My Lab mix has separation anxiety, but only when left outside?

Question

Hello, my 3 yr old Lab mix has severe separation anxiety, he follows us all around the house and never leave our side, he's very good when we leave him alone in the house when we go out, when I try to leave him alone in the back yard he starts whining and get very stressed out, I tried leaving him alone in the yard when he was younger and he always jump the fence, now that he's older I afraid that he might try it again, Please help, Regards Eunice. Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Male | 3 years and 4 months old | 81 lbs

Shaneez Wallani, DVM · Accepted Answer

Max may just be a dog who likes to be near you, or may be dealing with a medical issue or anxiety. There are many causes of anxiety, and it can at times be a complex condition to treat. However, there are many things that you can do to help alleviate stress and help your pup feel better. I would advise seeing your veterinarian to rule out any medical causes for Max’s behaviour first, and also make sure his environmental needs are being met. Consult a reputable dog trainer or veterinary behaviourist about the best way to do this, and visit the link below for tips on how to reduce separation anxiety http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=3144. Attending a training class and working on socialization overall can help redirect some of his nervous energy and build his confidence. In some cases dietary changes, supplements and/or medication may be recommended by your vet to help get Max feeling more confident and independent. Also look into Adaptil, a synthetic pheromone that is available in a diffuser and spray form that promotes calm feelings in dogs, and is great for use when there are changes in the home http://www.adaptil.com . I do not recommend that you leave him unattended outside, as you are correct that he may get out and injure himself, or worse. Try to make sure you are with him when he is outside, and make sure he is microchipped and wearing an ID tag at all times to help him get back to you if he ever gets lost. Good luck, and I hope things improve for you soon!

My Lab mix has separation anxiety, but only when left outside?

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