Is Getting a Second Dog the Solution to Separation Anxiety?!
The idea of getting a second dog for your dog that struggles with separation anxiety can be really appealing. Wouldn’t it be great if that cured your dog’s stress when home without you?
Well, yes, I agree; it would be amazing. Here’s the thing, though: This is rarely a successful solution to helping your dog overcome separation anxiety.
Important Considerations
First, it’s impossible to know ahead of time if it will actually help.
If you borrow a dog to test how your dog does, that is only showing you a small piece of the bigger picture.
If it goes well, it could mean several different things:
- It could mean that your dog is comfortable with that specific dog. That comfort won’t necessarily transfer to a different dog.
- It could mean your dog did well that time, but that doesn’t mean it will always be that way. Once the novelty of a companion wears off, separation anxiety can return, even several months down the line.
Simply put, there are no guarantees, and there is no way to know with certainty if a second dog will help your dog cope with being at home alone. There is also a chance the new dog could develop separation anxiety if the dogs are left together and one is struggling.
Ask yourself this
I have always had multiple dogs myself, and I enjoy the dynamic of having a multi-dog household. It’s so fun!
So, I would encourage you to ask yourself, would you be considering a second dog if your current dog didn’t have separation anxiety?
If the answer is yes, I urge you to help your current dog overcome their separation anxiety first.
Book a FREE Discovery Call with me if you’d like more information about what goes into a separation anxiety training protocol!
