and then simply don't leave and return to what you were all doing before.  Do this lots and she will cease to react to thesepreperations,a dn not be worked up when you actually do leave.