To be honest, I think the best thing would to bring her inside. Even if it's just for night time, laying on the floor by your parent's bedside. Dogs are pack animals and strive on being a part of the pack. Maggie, sadly - and i'm sorry, has lost her pack member and by the sounds of it, her pack leader.
I'm not sure why she's an outside only but, if possible, it may be what she needs. Even if she loves it outside, and i'm sure she does, she is now alone outside which is a big change from having someone for years.
My dogs are actually the same. I take all 3 for a walk, they walk fast and with confidence. If I take them soley, they get jumpy at the littlest sounds. They depend on eachother so much that they are lost without one another.
Hope you understand what i'm saying, didn't get a chance to read all the other replies so I'm sorry if I'm just repeating what someone else said.
Good luck to everyone involved!
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