thanks for all the tips.

Decided that he'll go to my mother in laws tonight as even if we are only an hour then that is too long for his first time.

I'm back to work tomorrow but the OH is off work so as of tomorrow he'll start his little 20-30 minute stints alone and build up slowly.

He's a pretty good dog and adjusts/picks things up quite quickly so i reckon he'll soon be used to it.