Lhasa Apso anxious after rabbit companion died

Losing a bonded companion — even across species — can genuinely unsettle a dog in a way that looks a lot like separation anxiety, because in a sense it is: your Lhasa Apso has lost the constant presence they relied on, and now being left alone feels unfamiliar and unsafe. Separation anxiety in this form is distressing for both of you, and while products can genuinely help take the edge off, they work best alongside some gentle behavioural work to rebuild your dog's confidence about being alone. Before I suggest anything, can you tell me a bit more? How unsettled is she when you leave — whining and pacing, or something more intense like destructive behaviour or not settling at all? How long has it been since the rabbit passed? And have you tried anything so far, even just adjusting your routine?

What you're describing makes complete sense. Mochi has never experienced being the only animal in the house, so Biscuit's absence has changed her environment at a fundamental level — not just emotionally but in terms of the ambient sounds, smells, and the simple reassurance of another creature being present. The good news is that six weeks in, with moderate distress rather than full panic, she's a strong candidate for a pheromone diffuser. My recommendation is the Adaptil Calm Home Diffuser. It releases a synthetic version of the calming pheromone mother dogs produce with their puppies, and it works continuously in the background — you just plug it in where Mochi spends most of her time. It won't replace Biscuit or fix the grief overnight, but it meaningfully lowers baseline anxiety, which makes the alone-time training much more likely to stick. One thing: are you home most of the day, or are you out for longer stretches? That'll affect how I'd suggest you use it alongside a routine adjustment.

That's actually a really workable situation. The diffuser will help on a daily basis — keeping her calmer even on the days you're home, which rebuilds her baseline. For Fridays specifically, I'd plug the diffuser in the room she settles in and make sure it's been running for at least a week before you start expecting a big difference, as it takes a few days to reach full effect. Pair it with very low-key departures and arrivals — no long goodbyes, no fuss when you return — so she stops reading your exit as an event. Leave something with your scent, like a worn jumper in her bed. The combination of the diffuser and those small routine tweaks should noticeably reduce the pacing and barking within two to three weeks. If it hasn't improved at all after a month, that's when I'd suggest a chat with your vet about whether there's more going on. But honestly, for a dog like Mochi — settled background, moderate distress, loving home — the diffuser is the right starting point.

One diffuser is enough for most homes — it covers roughly 50 to 70 square metres, so a flat or a couple of rooms in a house. Plug it in where she spends most of her alone time. Adaptil do make a collar that delivers pheromones continuously throughout the day, which some people use alongside the diffuser for extra coverage, especially if the dog moves around a lot. For Mochi's situation I'd start with just the diffuser — it's less fuss and gives you a clean baseline to judge whether it's working. The collars are more useful for dogs that travel, visit new places, or spend time at a sitter. Give the diffuser four weeks and see where you are.

It's not always complicated — sometimes it's a specific trigger, a clear level of distress, and a product that's well suited to both. Mochi sounds like a dog who's grieving in her own way and just needs a bit of support while she adjusts. The diffuser, the low-key routine around departures, and your own patience with her — that's genuinely a solid plan. I hope she settles back into herself soon.