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Why does my dog freak out when I leave? Is it separation anxiety?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Female | unspayed | 8 years and 9 months old | 50 lbs

My 9 yr catahoula heeler mix got into a bad fight with one of my other dogs.She was missing for almost2 weeks.Shecame home but if she isn't w/me at all times she starts breathing real hard&my daughter says she screams.she's always been an outside dog. hasn't been tied up.But I can't leave the house or she freaks out. What is going on&what can I do?She went through a glass window the other day and today I had to leave so I tied her up & when I got hope she had broken loose from the tie down. Help

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on March 10th, 2020

It sounds like Carley is suffering from separation anxiety. I recommend crating her when you are gone. The crate will provide her a small space where she can feel safe in it when you are gone. You will have to slowly train her to get used to a crate. Start putting her in it when you are home and sitting nearby so she doesn't think you are abandoning her, and slowly increase the time she is in it. She can have toys in the crate, and puzzle toys with treats in it that she has to figure out how to get the treats out. You can put a tablespoon of peanut butter in a Kong toy and freeze it in the freezer overnight, then give it to her in the crate. That will keep her occupied for a while. Finally, you can get a pheromone diffuser called DAP that helps dogs with anxiety and pair that with a DAP pheromone collar that releases pheromones when in contact with her skin. If these methods do not help her, then I recommend having her seen by a vet to discuss the use of anti-anxiety medications.

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