We lost one dog, need help settling other dog when alone

[JennymcD]

We recently lost one of our dogs, my other dog is 2 and has never known a life alone. We have left him for short periods of time in the house alone which went ok, but since losing our other dog. Ralph is on edge now. Every move we make he is up and watching. Every time we leave (for no matter how long) he barks and howls. Won’t settle and on our return he is panting and drooling. And shattered!
its breaking my heart. We have to go back to work next week (away 5-6 hours during the day) I don’t know how to help Him.
I know it will take time but I don’t want him to get worse but we have no choice but to return to work as normal next week
if anyone has been in a similar situation or has any advice / tips. We would be very grateful
thank you

Oh poor dog losing his friend, and poor you. Could you send him to a doggy daycare or have a Walker take him out so he’s not alone as long?
I leave Radio 4 on fairly loud to mask street/ neighbour sounds and sometimes leave him with a low fat cottage cheese filled frozen kong, as that will distract him for a while after I leave.
Perhaps you could try training him to be left as you would a puppy, by leaving for short periods regularly and building them up so he understands that when you leave you will come back?

How close are you to the neighbours? If he’s going to howl for the entire 6 hours you’re out, you may have to look into daycare or something. I’m not sure what to suggest if building up time away isn’t working, I’m assuming kongs etc will not keep them occupied for long? Maybe an absolute monster of a walk before every shift. I do have this worry with my dogs. I’ve got a 3yo who’s always been with my now 9yo. I know she will not cope when he passes away. She’s his literal shadow. She won’t leave the room he’s in. Is another dog an option at some point?

i wish I could bring myself to have another dog but we went through quite a traumatic loss with this one and I can’t do anything like that ever again , as much I love having dogs in my life.
im going to speak to a few local dog day care / dog walker etc. but he is quite a nervous timid dog anyway, and I’m not sure he will get in with the other dogs.
neighbours - one is aware of our situation so I’ve pre warned them regarding the howling. But we arnt close enough to let them into our home etc.
toys / bones are my next call but until he settles a little I don’t think he is going to show any interest 😣😣
we knew this would be a situation at some point but we didn’t so expect it so soon.
our dog that passed was only 3

5 or 6 hours is a really long time for any dog, let alone a bereaved one. Definitely doggy day care or a bit more companionship during the day.

I’d get one of those pet cams that you can talk through. At least you can keep an eye on him then