by Christy Caplan|
June 23, 2023
Yes, ample research supports the fact that dogs enjoy the company of other dogs. I’ve lived with three dogs for a decade and then two dogs for the past five years. I’ve never lived with one dog for over three or four months.
Walter was the wild card as he lived with two dogs his entire life but is dog reactive on leash with strange dogs. We added a puppy, and it took them many months to work out their relationship. Now, they are happier together than apart. And they do seek out each other during the day. I did a little research to see what studies there are that prove this is mostly true. Since it’s top of mind and in the news, I was curious and thought others may be too. The latest research says that dogs that have other dogs or companion animals in the household live longer and are healthier. Also, I should note that we work with a trainer or behaviorist on settle and other behaviors, as living with both a senior and a puppy is not easy and takes a lot of management. I really should have a disclaimer as multiple dog households are awesome and clearly have benefits, but it IS more work.
Here are a few interesting points about the benefits of a dog living with one or more companion animals.
1. Dogs that interacted with other dogs had lower levels of cortisol, a hormone related to stress. Social interaction with other dogs could help reduce stress in dogs. This is also true with humans, as studies show pets lower stress in people!
Overall, the research suggests that dogs do indeed enjoy the company of other dogs and that socialization with other dogs can be beneficial for a dog’s overall health and well-being.
Resources:
Yes, there is also scientific evidence that suggests that dogs do enjoy the company of other dogs. Here are a few studies that support this:
Do you have more than one dog? Do you agree? How about folks out there with one dog – this will be us down the line for sure as we get older. Two dogs is a lot of work!
