The COVID-19 pandemic led to a surge in puppy acquisitions, sparking concern that hasty decisions, poor breeding practices, and deficits in early-life experiences might result in long-term welfare issues. To investigate this, the Pandemic Puppies Project followed UK dogs purchased during 2020, collecting data from owners during puppyhood and again in early adulthood.
In their PLOS ONE study, Merritt and colleagues (2025) analyzed responses from 794 owners when their dogs reached 21 months of age. Using the Monash Dog-Owner Relationship Scale (MDORS), researchers assessed two key aspects: Perceived Emotional Closeness and Perceived Costs.
The results revealed that problem behaviors—including lack of control, fear, separation issues, and aggression—were the strongest predictors of increased perceived costs. Owners of dogs displaying aggression, in particular, reported lower emotional closeness. However, most other problem behaviors did not significantly reduce emotional closeness, suggesting that owners often maintain strong emotional attachment despite the stress of managing difficult behaviors.
Interestingly, owners who acquired dogs specifically due to pandemic-related motivations were more likely to report higher perceived costs, highlighting the long-term impact of impulsive decisions during this period. The findings suggest that while behavioral challenges increase stress, the emotional bond between owners and dogs remains resilient—though it may create internal conflict for owners who love their dogs but feel burdened by their care.
The authors stress the importance of targeted support interventions for owners managing problem behaviors. By offering education, training resources, and behavioral support, welfare organizations and professionals can help sustain positive owner-dog relationships and reduce risks of relinquishment.
Source: Merritt, B. L., O’Neill, D., Brand, C., Belshaw, Z., Dale, F. C., Pegram, C. L., & Packer, R. (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. Published February 12, 2025.
