During the pandemic many jumped at the chance to have something to fill their bleak, boring days which translated into an unprecedented spike in puppy adoption and sales. It was seen as a great opportunity to truly focus on a puppy’s training and care while gaining a friend for those who were slowly dissolving from the lack of interaction. Shelters and breeders were cleared out, with long waiting lists being seen nearly everywhere. Puppies were seen as exciting and lovable companions who could help their owners get more active and lessen the onset of pandemic depression. 

As shelters and reputable breeders got more and more applications, along with their protocols for making sure animals got the best owners they could have, many young people turned to disreputable online marketplaces and stores for their apartment puppy. They were uneducated in the dubious ethics of buying and selling puppies this way so some inexperienced owners jumped at the chance to get a designer puppy without the wait or the usual price tag that comes from a real breeder. Even if you can disregard the abusive practices of these mills, many of these cute, trendy puppies come with unforeseen health problems from being bred unhealthily.

Those looking for a puppy shouldn’t be put off by these stories but they must do their research when thinking about getting a dog. Many new owners would better suit an adult dog, in fact. People shouldn’t disregard this information, or they might end up with a puppy with an expensive, serious illness and end up supporting an industry that is infamous for heinous acts of animal cruelty. Even for those first time pet owners who procured their puppy in the correct way, many were still not prepared to train these puppies or for the fact that their tiny friends grow into adult dogs. 

Many behavioral problems came about from puppies being raised during the pandemic. The most common of these were the inability to socialize a puppy during a time when interaction was impossible, and the separation anxiety issues they encountered when owners began to return to the office. The normal issues that unprepared first time dog owners face, like certain behaviors being cute until the dog grows four times the size of a puppy, were compounded by these dogs being left alone or taken into public places regularly for the first time in their lives. Instead of investing the time, energy and money into fixing these problems, many owners started to dump these puppies or resell them. 

This is no way meant to demonize those who re-home properly through a shelter after genuinely trying their best and realizing their situation isn’t healthy for their dog. The issue is with those who are dumping or neglecting these innocent dogs as well as those using shady online resale sites to try to “recoup” the money they paid for these dogs. First time pet owners who do their research know what they’re getting into, and acquire their new furry friend from the proper sources should not be deterred by any of these occurrences.

There is a difference between coincidentally getting a puppy during a pandemic and getting a puppy for the pandemic, because the pandemic will end but the dog is most likely, at least, a 10 year commitment you have made.