A dog is for life, not just lockdown...
Daisy Jackson reports on how people spending more time at home has led to a huge surge in puppy sales
THE number of people buying dogs has soared in the UK during lockdown, with people scrambling for four-legged companions. Most of us will know someone who has welcomed a new pet into their household in the past few months.
Social media is awash with photos of adorable puppies – when we asked our readers to share photos of their lockdown pups, we received more than 350 replies, with everything from pedigree puppies to blind rescue dogs.
According to data from Pets4Homes, a pet classifieds website, the number of people looking to adopt a dog has almost doubled since the same time last year.
But with this surge in demand also comes a surge in pricing.
The average price for dogs listed on the website is 104 per cent higher than it was during the same period last year.
That increase gets even steeper when you look at certain breeds cocker spaniels and Jack Russell terriers are now 174pc more expensive, and the price of popular breeds such as cavapoos, cockapoos and Labrador has more than doubled too.
Manchester has seen some of the highest price increases in the country, beaten only by Doncaster, Bradford and Wolverhampton.
Pets4Homes said: “We have put up stark warnings across the website to not pre-pay deposits to breeders to avoid scams, however, with so many buyers competing for the same puppy, some have been sending money before a viewing has been arranged to secure the puppy.”
Industry experts have voiced concerns that the soar in demand could help to fuel illegal puppy farms, and that people need to think about how their new pets will cope when lockdown eases further and we’re all at home less.
Here’s what some local breeders and trainers want you to know. asking clients to Whatsapp her videos of their dogs so she can see their progress.
Jo says she’s noticed a spike in the number of people getting dogs in the last few months, where usually she would expect trade to pick up around Christmas.
She says: “People who usually work more are suddenly getting dogs, because they have the time to train them before they go back to work.
“What people are finding is that puppies are a lot of work.
“But I don’t think lockdown is a bad time to get a puppy, because we have the time at home to establish that bond, put a routine in place.”
Common problems she’s finding with her clients is that lockdown puppies are struggling with separation anxiety, as well as nipping and mouthing.
She says: “They’re never being left alone at all – but realistically, people’s routines will have to change.
“People really need to think about what they’re going to do when they have to go back to work – ‘how long is my puppy going to be left alone, in which room, what support network do I have, am I really going to get up at 6am to walk my puppy before work?”
Biting and mouthing are commonplace when young dogs are overtired.
Puppies, on average, need between 16 and 18 hours of sleep every day - and with families at home round-the-clock, they’re not getting the quiet time they need.
From a training perspective, Jo says there is a benefit to choosing pedigree puppies over popular mixed breeds such as cockapoos, which are being sold online for upwards of £3,000.
She said: “The good thing about a pedigree puppy is at least you can predict what that particular breed will behave like. You’ve got hundreds of years of background!
“Genetics isn’t a straightforward science – if you get a mixed breed, you can’t predict how that dog is going to behave.”
Jo’s advice is to speak to a professional trainer before you even start looking to add a puppy to your household, to work out what will be most compatible with your lifestyle.