Pandemic puppies: pals or pests?

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in unprecedented demand for puppies globally – the so-called ‘pandemic puppy’ phenomenon. Concerns soon arose over a potential welfare crisis for these puppies, with worries including poor purchasing practices and limited early-life experiences during lockdowns.

How the research was conducted

A team at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) in London have followed a cohort of pandemic puppies – dogs purchased in 2020 under the age of 16 weeks – in the UK. The team have recently published their findings in the scientific journal Animals.

The study examined the behavior of 1,000 dogs, along with owner training habits, to compare expectations against realities as the pets reached 21 months of age. The researchers asked owners to identify any behaviors in their dog that were problematic, ranging from jumping up to aggression.

Behavioral findings

Almost all owners (97%) reported at least 1 problem behavior. The most common were concerns often dealt with at training classes (84%), such as pulling on the lead and poor recall. The least common were aggression-related (25%), including aggression towards other dogs, strangers or familiar people, or resource guarding.

The average number of owner-reported problem behaviors at 21 months was 5, while 20% of owners reported 8 or more. Although these figures seem very high, they are quite similar to pre-pandemic levels.

This suggests that all dog owners, not just pandemic puppy owners, are likely to find some aspects of their dog’s behavior challenging, and it is therefore important that this ownership reality is communicated to prospective owners by canine professionals.

Training methods

The study also examined the methods and tools used by owners to train their dogs, especially exploring whether these were reward-based or aversive training methods.

Worryingly, compared to pre-pandemic studies, a greater number of owners (82%) were using at least 1 aversive training method, with 39% using 3 or more.

It is important to note that aversive training methods, such as electronic collars and lead corrections, have been scientifically associated via numerous studies with poor welfare outcomes for dogs, as well as being ineffective. Interestingly, owners who used aversive methods were likely to report more problem behaviors than those who only used reward-based methods.

However, owners were less likely to use aversive training techniques if they had attended online puppy classes with their dog (while under 16 weeks of age) during the pandemic.

This demonstrates the value of educating owners in humane training techniques at an early stage of ownership. It also shows that online classes can be an effective alternative for owners who find attending in-person classes difficult due to personal circumstances.

It is crucial that all dog owners are guided towards appropriate puppy and adult dog training programs and advice sources that promote reward-based methods. Owners need to understand that using aversive training does not effectively improve dog behavior and could actually cause more problems, while also damaging the dog-owner bond.

Creating realistic expectations

Finally, owners in the study reflected on their expectations for their dog’s behavior and training soon after acquisition and compared this to the reality of ownership. Overall, 15% of owners considered their dog’s behavior to be worse than they expected, and a third of owners had found training their dog harder than expected.

First-time owners in particular were more likely to have underestimated what was involved in training and maintaining their dog’s ‘obedience’. Therefore, prospective owners need to understand that dogs are complex animals and need extensive and lifelong training to fit acceptably within our human lives and expectations.

Owners should be well-prepared, realistic, and confidently able to meet these needs before considering taking on a dog or puppy.