One in three families face unexpected puppy care challenges
First-time dog owners struggled to manage interactions between puppies and children.
A survey from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has suggested puppy care may be ‘harder than anticipated’ for some families.
One in three families which obtained puppies before or during the pandemic reported unexpected challenges in raising a young dog.
This latest survey forms part of RVC’s Pandemic Puppies research programme, which explores the surge in puppy ownership during the COVID-19 pandemic. The project specifically examines family dynamics, collecting responses from 382 adult caregivers and 216 children.
Responses to the survey appear to highlight varying outcomes, with more than a third of families finding puppy ownership to be harder than expected.
As discovered in previous Pandemic Puppies surveys, puppies often provided a source of companionship and emotional support for children. Close physical interaction, including cuddling, was particularly valued.
However these behaviours also increased the potential for dog bites, which often occur when dogs are stressed or overwhelmed by interactions.
These problem behaviours, which also include jumping up and unwanted play, caused a strain in some familial relationships. Forty-seven per cent of those who had considered rehoming their dog said it was due to behaviour issues.
More than a third of caregivers reported that caring for a puppy was harder than they expected. First-time dog owners were most likely to have difficulties managing interactions between puppies and children.
It was usually the adults that were taking on responsibility for pet care, with mothers particularly challenged by managing both pet care and child care. Mothers said that this challenge had been greater than expected, leading to overwhelm.
One in five caregivers said that their child had taken less responsibility for the puppy than they had expected.
RVC hopes that these findings will lead to more family-focused guidance for new dog owners. This may include advice on safe child-dog interactions, how to share pet care responsibilities, and preparing for the challenges of puppyhood.
Rowena Packer, senior lecturer in Companion Animal Behaviour at the RVC, said: “We appreciate that parents of young children have a lot to juggle, and that their children often genuinely enjoy physical interactions with their dogs, but we can’t expect children to know how to safely interact with dogs or read their body language without help.
“We encourage parents and caregivers to learn about safe dog–child interactions alongside their children, set clear boundaries with their children, and closely monitor their interactions with dogs to protect both children and pets.”
The full study can be found in the journal PLOS One.
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