Dogs are acting out more as lockdowns stretch, U.K. group says

As pandemic restrictions stretch in the United Kingdom, dogs are acting out more, according to the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors.

Puppies are receiving constant attention, and they also don’t have socialization opportunities, including visitors to the home. These factors appear to be the main causes of undesirable behaviors such as attention seeking, territorial behavior, separation issues, and fear of other dogs, people and new places. This can lead to aggressive behavior.

Additionally, the association said, the rise of unscrupulous breeders to meet the demand for puppies has had a behavioral impact: Puppies that are raised in a deprived environment, taken away from their mom too soon, lacking proper nutrition, or are sick when delivered to their new home will struggle to adapt to the challenges of everyday life.

On top of that, group training classes have been unable to run and many owners have avoided seeking preventive advice in online classes.

“In some ways, lockdown 1.0 was an ideal time to welcome a new puppy into the home,” said Anne McBride, chair of the APBC. “Caregivers were present to help the puppy settle in, and exposure to people and dogs outside the home could be conducted at the puppy’s own pace as public abided by the 2-meter rule. However, having their owner[s] present all the time means many puppies have not learned to cope when left at home alone.”

McBride said online classes have been successful for many puppies and owners. Outdoor one-to-one sessions can also be conducted under current rules.