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

Abstract

The owner-dog relationship is a critical component of sustained dog ownership. Increased understanding of risk factors for weak owner-dog relationships can identify owner-dog dyads at higher risk of poor welfare outcomes, including dog relinquishment and euthanasia. The internationally documented boom in puppy acquisition during the COVID-19 pandemic led to welfare concerns for this cohort of dogs, including impulsive purchasing of puppies to unsuitable homes, increased supply of puppies from poor-welfare sources, and deficits in early-life experiences for puppies. Combined, these changes were feared to lead to problem behaviours, weak owner-dog relationships and increased future relinquishment in this uniquely vulnerable generation. The Pandemic Puppies project longitudinally studied dogs bought as puppies aged < 16-weeks old during the 2020 phase of the COVID-19 pandemic by collecting owner-completed data during puppyhood and as adults. This study aimed to investigate factors associated with the owner-dog relationship in early-adulthood via a cross-sectional analysis of a subset of Pandemic Puppies data (n = 794). When dogs were 21-months old owners completed the Monash Dog-Owner Relationship Scale (MDORS), from which the Perceived Emotional Closeness (Closeness) and Perceived Costs subscales were established as reliable in this sample and were used as outcome variables in multivariable analyses to explore risk factors such as health, behaviour, and acquisition-related variables. Problem behaviours, including those related to lack of control, fear, separation, and aggression were the predominant risk factors associated with increased Perceived Costs score. The presence of most problem behaviours was not associated with reduced Closeness, suggesting a potential source of emotional conflict for owners. However, owners of dogs showing aggressive behaviours had lower Closeness scores. Puppy acquisitions explicitly motivated by the pandemic were associated with increased Perceived Costs. Support interventions targeted at owners of dogs with problem behaviours are of high importance if positive owner-dog relationships are to be maintained.

Fig 1. Sample size and response attrition for investigation of risk-factors for weaker owner-dog relationship measured by the Monash Dog-Owner Relationship Scale (MDORS) as reported by owners of Pandemic Puppies aged 21-months, bought as puppies under 16-weeks of age in the UK between 1 July to 31 December 2020.

Fig 2. Mixed multivariable linear regression model for risk factors influencing Perceived Costs to owners of 21-month-old Pandemic Puppies bought as puppies under 16-weeks of age in the UK between July to December 2020, as measured by the Perceived Costs subscale of the Monash Dog-Owner Relationship Scale (n = 794).

Blue/up arrows indicate risk factors that increase Perceived Costs reflecting a weaker owner-dog relationship, orange/down arrows display decreased Perceived Costs reflecting a stronger owner-dog relationship. Arrow width proportional to effect size. Regression coefficient (95% confidence interval) represented to the right of the arrow for each risk factor. Risk factors with an effect size with a confidence interval that includes 0 are not included. Adjusted for training method and anticipated changes to household circumstances. Random effects: UK Region and dog birth month.

Fig 3. Mixed multivariable linear regression model for risk factors influencing Perceived Emotional Closeness between owners of 21-month-old Pandemic Puppies bought as puppies under 16-weeks of age in the UK between July to December 2020, as measured by the Perceived Emotional Closeness subscale of the Monash Dog-Owner Relationship Scale (n = 794).

Orange/up arrows indicate risk factors that increase Closeness reflecting a stronger owner-dog relationship, blue/down arrows display decreased Closeness reflecting a weaker owner-dog relationship. Arrow width proportional to effect size. Regression coefficient (95% confidence interval) represented to the right of the arrow for each risk factor. Risk factors with an effect size with a confidence interval that includes 0 are not included. Random effects: UK Region and dog birth month.