Taking a stroll in one of South London’s many parks you cannot help but notice that there are so many more dogs.  During the pandemic, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of puppies being bought and sold all over London.  As travelling abroad has been restricted, and many people are working from home, more people feel they have time to look after and train a dog than they used to.  Consequently, people believe that this could be the perfect time to add a furry friend to their family.  Furthermore, while socially distancing people may be feeling isolated, so having a dog can be comforting and great for mental wellbeing.

Becoming a dog owner can transform your life and can be an amazing experience.  There are multiple positive effects, such as making you do more exercise, taking in fresh air, as well as reducing and preventing loneliness.  A dog can be a companion and make you a more sociable person, as you will often interact with other dog owners whilst at a training class, or just walking in the park. However, getting a dog is a huge commitment, that comes with responsibility and care.  Dogs should be looked after and loved for them to lead happy lives.

The increase in the number of dogs being bought during the pandemic has created some concern.  When commitments restart and people return to work and travel, they may not have enough time to care for a dog.  There is a fear that after the pandemic there may be a large population of people who can no longer cope with looking after a puppy and more dogs will be abandoned or handed over to rescue centres.  As people are spending more time at home, dogs are also getting used to their owners being around them all the time.  When people’s lives go back to normal and they leave their dogs alone, dogs may suffer from separation anxiety.   Another effect of the increased demand for puppies is that the prices for puppies has risen.

Jane Ball, who runs Dulwich Dog School, says that “There is a greater demand for my training sessions since lockdown”.  She believes that this is “encouraging” as “owners are taking dog ownership seriously” by getting their dogs trained.  She advises people who are considering getting a dog to “research thoroughly before taking on such a huge commitment - the Dogs Trust coined the phrase ‘Dogs are for life, not just for Christmas’  I would now say ‘ Dogs are for life, not just for Lockdown’.”