Post Covid-19 behaviour problems: it's not all about pandemic puppies!

Abstract

The extent of the social behaviour issues that arose in dogs following the Covid-19 pandemic has been apparent for several years now, but some owners are still struggling to cope. Following the first Covid-19 lockdown in 2020, various sources reported increases in unwanted behaviours with associated increases in pet relinquishment and abandonment rates as owners struggled with new pets or their pets' new behavioural problems. This article considers behaviour problems in both puppies and adult dogs following the pandemic. It discusses the risk factors involved in socialisation issues, emotional motivations for the behavioural changes, how owners are tackling them and provides useful tips that veterinary professionals can employ to set up treatment strategies to help.