The presence of another dog also can make the long hours of isolation more interesting. While creating a buddy system is a laudable goal, success is not guaranteed. Your expectations of the new dog are often greater than those imposed on the first. The second dog must build a strong relationship with the owner and the resident dog. This dual role is not as easy as it may seem.
Some dogs have great people skills but lack dog skills.
The worst reason to acquire a second dog is to fix any annoying behavior of your current dog. If Rover digs holes and barks constantly, another dog will not magically make him quit. The second dog may simply create additional holes and more noise. This combination of unruly pets and inattentive owner is usually fraught with problems. More likely, you'll raise the second dog by the same methods and expectations that shaped the unacceptable behavior of your first dog.