Problem behaviors are a leading cause of dog relinquishment and euthanasia, making it critical to understand the factors that shape early canine development. Brand et al. (2024) investigated the long-term outcomes for a cohort of 985 UK puppies acquired during the COVID-19 pandemic, originally part of a larger 2020 survey.
The results were striking: 96.7% of owners reported at least one problem behavior by the time their dogs reached 21 months, with a median of five behaviors per dog. Common issues included separation-related behaviors, which were observed in almost one-third of the cohort (30.9%).
Owner management strategies emerged as a key influence. Dogs whose owners reported more problem behaviors were significantly more likely to be trained with aversive methods, such as physical punishment. Alarmingly, 82.3% of owners reported using at least one aversive technique—much higher than previous population estimates. In contrast, attendance at online puppy classes was the only factor linked to a reduced likelihood of aversive training use, suggesting some protective benefits.
Nearly one-third of owners admitted they had underestimated the difficulty of training, with first-time owners most likely to express this view. The authors highlight the urgent need for education on humane, reward-based training to protect canine welfare and reduce the risk of relinquishment or behavioral euthanasia in this vulnerable population.
Source: Brand, C., O’Neill, D., Belshaw, Z., Dale, F. C., Merritt, B. L., Clover, K. N., Tay, M.-X. M., Pegram, C. L., & Packer, R. (2024). Impacts of Puppy Early Life Experiences, Puppy-Purchasing Practices, and Owner Characteristics on Owner-Reported Problem Behaviours in a UK Pandemic Puppies Cohort at 21 Months of Age. Animals, 14.
