Does a second dog help an anxious dog?

The problem of separation anxiety is regrettably common. Nearly one out of two dog owners report that their dogs currently, or sometime in the past, showed problematic agitation and anxiety when the owners left the home. A Popular Solution to the Problem is that a canine behavior specialist will offer is that this client should consider getting another dog to keep the first dog company. The rationale behind this is quite simple, if the dog is showing anxiety because he or she is feeling isolated and alone, then obviously simply providing them with a companion should relieve the loneliness and solve the problem. However, the difficulty with this solution is that little evidence shows that dogs are less anxious in a multi-dog household than being by themselves has appeared in the scientific literature. Actually there was a clear significant difference between whether or not dogs were living alone or in a multi-dog household — however it was not in the direction that traditional beliefs might predict. Thus contrary to expectations that a dog with a companion will be calmer, having another dog in the house seems to actually increase separation anxiety symptoms. They say, Since dogs under single-dog conditions show more resting and less vocalizations, we could not support the view that familiar conspecifics could facilitate coping with separation stress. Although further research is needed, our data suggest rather the opposite. Anxiety is greatest in the first hour after the owner leaves, but then seem to taper off over time.

Dogs are social creatures and are not designed to live by themselves, explains veterinary behaviour specialist Kersti Seksel. That doesn't necessarily mean they need a canine friend — humans count, too. As do other pets — anything from cats to goats. They like being in a group which is why they make good pets for humans because they like being with us, Dr Seksel says. People who own a dog with separation anxiety or other behavioural issues might think a second dog can help improve the situation, says Dr Seksel. The way I answer that is I think we need to resolve the problems of the first dog before we get a second, she says. Dog behaviourist Melissa Starling says it's difficult to say a blanket "yes" or "no" to whether a second dog can help with anxiety issues, because every dog is different. Separation anxiety can manifest in different ways and most of the cases I deal with, where dogs have been diagnosed with separation-related distress, that's just one aspect of a bigger problem. Dr Starling says a second dog won't address underlying issues, and may even make it worse.