We have a two and half year old Labrador Retriever who in the past couple of weeks has become apprehensive about the first floor of our home. Sometimes we have to use a treat to get her to come inside to eat a meal after a walk. For the past couple of days, instead of eating her breakfast, she just goes upstairs and lays down next to me on the floor and goes back to sleep. She is very clingy to anyone who is home and tries to sneak out the door with anyone who is leaving the house. She is healthy, active, well behaved and we are concerned about her. When she is left at home alone, she goes up to sleep in our bedroom instead of sleeping in her bed on the first floor like she did three weeks ago.Any suggestions?
Optional Information: Type of Animal: Labrador Retriever Pet's Gender: female Pet's Age: 2.5 years Name of Dog: Indiana Already Tried: Have tried to spend more time with her. Both my husband and I let her sit on the sofa if we are sitting there - or we have taken to sitting on the floor to keep her company. She isn't shaking or nervous - but she seems to be apprehensive about something.
Hi, I'm Dr Steve. I agree that it sounds like your dog is apprehensive about something that is either new to the house , especially the first floor, or an event that may hav occurred on the first floor
How is she acting when she is outside?
Any suggestions? I can't think of anything that happened or is new to the house.
She is no different outside. Friendly. Likes dogs. Likes people.
Ok, in many situations, the upsetting event may have happened when you aeren't home . This event may also seem very minor to us, but it can be very traumatic to a dog.
Unfortunately often we never actually determine the upsetting event. There are medicines that canbe used to help reduce apprehension and anxity.
Well, a couple of weeks ago, our alarm turned on while she was home. Maybe that was it. We came right home after the service phoned us - she didn't seem upset at the time.
Do these types of behavior go away without medication?
THere are several porducts that contain Tryptophan which is a naturally occuring aminoo acid ans is very safe. It is given oncea day and is designed to beused relatively short term. ( like 5-7 dsys in as row.
Experience: I have 20 years of canine clinical and surgical experience