NEW RESEARCH SHOWS NORTH WEST SEEKING CREATURE COMFORT DURING PANDEMIC

The Kennel Club urges puppy buyers and owners to #BePuppywise and prevent a ‘damaging lockdown legacy’.

New statistics provide a state-of-the-nation picture of life in lockdown, as thousands sought canine companionship to get through the isolation and anxiety caused by the coronavirus pandemic.  

The research, released this week by the Kennel Club as part of its #BePuppywise campaign, shows one in five (21 per cent) dog owners in the North West said the main reason for getting their puppy was to have a lockdown companion to help them and their family, and a quarter (26 per cent) said it was because they were spending more time at home than usual.  

Over a third (38 per cent) of locals believe lockdown was the perfect time to get a puppy – with almost two in three (65 per cent) also stating their dog was the best thing about lockdown – yet thousands missed puppy buying red flags:

• A third (33 per cent) paid money before actually seeing their puppy

• More than a quarter (29 per cent) didn’t see the puppy’s breeding environment, in real-life or via video call

• An overwhelming 84 per cent weren’t asked any questions by the breeder about their suitability as owners

A worrying 27 per cent spent less than two hours doing their research before getting a puppy, leaving them particularly vulnerable to scams and unable to spot the signs of an unscrupulous breeder. And almost one in five (16 per cent) of puppy buyers in the North West think their puppy could have originated from a puppy farm.

Welfare organisations like the Kennel Club are also concerned about the long-term consequences of these quick decisions, especially in the current situation:

• More than a quarter (26 per cent) of dog owners in the North West didn’t make a plan for going back to ‘normal’ before getting their puppy

• Almost three in four (71 per cent) didn’t research puppy training, with behaviour and socialisation after lockdown causing concern

• Two in five (41 per cent) don’t have pet insurance

• Almost one in five (16 per cent) admit they hadn’t fully considered the long-term responsibility that comes with having a dog

Following these findings, the Kennel Club has launched its #BePuppywise campaign, urging people to take their time and do proper research when getting a dog. The campaign provides advice, tools and resources, from videos to top tips for both potential owners to help them find the right dog and breeder, and prepare for their new family member, as well as those new owners who are struggling with their pandemic puppy, helping them care for their new best friend as lockdown lifts and beyond.

“Our dogs are certainly helping us through the pandemic, providing a welcome and happy distraction as Covid-19 causes anxiety, suffering and disruption across the nation,” commented Bill Lambert, Head of Health and Welfare at the Kennel Club. “However we do have concerns about those puppies which may have been bought on impulse, without owners doing their homework on how or where to get a dog responsibly, or fully realising a puppy is a new family member for life, not a short-term commodity.

“These hasty decisions not only play into the hands of the opportunistic scammers and puppy farmers operating during the pandemic – but can also sadly result in puppies being rehomed if owners haven’t carefully considered how their dog will fit their ‘normal’ life. In the current climate it’s never been more crucial to be puppywise via thorough, extensive research, taking time to find the right dog and breeder, and being aware of the red flags, as well as preparing for your new arrival and being a responsible owner. By wising up, you’re actively taking steps to prevent a potentially damaging lockdown legacy for puppies across the UK.”

The Kennel Club has produced a ‘litter in lockdown’ video with Dragons’ Den entrepreneur and KC Assured Breeder, Jenny Campbell, which shows puppy buyers what a reputable breeder looks like, and how to be a responsible new puppy owner during the pandemic. The video and more tips on how to #BePuppywise is available at www.thekennelclub.org.uk/be-puppywise.

Jenny added: “Puppies take time, effort and care! And a ‘pandemic puppy’ will certainly need an extra hand in their training and socialisation. By being puppywise, and making use of the Kennel Club’s tips, expert advice and resources to work out if you’re ready for a puppy and how to buy one responsibly, as well as understanding your puppy and how to be a good owner, your canine companion will be happy and healthy, providing you with a lifetime of happiness, fun and a new best friend.”