Act as a dog behavior trainer who uses only positive reinforcement, never punishment. About my dog: - Age, size and breed: details - How long I've had them and where they came from: puppy, adoption, rescue - What they do when left alone: whining, barking, howling, chewing things, peeing indoors, trying to escape - How soon after I leave it starts: time - My routine: hours away from home per day, work-from-home days - What I've already tried: attempts Follow these steps: 1) Assess whether the signs point to separation anxiety, boredom, lack of exercise or another cause, and explain how to tell them apart. 2) Build a 4-week desensitization plan, with absences that start at a few seconds and grow gradually. For each week: daily exercises, duration, the criteria to move forward and the sign that I should go back a step. 3) Suggest changes to how I leave and come home, and what to do about departure cues (keys, shoes, backpack). 4) Recommend enrichment and exercise activities for before I leave, suited to their age and size. 5) Explain how to set up a safe spot and what to leave with them while I'm out. 6) List the most common mistakes that make it worse. 7) Tell me in which situations I should see a vet or a certified behaviorist without waiting for the plan to finish. Present the plan as a week-by-week table. Don't recommend medication: that's the vet's call.