Can getting a second dog help stop separation anxiety in the first one?
fourzenuff asked:
My dog at the moment is only 5 months old. He is wonderful and I, being a stay at home mom, normally take him almost everywhere I go. But there are obviously times when he needs to stay home for a couple hours by himself. This is when he gets destructive. Not real bad but as he gets older it could get worse. Do you think getting another dog could help this? I’ve always had more than one dog at a time. This is actually the first time I’ve had only one. I’ve never had to deal with separation anxiety in a dog but I know it exists. Thanks. Please no stupid remarks or comments. I know how to take care of my dog.
Just in case anyone asks, the one I have is an Australian Shepherd. He is learning obedience and flyball and gets plenty of exercise and attention when we’re home.
My dog at the moment is only 5 months old. He is wonderful and I, being a stay at home mom, normally take him almost everywhere I go. But there are obviously times when he needs to stay home for a couple hours by himself. This is when he gets destructive. Not real bad but as he gets older it could get worse. Do you think getting another dog could help this? I’ve always had more than one dog at a time. This is actually the first time I’ve had only one. I’ve never had to deal with separation anxiety in a dog but I know it exists. Thanks. Please no stupid remarks or comments. I know how to take care of my dog.
Just in case anyone asks, the one I have is an Australian Shepherd. He is learning obedience and flyball and gets plenty of exercise and attention when we’re home.
Tags: 5 Months, Couple Hours, Dog Anxiety, Exercise, Separation Anxiety, Stay At Home Mom, Stupid Remarks
February 1st, 2010 at 11:55 am
A lot of dogs with separation anxiety get better with another dog around. To test out if it would work on your dog, borrow a friend’s dog or foster a dog for a rescue to see how you puppy reacts. My sister’s dog’s separation anxiety disappeared with a second dog.
February 3rd, 2010 at 4:12 am
Dogs love to have a dog buddy at home. I have two dogs and they would be lost without the other. You might want to try a shelter dog so that you could return it if anything went wrong.
February 3rd, 2010 at 5:29 pm
Thanks for adding breed information…
He’s a nervous breed…
At 5 mo he’s old enough and had you to himself long enough that a playmate should be good for him.
For unknown reasons my dogs have never been destructive when I left them alone. A Kong helps, but in your situation I think a playmate, a new 2 mo old pup should be a good solution.
Dogs LOVE a playmate to play fight with and romp and stomp with and I think that would work for you. If you wish to put off getting a new dog for a bit, you could foster a rescue, but I’d go for a new pup. Your current dog will enjoy teaching what he learns to the new pup.
February 7th, 2010 at 12:25 am
Ahhh, an Aussie. They are awesome dogs- my favorite by far.
If Aussies are bored, they will be destructive. They are just so highly intelligent, and without stimulation, he will try and find something to do, no way around that really. Even if you do exercise him reguraly and he’s in a lot of activities, he still may feel bored while at home.
A second dog may help with the destruction, but it could also make it worse. They might decide it’s fun to be destructive together.
What I think you need to do is look into crate training for your Aussie boy when you or another family member isn’t at home. It’s humane, and it will keep them from doing destruction. Most dogs do not like crate training at all at first, but after awhile they learn to like their crate and learn that it is their “special place.” There are several resources you can look at online, as well as many books about crate training.
It really is a very good method, all my dogs are crate trained. I’d recommend everyone crate trained their dog.
Good luck!
February 10th, 2010 at 3:54 am
I find that Australian Shepherds do best with the company of an other dog while your out. I have one and then I got a second one as I had the problem when I left her she would tear my plants apart., now she has Kai he a German Shepperd and they get along great and now there no more destruction when I am out..
February 10th, 2010 at 7:36 pm
I hope you want a plain simple answer… YES
February 12th, 2010 at 7:37 am
I am housesitting and taking care of an Australian cattle dog and a Jack Russell. the Aussie is 14, but the jack keeps him young, and has lost his seperation anxiety to about 90% less. Really nice!
Good luck!
February 12th, 2010 at 8:33 am
i was thinking of getting another dog for my layla b/c she suffers from separation anxiety, but then i read online that getting another dog often doesn’t help b/c they miss their humans, not other dogs. i think it’s a common misconception b/c many people told me that getting another dog would help.
February 14th, 2010 at 5:43 pm
Invest in a crate and crate your dog when y ou are not home. I adopted a 10 month old lab shepherd husky mix from the pound and he had a severe case of separation anxiety. It was rough at first (I am not going to lie to you) but he now is calm and feels safe in his kennel. He cannot be destructive, injure himself, eat something toxic, etc when he is in a kennel.
Another dog maaaayyy help. Our second dog helped a little – but not enough to justify getting a second dog for that reason alone. If you want a second dog – they are great companions to your friend – then by all means get one, but don’t expect separation anxiety to go away. When dogs are part of a pack, when one goes away, the others get agitated. When mom leaves, the puppied whine. But a kennel can make him feel safe and allows him to relax. So I would get a kennel first before expecting the second dog to fix everything (besides what would happen if the second dog also has separation anxiety – you may not have a house left when you return from a short trip to the grocery store!!)
February 17th, 2010 at 9:04 am
yea, i think you should get another dog in my opinion, he needs a friend.