Benefits of cohousing on shelter dog welfare and length of stay
Dogs are often housed alone in shelter settings to reduce injury and disease spread. However, social isolation can be a stressor for dogs. Most prior studies have focused on laboratory dogs or shelter dogs that have been kenneled for several months, such that those results might not necessarily generalize to dogs residing in US shelters. We investigated the behavioral and physiological effects of single- or pair-housing dogs, most of which had recently entered the animal shelter, as well as the impact of pair-housing on length of stay. In this talk, we will review the literature on cohousing dogs, describe our study methods and results, and discuss the benefits of pair-housing dogs, as well as practical considerations for pair-housing dogs.