Rowena Packer News Today

The Royal Veterinary College says dogs bought then appear to display high rates of behaviour issues, such as separation anxiety and aggression towards other animals.

Some owners use methods that distress and confuse their dogs, the Royal Veterinary College warns.

Research by the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has found dogs bought during the pandemic had alarming rates of separation anxiety and aggression towards other dogs.

Almost all the owners said their dog had at least one problem behaviour, such as issues with control, attention-seeking or aggression. By the time the pets reached 21 months old, owners reported an average of five problem behaviours, while 20% said their pets had eight or more.

Problems such as pulling on lead, clinginess or aggression were most prevalent among the pets studied

Puppies bought during the COVID-19 pandemic are proving to be prone to bad behaviour, their owners have said.

Sophie was too scared to go outside; Hendrix will chew anything when left alone. As the number of dogs in the UK has exploded, so has the number of unruly pooches

The pursuit of aesthetic perfection causes pugs, bulldogs and dachshunds to suffer

The Royal Veterinary College says illegal acts, like puppies only viewed online pre-purchase, have persisted post-pandemic.

Two students from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) have been awarded prizes at the International Canine Health Awards.