The end of the school summer holidays and the start of the autumn term sees the return to ’normality’ for many families, with routines and activities structured around the school day.

A family’s pets are affected, too. They will have become used to constant companionship, unlimited attention and extended playtimes.

Such things have now come to an abrupt end and have been replaced with the early morning scramble to get to school and work, and long periods of solitude.

While cats and rabbits may be affected, this time of year can be particularly stressful for dogs.

Many dogs suffer from separation anxiety, and you will need to seek advice from your vet or a dog trainer if the problem persists.

There are some things you can do to help your dog cope, though, such as:

â?¢When departing and returning, do so without any fuss - stay calm and relaxed, and refrain from hugging and petting your dog.

By consistently doing this you will teach your dog that leaving and returning are perfectly normal routines, and not something to get excited or anxious about.

â?¢Wake up earlier so that you can take your dog out on a long walk before he or she is left alone, and consider making breakfast the main meal of the day.

Tired out and with a fully belly, your dog may then be happy to spend a few hours sleeping.

â?¢Leave some stimulating toys, such as Kongs, around the house and make sure your dog has something to chew on that isn’t your favourite slipper or chair-leg.

â?¢Switch on a radio or TV so that your dog can hear human voices and music.

â?¢When your children return from school, make it a specific routine that they spend time with their beloved pet as part of their unwinding time (rather than switching on a computer or turning on the TV).

â?¢And never scold your dog if he or she has had difficulty adjusting to their new routine, and has made a mess while you were out - just be patient.

By staying calm you will help your dog adjust.

A recent study in Sweden has confirmed that dogs have empathy and that if you are stressed or anxious there is a good chance that your dog will be too. If you put a human or a dog in a scanner and try to make them sad, similar parts of their brains will light up.

Play a dog a recording of a human, or other dogs, and it will act to match their mood.

The more we study dogs the more we realise that they experience the world, in terms of emotion, very much as we do.

What, then, must poor Toto make of the world, and what emotions has she had over the last few weeks?

If only she could talk.

This little dog was found wandering around behind the TT Grandstand during the Grand Prix practices, and despite lots of publicity on social media and announcements over the Tannoy, her owner did not come forward.

She’s a very sweet natured border terrier and we think she’s about 11 years old, but she wasn’t microchipped and so we can’t be sure.

She needs extensive (and expensive) dental treatment and so we will ensure this is done, along with her vaccinations and microchipping, before she goes to her new family. We have a short waiting list for small dogs like Toto, and so she has a loving new home ready and waiting for her.

If you would like to be placed on the waiting list for a small dog, please fill out a ’home finder questionnaire’ which you can find on the ManxSPCA’s website, or you can pick up one from Ard Jerkyll.