Dogs housed in shelters often experience stress and isolation, which can negatively impact their welfare. Prior research has suggested that pair-housing compatible dogs can produce behavioral and physiological benefits. However, these studies have primarily focused on laboratory dogs or shelter dogs with longer stay times. A more recent study aimed to investigate the effects of pair-housing on recently admitted shelter dogs.
Behavioral and Physiological Findings
The researchers observed 61 dogs, 30 single-housed and 31 pair-housed, over a seven-day period. They found that pair-housed dogs engaged in significantly fewer stress-related behaviors, such as lip licking, whining, and putting their ears back, compared to single-housed dogs. Additionally, when examining changes in urinary cortisol:creatinine levels, pair-housed dogs generally showed a greater decrease than single-housed dogs, indicating reduced physiological stress.
Welfare and Adoption Outcomes
The study also found that pair-housed dogs stayed for significantly shorter periods in the shelter, suggesting improved welfare and increased chances of adoption. Importantly, the researchers did not detect any negative effects on dog-dog skills, and rates of antagonistic behaviors were very low, with only two pairs needing to be separated due to non-injurious aggression.
Pair-Housing Considerations
The researchers emphasize the importance of judicious pair-housing practices. They assessed all dogs using the Match Up II dog-dog subtest and closely monitored the dogs, especially during the first few days of cohousing. The researchers also note that while pair-housing can provide benefits, housing more dogs in a kennel is not necessarily better, as it can compromise their ability to avoid each other and make appropriate matches more difficult.
Future Research Directions
The researchers suggest several avenues for future research, including larger sample sizes to better detect behavioral differences, evaluating the long-term effects of pair-housing, assessing the impacts of changing kennelmates, and ensuring consistent kennel sizes or dog-to-kennel space ratios. Additionally, they recommend replicating the study in shelters with different housing and husbandry practices, as the benefits of pair-housing may be even more apparent in those settings.
This study provides valuable insights into the potential benefits of pair-housing shelter dogs. The findings suggest that well-matched pair-housing can improve the proximate and ultimate welfare of the dogs, making it a promising intervention for shelters to consider. By continuing to explore the effects of pair-housing, both researchers and shelter professionals can work towards enhancing the overall well-being and adoption outcomes for these dogs.
