Shelter dogs do better with a buddy, a new study finds.
“Despite being a social species, dogs are often housed alone in shelters to reduce disease transmission and possible injury from inter-dog conflict,” said lead researcher Erica Feuerbacher, an associate professor with the Virginia Tech School of Animal Sciences. “But this social isolation can work against dogs' behavioral health and adoptability.”Half the dogs were housed with another canine, after they were matched through a brief introduction and a compatibility test.
“Dogs housed in shelters can face chronic levels of stress due to noise, confined kennel spaces and limited access to social interaction,” Feuerbacher said in a university news release. “This can reduce their overall well-being, which might impact their adoptability.” Dogs paired up with a friend were adopted, on average, four days sooner than dogs housed alone, results show. They also showed fewer stress behaviors.Feuerbacher hopes these results will lead animal shelters to match dogs with suitable roommates, as a means of showing them at their best to potential new families.
“Many potential adopters might already have a dog or would like to engage in social activities with their dog,” Feuerbacher said. “Clearly exhibiting that a dog can successfully interact with other dogs might highlight those dogs as good matches -- leading to more successful adoptions.
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