My dog is anxious and clingy. Is it separation anxiety? How to help?

Question

I have a 4 year old black lab that we rescued about a year ago. He seems to still have quite a bit of anxiety even though he has calmed down a lot. He is very attached to me and will go so far as to wedge himself between me and the kitchen counters as I cook. Is there anything we can do to help him? I have seen that if a dog stands with their face to the wall it can indicate a health problem. Is this anything like that? Pet's info: Dog | Labrador Retriever | Male | neutered | 4 years and 7 months old

Emily Fukuzato, DVM · Accepted Answer

Hi. It sounds like sparky has more attachment syndrome/separation anxiety and attention seeking behavior rather then disease related to head-pressing (which is what you were referring to). I would be much less worried about an internal health issue and focus more on his behavior. You can try positive reinforcement for him when you are home and when you leave him alone so he knows you are coming back. You can reward him for good behavior that involves giving you a little bit of space when you need it - like in the kitchen. You can give him activities and things to do while you are home so he can be more self-entertained rather then all of his focus on you. You can also speak to his veterinarian about some medications that can help with anxiety and these types of behaviors if you are interested. Best of luck!

My dog is anxious and clingy. Is it separation anxiety? How to help?

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