Dogs adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic are significantly more likely to experience anxiety in unfamiliar places and around new people, according to recent research.
Owners who welcomed puppies into their homes during lockdown report higher nervousness levels in their pets than dogs adopted before or after the pandemic.
Around 44% of pandemic pet owners say their dogs are anxious around strangers, a noticeable jump from the 23% of dogs adopted outside lockdown.
Additionally, nearly one-third of pandemic dogs are nervous around other animals, and close to 20% show anxiety around children.
Experts suggest that the heightened anxiety may be linked to a lack of early socialization, which was disrupted by pandemic restrictions.
Puppies typically need exposure to new environments, people, and animals within the first 12 weeks of life to become comfortable in different social settings. Without that early interaction, these dogs may struggle more with anxiety as they grow.
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