Dr Rowena Packer, Lecturer in Companion Animal Behaviour and Welfare Science, reflects on the contributions of RVC research to understanding the dynamic world of dog welfare during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond

Following the first COVID-19 ‘lockdown’, the media reported a surge in people acquiring or seeking to acquire puppies. This dramatic change, mirrored internationally, was coined the ‘Pandemic Puppy’ phenomenon. Although many media reports framed this as a positive effect, with households seeking out dogs for companionship and to encourage them to get outdoors and improve their mental health, a team of RVC researchers were immediately concerned by what this surge in demand could mean for welfare.

Detailed in the timeline below, the RVC has been pivotal in understanding this modern phenomenon in dog ownership and its long-term implications.
RVC’s pioneering research found that the increase in puppy acquisition during the pandemic was not only characterised by a higher number of purchases, but that the way in which households purchased puppies – and why they purchased puppies – had markedly changed. This included worrying shifts in buyer behaviour that threatened the welfare of both the puppy purchased and its parents, by increasing the likelihood of purchasing from unscrupulous and illegal puppy breeders and dealers.

Key findings included puppies being less likely to be viewed prior to purchase, being collected away from their breeder’s property, being less likely to be seen with their mother and siblings, and buyers paying dramatically inflated prices for puppies.

Groundbreaking RVC research further discovered that the early lives of this vulnerable population were impaired, likely in part due to social distancing restrictions, with puppies less likely to experience key socialisation experiences, such as attending puppy classes and experiencing visitors in their homes.

Seeking to understand the impact of these early-life deficits on future outcomes (including behaviour, health and the dog-owner relationship), the RVC has been following a cohort of >1000 puppies, now approaching their third birthdays, to explore the impacts of being acquired and raised in this unusual period.

RVC’s innovative work has sought to proactively identify emerging dog welfare concerns post-pandemic. When exploring whether the effects seen on puppy buying in 2020 had persisted into 2021, or returned to pre-pandemic levels, a highly concerning trend was identified, with year-on-year increases in puppies being sold with passports. These puppies with passports were commonly under the legal minimum age for import (15 weeks), indicating an increasing reliance on the illegal importation of puppies to meet demand. The RVC team is now exploring this area in detail, including public knowledge and perceptions of the risks and benefits of importing puppies, to understand how to best tackle this issue from a human behaviour change perspective.

In addition to increases in numbers of puppies with passports, the team has identified demographic changes in the dog population during and after the pandemic. ‘Designer crossbreeds’, intentional crosses of two or more purebred ‘progenitor’ breeds boomed in popularity during this period, including cockapoos (cocker spaniel X poodles) and Cavapoos (Cavalier King Charles spaniels X poodles).

The team identified that positive perceptions of good health, trainability, suitability with children and hypoallergenicity driving acquisitions, despite a lack of evidence to support these traits. They are currently analysing novel data on the health, husbandry and behaviour of popular designer crossbreeds versus their purebred progenitor breeds.

RVC’s Pandemic Puppies research has been enabled by a range of sources, including the Animal Welfare Foundation, Battersea, UFAW, SCAS, Research England Quality-Related Research Strategic Priorities Funding, The Kennel Club Charitable Trust and Dogs Trust.

Results of this work have been presented internationally and achieved widespread media coverage. Most recently, findings from the ongoing longitudinal study of Pandemic Puppies were cited at a Commons Environment committee, investigating pet welfare and abuse in the wake of the pandemic, which received BBC news coverage.

In addition to the impact on national and international stakeholders in canine welfare, the project has supported the academic development of students at both the RVC and external institutes, including one PhD student, four master’s students, and four BVetMed students.

What does the future hold?

The team’s endeavour to keep abreast of emerging welfare problems in the UK dog population has led to the development of new projects in 2023 and beyond, including an exploration of the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on the Pandemic Puppy longitudinal cohort, and characterising private and commercial rehoming of older puppies and dogs in the UK and their implications for canine welfare. Working closely with the charity sector, veterinary profession and pet industry to keep abreast of rapid changes and emerging concerns, it is likely that RVC canine welfare research will continue to be world-leading for years to come.