Three Things to Know
A UK longitudinal study tracked owners who acquired puppies during the COVID pandemic to understand the evolving owner-dog relationship of pandemic puppies and influencing factors.
At the 21-month follow-up, nearly 98% of owners still had their dogs. High scores were reported for Owner-Dog Interaction and Closeness, while perceived Costs of ownership were generally low.
Canine behavioral issues — specifically aggression, fear, and lack of control — were the most significant contributors to owners’ perceived burden. Although these behaviors had less impact on emotional closeness, they underscored the persistent need to address canine behavior, a challenge not limited to pandemic-era dogs. Reward-based training was associated with benefits, particularly for emotional closeness.
For Dog Welfare Practitioners
The study’s finding that nearly 98% of owners still had their dogs at 21 months is encouraging, indicating that the vast majority, including many first-time owners, successfully integrated their puppies. However, behavior issues — often the largest risk leading to relinquishment and euthanasia — underscores the critical need for dog welfare organizations to proactively engage with the community early, offering training and behavior advice.
The Full Picture
The emotional bond between dogs and their owners significantly influences the wellbeing of both, with strong relationships linked to better physical and mental health. However, caregiving stress, behavioral issues, and other challenges can weaken this bond, potentially leading to dog relinquishment or euthanasia — decisions that impact both human and animal welfare.
In the UK, the COVID-19 pandemic led to a surge in puppy purchases in 2020, often under rushed or suboptimal conditions. This may have long-term consequences on behavior and owner-dog relationships. As these “Pandemic Puppies” matured, behavioral issues, lifestyle changes, and rising living costs may have strained owner relationships, raising concerns about pet dog welfare and relinquishment.
This study, titled ‘Lasting lockdown love? Problem behaviour and pandemic and non-pandemic related risk factors influencing the owner-dog relationship in a UK cohort of dogs reaching early adulthood”, aims to identify risk factors for weaker owner-dog relationships among dogs acquired in the UK during 2020, so to better support owners and improve future puppy acquisition practices.
Study Methods
This study analyzed data from two online surveys conducted as part of the Pandemic Puppies project. The surveys targeted UK residents aged 18+ who had purchased a puppy under 16 weeks old between March and December 2020 (the “Pandemic Puppies” cohort), with a comparison group of puppies acquired during the same period in 2019. The first survey (late 2020) collected data on owner/dog demographics and acquisition practices, while the follow-up (2022) gathered information on dog care, health, behavior, and the owner-dog relationship when dogs were 21 months old.
The Monash Dog Owner Relationship Scale (MDORS), a 28-item tool with three subscales — Interaction, Closeness, and Perceived Costs — was used to measure the owner-dog relationship. Higher scores on Interaction and Closeness indicate stronger relationships, while higher Perceived Costs suggest greater owner burden. Incomplete MDORS responses were excluded from analysis.
Study Results
Out of 1,007 original respondents, 985 (97.8%) still owned their dogs at the 21-month follow-up. Despite early concerns, relinquishment rates of pandemic-acquired puppies were low at 21 months.
On Owner-Dog Relationship, Interaction and Closeness scores were high, and Perceived Costs scores were low overall. However, the study identified risk factors that may negatively affect owner-dog relationships and increase the burden of ownership, potentially leading to future welfare issues, relinquishment, or euthanasia.
Dog Lifestyle & Behavior
- 45% of owners did not take their dog to work; 44% did not leave home to work.
- 59% used mixed training methods that included more than one aversive technique.
- Over 80% reported at least one problem behavior related to control.
Risk Factors Affecting Owner-Dog Relationship of Pandemic Puppies
Problem Behaviours Drive Burden: Canine behavioural issues — especially aggression, fear, and lack of control—were the strongest contributors to owners’ perceived burden (Perceived Costs). While these behaviours had less impact on emotional closeness, aggression in multiple contexts significantly lowered both closeness and increased costs.
Emotional Closeness and Behaviour: Owners remained emotionally attached to their dogs despite problem behaviours, possibly buffering against relinquishment. However, behavioural issues can still affect dog welfare and owner mental health, highlighting the need for evidence-based behavioural interventions.
Training Style Matters: Use of multiple aversive methods was associated with weaker owner-dog relationships, while mainly reward-based training showed benefits, particularly for emotional closeness. These results support the promotion of reward-based training methods.
Pandemic Influences: Acquiring a dog due to COVID-19 was linked to increased perceived burden, possibly due to lifestyle mismatches after lockdowns ended. Rapid acquisition decisions were associated with higher emotional closeness, though it’s unclear whether this reflects impulsivity or long-standing desire.
Owner and Household Factors: Emotional closeness was affected by owner age (lower for older respondents), gender (lower for male), presence of children (lower for those with children), and work patterns. Work and care arrangements had complex effects: taking a dog to work reduced perceived burden, but working outside the home without the dog increased closeness. Changes in care arrangements also influenced perceptions of burden and relationship strength.
Conclusion
The main challenges to owner-dog relationships were linked to problem behaviours, not uniquely to pandemic conditions. Owners who acquired dogs impulsively due to the pandemic were more likely to experience weaker bonds.
Promoting evidence-based, reward-based training and offering behavioural support could improve both owner satisfaction and dog welfare. The study also underscores the importance of encouraging responsible acquisition, and supporting owners with work-life balance. Lastly, there is a need for better strategies to encourage thoughtful, long-term planning in dog acquisition to prevent mismatches that could lead to weaker relationships or relinquishment.
Miscellaneous
Data From Study:
Owned Dogs > Dog Ownership Practices > Owner-Dog Relationship
Year of Publication:
2025
External Link:
Merritt BL, O’Neill DG, Brand CL, Belshaw Z, Dale FC, Pegram CL, et al. (2025) Lasting lockdown love? Problem behaviour and pandemic and non-pandemic related risk factors influencing the owner-dog relationship in a UK cohort of dogs reaching early adulthood. PLoS ONE 20(2): e0316166. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0316166