Pandemic puppy homeowners nonetheless scuffling with their dogs’ behaviour, survey finds | Dogs

Among different findings, a fifth of homeowners surveyed reported their canine had eight or extra downside behaviours at that age, equivalent to pulling on the lead, clinginess or aggression, whereas 33% of homeowners discovered coaching their canine more durable than anticipated – one thing that was extra widespread amongst first-time homeowners.

Dr Rowena Packer, a lecturer in companion animal behaviour and welfare science on the RVC, and lead writer of the research, stated a key downside was that many individuals didn’t do sufficient analysis, and have been unaware of the extent of accountability concerned in coaching their canine.

She stated: “I think a lot of new owners go in with very high hopes [of] their dog’s behaviour and then when they realise actually training is quite tough, that’s where a third of them were really struggling.”

Another downside, stated Packer, was the pattern to undertaking human ideas and emotions on to dogs – for instance labelling sure behaviours as naughty.

“Dogs don’t come off the shelf ready to know how to spend a day walking around on a lead meeting other dogs, going into social spaces with other people – all these things need to be taught,” she stated.

However, not all struggling homeowners are inexperienced.

Phil Wright, 59, from Southport, owned quite a lot of labradors earlier than he welcomed sisters Scout and Harper into his home as puppies in February 2020.

He stated: “I didn’t anticipate any problems. But I didn’t anticipate lockdown either.”

Both his black labradors have extreme separation nervousness, with Scout howling if Wright leaves the home, in addition to problematic behaviour on the lead equivalent to barking – notably in the event that they see a small canine.

“They can pull me over,” stated Wright.

“The separation anxiety definitely stems from me being around so much during lockdown. Likewise the behaviour on lead [is] due to lack of socialisation during lockdown,” he added.

According to UK Pet Food, in 2023 there have been about 12 million pet dogs within the UK, with some data suggesting there was a surge in puppy ownership during the height of the Covid pandemic.

However, the RVC survey reveals Wright is just not alone in dealing with difficulties. Out of greater than 1,000 UK canine homeowners, 97% reported their canine had a minimum of one downside behaviour from a listing of 24, whereas on common homeowners reported 5 issues.

The commonest downside was pulling on the lead – reported by about two-thirds of members – with leaping up and poor recall in second and third place respectively.

Overall, management issues have been the most typical sort of hassle – being reported by 84% of members – nevertheless 25% reported their canine had aggressive behaviours.

The latest outcomes are a part of a undertaking by the RVC that follows a bunch of dogs purchased as young puppies in 2020, through the Covid pandemic.

While the research was not capable of evaluate the prevalence of downside behaviours amongst pandemic puppies with their prevalence amongst dogs acquired earlier than or after the pandemic, Packer stated comparisons with different datasets prompt a basic elevation of points among the many pandemic puppy cohort.

The crew added one space of concern was that, whereas 96% of homeowners used optimistic reinforcement equivalent to reward to coach their canine, 82% used a number of punishment-based strategies equivalent to choke chains, shouting or pushing their canine – strategies that may trigger additional behavioural issues.

Such approaches, they be aware, gave the impression to be extra widespread in homeowners who had not attended on-line puppy lessons through the pandemic.

Packer added homeowners reported turning to pals, household and even social media for recommendation on canine coaching, however that most of the latter advocated punishment-based strategies.

“These owners are struggling but they’re not actually reaching out to professionals for help,” she stated.

The RVC advises those that are scuffling with behaviour issues of their canine to take their pet to the vet, as difficulties may cause well being issues, whereas those that missed out on puppy lessons can nonetheless get assist with behaviour from experts registered with the Animal Behaviour Training Council.

Wright added that regardless of the challenges, he wouldn’t be with out his dogs.

“They are great, beautiful, friendly, but just a nightmare when they are out on a lead,” he stated.