Dogs adopted during the Covid pandemic are more likely to be anxious of new places and people, according to new research.
Owners of pups welcomed into new homes during lockdown say their companions display greater levels of anxiety compared to those adopted before or after the crisis.
More than two-fifths of pandemic pooch owners – 44 per cent – say their pet is nervous around strangers, compared to 23 per cent of other owners.
Almost a third of Covid canines are nervous around other pets, more than non-lockdown Lassies, and just under a fifth are nervous around children.
Experts believe the issue may stem from owners being unable to socialise their new pets – adopted to give them company when they had to stay home – within a critical ‘socialisation’ window.
This is typically within the first 12 weeks of a puppy’s life so it gets comfortable with being around people and animals it does not know.
Dogs adopted during the coronavirus pandemic are more likely to experience anxiety issues around strangers and other animals, or when left alone, according to new research
Experts believe the anxiety in lockdown dogs may stem from the fact they could not be socialised at a crucial early stage in their development because of restrictions
But the survey of owners, commissioned by pet food firm Burns Pet Nutrition, suggests many dogs missed out on this crucial milestone.
A quarter of lockdown owners said their dogs waited up to three months to meet another animal or person, compared to 19 per cent of other owners.
And only 20 per cent of lockdown pets came into daily contact with people from outside their home, less than typical dogs.
As a result, many of them suffer from separation anxiety – already a problem for new dog owners, made worse by the perennial presence of their owners during the pandemic.
Around a third of regular dogs are left at home without problems, according to the survey – but that figure drops to 29 per cent among lockdown pups.
One pet owner, Samantha Henry, who runs dog accessory business Pup Chic Boutique, noticed a difference in one of her three toy poodles Villanelle, who she adopted during lockdown, compared with her other dogs.
Ms Henry said: ‘While they are generally a needy breed, Villanelle certainly has heightened anxiety compared to the other two.
‘When I leave the house, she is the only one that cries. On walks, she is the most nervous if other dogs come running up to her, and she is the only one that doesn’t settle in the car.
‘I’ve always tried to socialise my dogs as much as possible when they were puppies, but with Villanelle I was at home with her all the time, so I never left her. Nor I did commute with her to work either.
‘When I walked her during the lockdowns, we rarely saw other dogs and of course we had to socially distance from other people.
‘All of these factors meant her socialisation was minimal and it’s had a big impact on her stress and neediness levels today.’
More than five million pets were welcomed into UK homes during lockdown, according to the PDSA. Around a quarter of all dogs in the UK at one point were adopted during the Covid crisis.
But three million pets were also given up, a later study by the Pet Food Manufacturers Association (PFMA) found – with millenials and gen-Zers most likely to have both adopted and given up their animals.
The PFMA study, reported by the Independent, found financial difficulties and changing work arrangements were the most common reasons for giving up pets.
Laura Crotch Harvey of Burns Pet Nutrition said: ‘Socialising your puppy in their early life should be an absolute priority if you want a companion that can happily integrate with other pets and people.
‘During this pivotal three-month period, exposing your pup to new faces and places will help reduce their fear and anxiety in later life.
‘Socialisation is a huge benefit to pet parents too, it allows them to confidently mingle with other dog owners and gives them peace of mind that their four-legged friend is happy and not stressed when they’re not by your side.’