Barking when left

[ThisIsNotAIBUPeople]

Me again! Sorry I have a feeling I'm going to be at on here asking lots of questions for the next few weeks... This is a bit long
So rescue dog came on Sat. He's doing amazingly well given the very short time he's been with us. Done all his wees and poos outside, slept in his own bed last night, been on a few walks, learning not to be glued to me 100% of the time.
He does seen to have bonded with me in particular and as I am at home 3 days a week it's understandable. He whimpers a bit if I go upstairs (which I ignore) but fine if I'm in another room downstairs.
Today I left him for 20 minutes to go on the school run, when I got back he was barking, loud enough to heard as we got out of the car. I'm really panicking as I have to go to work on Thurs and Fri and he will be left between 8.30 and 10 (my Dad will walk him) 10.30 and 12 (I'll come home in my lunch hour) and 1-3.45 when I come home from work.
I'm so worried he will bark the whole time he's left and that this could become full blown separation anxiety. The foster lady told me he could be left with no issues for a few hours at a time but obviously he's in a whole new environment and learning a whole new set of rules and routines.
If you've made it through this post, thank you! And any advice or suggestions to make this work very gratefully received.

@Wolfiefan thank you, honestly I think that's what I needed to hear right now, and what my gut feeling is telling me, to give him the reassurance he needs right now and give him time to settle. I love him and just want to do the right thing by him.

@alwayscauseastir that's a really good idea.

Oh bless you. It does take time. He sounds like he’s lucky to have found you.

Thank you. This is him snuggled up next to me. He's so lovely.

OK. I've done a lot of reading, joined the facebook group recommended by missbattenburg, and roped in my mum and dad to have him when I go to work. This morning they came up and stayed with him in my house while I did the school run, he was absolutely fine with them and had lots of cuddles so I think its just being left completely alone that is too much too soon.
I've decided to try and work in desensitisation on the stairs. I've just spent a thrilling couple of minutes opening the stair gate, standing in the first step then going back through and shutting it. He showed no signs of distress, just stood watching me and wagging his tail (probably thinking what you doing crazy hooman). Will try and repeat at intervals then slowly progress up the stairs one at a time.
I don't really feel like I know what I'm doing but on the other hand its got to be worth a try.
@Wolfiefan @missbattenburg @Veterinari I don't usually tag people as its a bit annoying isnt it?! Feel free to ignore. But if you have any further insights or advice I'd be really grateful, thank you😊

No worries about tagging - it helps distract me from work

This all sounds brill, to me and the work to desens. the stairs sounds perfect.

When he stops watching you and wagging his tail and instead just goes and lies down because watching you take 3 steps and come back is dull, dull, dull - that's when you know you've really cracked it :)

The thing I always try to remember about dog training is - the magic happens when nothing at all seems to be happening. For 99% of it you feel like a fraud because you're doing things that don't make an immediate impact. Dogs learn best through multiple, small iterations of behaviour. There are very few eureka moments and instead there is slow improvement by tiny degrees.

@missbattenburg thank you so very much for your speedy reply, it means so much to me to have some online support, I've honestly felt like I'm losing my mind the last few days! I will persevere, I feel a little bit more that I know what I am doing, and my parents are being amazing in their support (they've fallen under his spell too) He learns fast so I'm confident we'll get there eventually. Thanks again.

You will get there. You have support and you love this dog and have a clear plan. It’s not annoying being tagged when it’s something you really care about. And I remember honestly feeling lost and very slightly deranged. Now madam tends to sigh if we disturb her repose with our noise! Whereas before she needed to be touching us.

@Wolfiefan thank you so much for your support and understanding

It’s fine. You can pay it back when I get pup number two.

@Wolfiefan oh my! When's that happening?

I must be mad! We are waiting to here if there’s a litter born this month that might have a pup for me.

Ah that's lovely, you will be amazing with a pup, I hope all goes well

I’m already on Prozac. That’ll help. Wolfie girl is now three. Time for a pal!

Have you thought about getting a camera? we had one when we first got our rescue dog. It was app based so we would leave the house and return after a few minutes watching the dog the whole time on the camera. It took a while but we did the same routine for her each time and left the T.V on for her and she calmed down after a while. I should say that we once saw her rip the blinds off the window at some point.

I think most people who rehome a dog or even people who get puppies have an "oh shit, what have I done" moment

I had neighbours whose dog barked its head off all day long (they both worked) and it drove me potty! Nice dog, terrible owners.

Wolfie ha ha maybe I'll get me some prozac too Would love to hear how its going when you bring him/her home.
DeepfriedPizza yes I think I might well get a camera to see how things are once he's eventually ready to be left. Most definitely had the oh shit what have I done moments! This too will pass... This thread has helped a great deal.

@ThisIsNotAIBUPeople
Well done on starting the desensitisation. Try and give him some thing nice to distract him too - have a look at lick mats on Amazon.

These Dogs Trust videos are great
www.dogstrustdogschool.org.uk/training/i-want-to-train-my-dog/training-videos/
Have a look at the teach your dog to settle down one. Using a settle mat can be a really useful tool to ‘trigger’ calm behaviour once the dog is trained to it.

The desensitisation worked for our third-hand dog who had separation anxiety. From my reading, if you've got them in their own for up to an hour, you've cracked it.

We used to use our phones on Skype, and leave one in the house, and turn the other on silent (so she couldn't hear us!) and go and sit in the car as we built up the time alone.

Now our working patterns have changed, she's at home a bit more than we'd like (still under 5 hours) so we bought a camera we can both check in on via an app.

It's from Currys, I'll find it a minute.

www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/smart-tech/smart-tech/smart-home/smart-security-and-cctv/tp-link-kasa-spot-kc100-full-hd-1080p-wifi-security-camera-10195982-pdt.html

Veterinari and TwattingDog (great username!) thanks so much. I'll have a look at licky mats and the camera.

As an aside, does anyone know if nibbling at fur is normal? Or an attempt to self soothe?

Nibbling as far as I know can be a stress thing but it could also be a parasite or even an allergy.

Thanks DeepfriedPizza I'll ask the vet when I get him registered there, he seems to do it before he settles down for a snooze so I imagine its a comfort thing.

If it’s prior to settling then yes likely self-soothing.

Update, today went well with my mum and dad having the dog, he went down to their house for a couple of hours then they brought him back to ours, they said he was fine at theirs but as soon as he came back here he really seemed happy to be back, so that's good. I feel with their support and lots of time I can get this cracked, thanks everyone for all the advice.