Interestingly... The COVID-19 pandemic impacted this industry...
Even five years later, many owners are now reporting problem behaviour in young dogs acquired during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Animal hospitals in Sydney Australia have reported that the most common dog behavioural problems are:
- Digging
- Barking
- Jumping
- Chewing
- Destructiveness
Proper training can help reduce or eliminate any or all of these issues.
A report by Battersea Dogs Home in the UK found that 97% of 1000 owners reported that their dog had at least one behavioural problem, such as aggression, anxiety and fear around other dogs or people, avoidant behaviours and more.
The RVC (Royal Veterinary College) found that 82% of owners report using aversive training techniques to train their pandemic puppies. Aversive dog training techniques include shouting at the dog and jerking their lead.
Further research suggests that these forms of training are ineffective and can actually lead to further behavioural problems in the future.
Aversive dog training techniques are not an effective method to train dogs, especially dogs who were brought into the home at a difficult time, such as the COVID pandemic.
The pandemic is not the only time young dogs may experience difficulties when being rehomed. Dogs can be rehomed for a number of reasons, such as, changes in family circumstances, or their owners simply do not want them anymore, or they have been harmed in some way. All of these situations can have an impact on a dog’s behaviour.
There is a growing demand for good quality dog trainers as a result of these changes.
This is where an understanding of dog psychology and how to train them is essential. Shouting at dogs and jerking their leads, or smacking them, is not a good way to train dogs and can result in further negative behaviour in the future as we have already seen.
Dog trainers play a crucial role in helping owners to manage the behaviour of their dogs. They can also help owners to reduce potential difficulties, such as destructive behaviours and aggression.
A good dog trainer will help the owner and the dog to develop a quality bond, which improves the wellbeing of the owner and the dog. They can also help reduce the potential risk of negative behaviours from the dog in the future.
A well-trained and well-controlled dog is generally a happy one and many people are turning to dog trainers to ensure that their pet is happy and well-trained.