The research team also investigated the effects of sex and neuter status – factors that are thought to have an influence on the onset of separation anxiety.Īfter looking at the difference between the sexes, male dogs in multi-dog households showed higher vocal activity.Ī further sex related difference was that male dogs were more prone to stay at the exit-door. 'The key is to understand the causes of problem behaviour to be able to manage or treat those effectively.'
'This doesn't address the underlying problem for the dog with separation anxiety, and it often results in another dog showing anxious or excitable behaviour. 'It's a common misconception – and often given as poor advice – that a dog with separation-related anxiety will fare better and show fewer stress responses if another dog is added to the household,' added Natalie Waran at Eastern Institute of Technology in New Zealand, who wasn't involved in the study. Stephan did admit that canine company may help dogs cope with separation from human attachment figures in individual cases.īut generally, the study challenges a common belief that dogs are 'not that alone' if they're home with other dogs of the same breed, he said. Only during 1.9 per cent of the time they showed activities like walking or running around.īut there was no destructive behaviour – like ripping furniture – on show, nor soiling, and lengthy vocal activity was 'very rare'. Most dogs showed low vocal and physical activity, independent of the amount of time being alone at home.įor 22 per cent of the filming time, dogs showed some minor activity, including lying with raised head, sitting or standing around. Owners were instructed to align the cameras to the places where the dogs would most probably stay during separation (like the exit-door and the sofa), before leaving their dog (or dogs) alone. The researchers videotaped 32 dogs in single-dog households and 45 dogs in multi-dog households left home alone as part of their usual routine. 'Since dogs under single-dog conditions show more resting and less vocalisations, we could not support the view that familiar conspecifics could facilitate coping with separation stress.' 'These observations are thought to be symptoms of a disorder which most authors refer to as separation anxiety or separation related behaviour. 'Behaviourists and veterinarians are frequently consulted due to excessive vocalisations, destructive behaviour and house-soiling of dogs left alone by their owners. 'This practice is known to be a possible source of complication in dog keeping.
'Many dogs are left alone at home by their owners for several hours on a daily basis,' they said. The new study has been led by researchers at the Academy for Animal Naturopathy in Dürnten, Switzerland.
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