Do Dogs Need Other Dogs?
Too many families believe their furry pal, Fido, needs a companion in order to be content. Simply not true. In fact, a majority of the time, it's the human that really wants another dog around. Most dogs, not all, do not need another canine around to be happy. Maybe people feel that dogs must have a permanent puppy pal, because they are derived from wolves, which are cooperative hunters and are supposed to form deep lasting friendships and allegiances within their packs. However, this is a bit of a misconception. Yes, dogs are pack animals—this is indeed what we instill in our program. However, the main point is, dogs need a leader in the pack, the human. In the wild, the other animals (not the leader) in the pack are a necessary evil, with both shared and conflicting interests. All of us can relate to this concept. The relationships are much more like individuals in the same corporation who work together toward similar goals, but each has his or her own ambitions to get ah