Dealing with separation anxiety

Question
We have a 18 month old English Springer Spaniel who is the only dog in our household.  She is so very attached to us and enjoys being with us constantly....but she doesn't seem to handle being alone for several hours at a time.  Is this somehting that she will outgrow?

We know that she goes bonkers when we are not home because one time we set up a video camera to see extactly what she would do....it was 2 hours of non-stop pacing and crying with just 5 to 10 second breaks to sit calmly and look out the windowe by front door.  As the many books have mentioned...she thinks she is a person.

We don't wish to take with us when it is warm outside as we would never leave in the truck...one of us usually stays with her in the vehicle or takes her for a walk when we do go shopping.

She doesn't destroy anything...no chewing or digging but she will make confetti out of any newspapers or magazines that are left within her reach...so we baby proof the house.

She only has access to the open living room area...all bedrooms and bathroom doors are locked (she knows how to open doors).

She was only in her crate as a pup for two weeks...husband had long hospital stay so she was with me the entire time as she was way to small to leave at home...but she has always slept on her bed beside our bed.

Here is my question.....do you feel that it might be a good choice to get another dog?
We have access to another ESS and we have even been told by a person who raise and bred ESS's for over 18 years...that getting her a companion would help her when we are gone.

Our vet whom we trust very much stated that it could go either way.  The retired ESS breeder said that it should be male puppy.  We have been thinking this over for weeks...and since a puppy is available and right now it is summertime (good time for training..no snow)...we just can't figure out what to do.

Any suggestions.  

Answer
Hi Anna!

It is doubtful she will outgrow the separation anxiety. You could probably spend a lot of money and hire someone to help you train her, but who knows if that will work.  I think another dog is an excellent idea.  Personally, I prefer females though.  Male dogs, even when neutered, have a very bad tendency to hike their legs on the furniture.  There are some males that don't do that, so I don't want to say yours will, but there is a good chance you may have to face that problem down the road.  I  prefer spayed females.  They are wonderful companions and are more docile than males.  Someone else may tell you the opposite, so that is why I am stressing that this is my opinion.   But whether you get a male or female, I definetely think your dog will do better.  For one thing, she is probably lonely and bored.  Another dog will give her someone to play with, sleep with and just be with.  
Good luck to you!

God Bless,
Becky