It may be tempting to join the families getting a “Pandemic Puppy” but there are many concerns around getting a new pet during this time.

Lockdown restrictions may be easing but it is likely that your puppy will be having fewer interactions with both people and other dogs during this time. Socialisation is a crucial learning process in puppies where they develop the skills they need to become happy, confident dogs. This includes learning how to interact appropriately with people and other dogs, as well as becoming familiar with different environments, objects and situations.

This learning process begins at birth but the crucial phase lasts up until 12 weeks of age. When a puppy experiences new things at this stage they will often do so with confidence and without fear. After 12 weeks old however they may be more cautious and fearful with unfamiliar situations. This could potentially result in an anxious and fearful adult dog that has behavioural issues.

Most people get a puppy when they are about 8 weeks old, so the first 4 weeks is a very important time for puppy to learn these important skills. However, lockdown life with either the breeder or owner is certainly not normal, and many puppies are at risk of missing out on learning these important skills.

Let’s look at these two very different situations and the effects of lockdown on socialisation for Poppy the Pandemic Puppy.

Normal Ned’s Experience:

Collect Ned at 8 weeks old

Ned has his vaccinations at the vets and experiences travelling, handling and new environments

Family come to visit: Ned experiences new people, children and babies, handling, friends with dogs come over to play

Once fully vaccinated Ned goes on walks, meets dogs in the park, and meets up with friends and family in their homes and in new places.

Ned goes on frequent trips outside – to parks, to restaurants and puppy classes, learning to interact appropriately with many animals and people, and not be nervous of them or strange sounds/environments.

Pandemic Poppy’s Experience

Lockdown:

Poppy arrives at 8 weeks old.

Poppy’s vaccinations are delayed due to social distancing at vet practices so she is unable to go out for walks until she is older.

No visitors are allowed in the household so she is only used to household members.

Once vaccinated she is unable to interact with dogs in the park in order for her owners to maintain social distancing. She gets a long walk every day.

Her owners don’t travel anywhere so she has never been in the car except when she was picked up.

Her owners are spending most of their time at home so Poppy is never left alone: she spends every moment next to her owners and gets most of their attention all day long.

Poppy’s owners do not have children so she has never interacted with a baby or child.

Puppy classes are cancelled so she doesn’t have the chance to learn basic commands and mix with other puppies or their owners.

Post-lockdown:

At 12 weeks old Poppy is suddenly introduced to new people, new dogs and new environments:

She is taken in the car on a long journey to visit her owner’s friends who have two young children. They are very loud and drop food but she gets told off for taking it. They grab her fur and poke her in the eyes. She growls but they continue.

She meets 10 family members at a barbeque, everyone picks her up and cuddles her. There is loud music and lots of talking. She spends most of her time hiding under her owner’s chair.

Poppy is left alone all day once her owners go back to work. She is put into a crate so she doesn’t chew anything. She’s never been in a crate before.

Poppy’s owners are tired after work so she doesn’t get walked every day anymore.

As you can see from Poppy’s experience, lockdown life is going to have potentially life-long impacts on a dog’s development and well-being. While it may be tempting to get a puppy while everyone is at home, the reality is this may not be the ideal time to ensure they have the best start possible to prevent future behaviour problems. It may be better to wait.

When thinking about getting a puppy, please consider what life will be like post-lockdown. Will you have the time to look after a puppy as well as you have been able to during lockdown? There are thousands of dogs ending up in rescue centres when their owners’ circumstances change, and many pet professionals are concerned that this number is going to increase as lockdown eases.

There are also concerns about dog safety for those families with children. If you do decide to get a new pet, see our article, “Living with pets during Covid” for advice once your new family member has arrived.

Resources:

The Blue Cross have some good advice on what you can do to help your puppy at this time

https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/puppies-in-lockdown

Booklet by Alison Scott “ HOW TO REDUCE THE DEVELOPMENT OF BEHAVIOURAL PROBLEMS IN OUR DOGS DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PcOQFpaWQ81Bag8enPFy4M6_43Ly4rvJ/view

Introducing a dog to face masks https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/help-advice/dog-care/introducing-face-masks-to-dogs#:~:text=Start%20at%20home%20where%20your,treat%20is%20coming%20their%20way.