Zoe Belshaw

Since 2021, United Kingdom (UK) residents have faced a decline in disposable income termed the Cost-of-Living Crisis (COLC). For pet owners, this has been compounded by the costs of veterinary care rising faster than the rate of inflation. Animal welfare charities have reported increased rates of relinquishment and owners making cost-reducing savings on multiple aspects of their dogs’ care. This study aimed to quantitatively assess the nature and prevalence of impacts of the COLC on a cohort of dogs acquired in 2020 and their owners. A cross-sectional survey collected data between 2022 and 2024 from n = 770 owners of “Pandemic Puppies” as their dogs reached 36 months of age. Questions focused on the impacts of COLC on household income and expenditure, as well as on specific aspects of dog management. Results identified our owner cohort to have a modal household income which was three times higher than the average household income. Despite this, 36% reported that their household income had been negatively impacted by COLC. Over one in ten (12.4%) owners reported having made COLC-driven negative changes to their dogs’ care, with 10.8% anticipating making changes in the future. The most common changes were reduction in or cessation of pet insurance cover, reduced use of professional dog trainers, groomer and daycare services and delays to seeking veterinary attention for potential health problems. Given the relative affluence of our respondents and the specific features of this “Pandemic Puppy” cohort, these results may not be widely generalisable and may substantially underestimate the negative impacts of the COLC on canine welfare in the wider UK population.

Extreme conformation and reduced genetic diversity are recognised to lead to severely reduced health, welfare and longevity in certain dog breeds. There is growing interest in applying strategic crossbreeding to promote more moderate conformations and greater genetic diversity within currently problematic breeds. Crossbreeding could therefore lead to more rapid and effective improvements in welfare compared to current practices of within-breed selection. Deliberate crossbreeding between distinct different dog breeds is not a new concept; it was historically commonly used to create the current pure breeds, to increase genetic diversity and to bring new physical and/or temperament traits into existing breeds. However, a recent surge in the popularity of ‘designer crossbreeds’ (intentional crosses between established purebreds) has elicited fresh interest around the potential positives and negatives of crossbreeding practices. Further research on crossbred brachycephalic dogs is urgently required for a greater understanding of the motivators and barriers to their acquisition. An online survey explored factors that motivate dog breed choice and acquisition of both crossbreed and purebred dogs. In addition, the survey used both closed and open questioning to explore the UK public’s perceptions of crossbreeding, specifically (i) between a brachycephalic breed and a non-brachycephalic breed, and (ii) between two non-brachycephalic breeds. Free-text results were analysed using content analysis and subsequently quantified. Results from 4,899 participants identified that key motivators to acquire a brachycephalic crossbreed vs a brachycephalic purebred included perceptions of improved health, including the reduction in risk of breed and conformation-related disorders, and increased genetic diversity. However, the desire to acquire a purebred dog, or even a specific breed, remained a significant barrier to crossbreed acquisition, alongside concerns surrounding the ethics of crossbreeding. Other barriers included perceived negative changes to appearance and temperament of the offspring from crossbreeding. The current study identified a common set of acquisition decision-making factors across all ownership groups, including desiring a dog who the owner perceives to enjoy being loved and to enjoy physical affection, but further demonstrated that good health is of motivational low priority to some dog owners, particularly to owners of purebred brachycephalic dogs. The mix of positive and negative public perceptions and beliefs around crossbreeding and crossbreed dogs demonstrate the need for further research into the health, temperament and appearance of brachycephalic crossbreed dogs. The suitability of crossbreed dogs as an alternative to certain current purebred breeds with high risk of genetic or conformational disorders depends on both public desire and on evidence-based selection of suitable breeds to encourage crosses which maximise canine welfare.

Many puppies were acquired during the COVID-19 pandemic to boost families’ mental health. The aim of this study was to characterise the nature, benefits and challenges of dog-child interactions as perceived by UK adult caregivers and co-habiting children aged 8–17 years. In 2023, a three-part online survey was administered incorporating qualitative and quantitative questions. We included two respondent groups: households owning (a) a puppy acquired during 2019 and (b) a puppy acquired during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020–2021. Statistical analyses explored differences between ownership groups; free-text data was thematically analysed. Valid responses were collected from n = 382 caregivers and n = 216 children. Puppies’ primary adult caregivers were 95% female. Over one-third (37.3%) of caregivers found living with a puppy harder than expected; first-time owners were significantly more likely than experienced owners to find child-puppy interactions challenging. Almost all children were allowed to physically interact with their dog in ways previous studies have associated with an increased bite risk. Three themes were constructed from the free-text data, highlighting: (1) perceived positive aspects of dog ownership, particularly the importance to children and caregivers of close child-dog physical interactions; (2) challenges of managing a dog in a family home including negotiating responsibility for care between family members and establishing safe child-dog boundaries; (3) how one dog could differentially impact multiple household members, including that a single dog-person relationship could impact whole-household dynamics. These findings underscore the importance of involving all household members in human-dog research and highlight the unpredictability of whether acquisition motivations will align with outcomes. Resources are needed to help families safely and successfully integrate puppies into their homes, particularly in managing the evident associated maternal mental load.

The number of puppies imported to the United Kingdom (UK) from the European Union (EU) is increasing, as are concerns about the legality, welfare and potential disease risks associated with their trade. This study aimed to use an online survey to collect questionnaire data from UK residents about their awareness and knowledge of EU Pet Passports, illegal puppy importation, and dog-borne exotic diseases and the risks they might pose to UK-resident dogs and people. Valid responses were collected from n = 7184 UK residents, mainly current dog owners. We identified substantial knowledge gaps relating to EU Pet Passports, how puppies might be moved across Europe, and the legal age of importation. Awareness of exotic diseases was poor; knowledge about the risks they posed was even poorer, particularly in relation to dog–human transmission. With some respondents not even being confident that they had heard of rabies, there is substantial work to do to ensure that the UK canine and human populations remain safe in the face of significant welfare and exotic disease threats. These knowledge deficits may facilitate the burgeoning illegal trade in puppies across the EU. Legal change may be required to prevent consumers from unintentionally supporting poor welfare sources of puppies.

The United Kingdom (UK) is a key market for puppy importation from the European Union (EU), as demand for puppies exceeds domestic supply. Many are illegally imported. Potential welfare risks to the puppies and negative impacts of these on their prospective owners are well documented, but UK residents’ perspectives on the trade are not. This study aimed to use an online survey to capture UK residents’ understanding of the benefits and risks to imported puppies of being imported from Romania for sale in the UK, and the benefits and risks of buying an imported puppy for their prospective owners. Eligible responses were collected from n = 7184 participants; 4000 randomly selected free-text comments underwent content analysis. Respondents displayed a limited understanding of the nature and range of risks potentially associated with puppy importation. Worryingly, many viewed an EU-born puppy as equivalent to one bred in the UK; others considered them as “rescued”. Synonyms used for non-endemic diseases that might be carried by the puppies varied widely, suggesting substantial confusion may exist on this topic. The UK public may underestimate the potential risks associated with buying a puppy bred in the EU, which plays into the hands of illegal puppy traders.

Background: Brachycephalic dog breeds often exhibit a suite of extreme conformations linked with several severe and long‐term disorders. Despite this, ownership levels of brachycephalic breeds remain high internationally, with physical appearance being an important driver in their acquisition. Moving these breeds away from conformational extremes is necessary to protect canine welfare. This study aimed to explore how a range of extreme conformations in common brachycephalic breeds are perceived by the UK public. Methods: An online questionnaire used images generated by artificial intelligence of typical, less extreme and super extreme versions of three common brachycephalic breeds (French Bulldog, Pug and English Bulldog) to assess preferences among the UK general public for varying degrees of conformational extremes of muzzle length, eye size/shape, skin wrinkling and tail length. Results: The survey included results from 4899 participants. The less extreme versions of all three breeds were rated significantly higher by the public, including owners of purebred brachycephalic dogs, for attractiveness, perceived health, how happy they made the participant feel, ethics of breeding and how much the participant would like to own that dog ( p < 0.001). Limitations: The participants were UK‐based only and largely female, restricting generalisability. Conclusion: If given a choice, the UK public prefers less extreme body shapes in brachycephalic dog breeds. This presents major welfare opportunities to reverse the current normalisation of extreme body shapes in some currently popular brachycephalic dog breeds.

The United Kingdom (UK) is a key market for illegal puppy importation from the European Union (EU), as demand for puppies exceeds domestic supply from legitimate sources. Potential welfare risks to the puppies and negative impacts of these on their prospective owners are well documented, but UK residents’ perspectives on the trade are not. This study aimed to use an online survey to capture UK residents’ understanding of the benefits and risks to imported puppies of being brought to the UK, and the benefits and risks of buying an imported puppy for their prospective owners. Eligible responses were collected from n=7184 participants; 4000 randomly-selected free-text comments underwent content analysis. Our respondents displayed a limited understanding of the nature and range of risks associated with puppy importation and worryingly appeared to view owning an EU-born puppy as equivalent to one bred in the UK. Synonyms used for non-endemic diseases varied widely suggesting substantial confusion may exist on this topic. Perceptions of feeling good about “rescuing” a purchased imported puppy closely align with motivations to adopt older imported rescue dogs. If the importation of puppies aged under six months is banned, the trade in imported young adult rescue dogs may therefore proliferate.

The number of puppies imported to the United Kingdom (UK) from the European Union (EU) is increasing, as are concerns about the legality, welfare and potential disease risks associated with their trade. This study aimed to use an online survey to collect questionnaire data from UK residents about their awareness and knowledge of EU Pet Passports, illegal puppy importation, and of dog-carried exotic diseases and the risks they might pose to UK-resident dogs and people. Valid responses were collected from n=7184 UK residents, mainly current dog owners. We identified substantial knowledge gaps relating to EU Pet Passports, how puppies might be moved across Europe, and the legal age of importation. Awareness of exotic diseases was poor; knowledge about the risks they posed was even poorer, particularly in relation to dog-human transmission. With some respondents not even being confident that they had heard of rabies, there is substantial work to do to ensure the UK canine and human populations remain safe in the face of significant welfare and exotic disease threats. These knowledge deficits may facilitate the burgeoning illegal trade in puppies across the EU. Legal change may be required to prevent consumers unintentionally supporting this poor-welfare source of puppies.

Objectives: The UK dog population is living longer, raising concerns about their welfare as a result of ageing‐related diseases. Our primary objective was to determine when dogs enter the “old age” life stage based on free‐text clinical narratives in veterinary electronic health records. In addition, to identify common conditions documented during consultations with old dogs.Materials and Methods: Regular expressions were developed for: ageing, elderly, geriatric, senior and old. These were used to search the veterinary clinical narratives within a large database of veterinary electronic health records. A sample of 1000 consultations were then read, and those confirmed as being old age classified according to a modified scheme based on the World Health Organization International Classification of Disease 10th Revision.Results: A total of 832 old age dogs were identified. The age at which veterinary professionals considered dogs to be in old age was over 7.25 years in 95% of patients (median age 12.5 years). This age varied among the most common breeds, with cocker spaniels being younger (median 11.7 years) compared with Jack Russell terriers (14.1 years). Weight‐related (289/832 consultations, 35%), musculoskeletal (278, 33%), dental (254, 31%), integumentary (235, 28%) and digestive (187, 22%) conditions were most common. The odds of a dental condition were greater (odds ratio: 2.71, 95% confidence interval: 1.38 to 5.31) and musculoskeletal condition less (odds ratio: 0.36, 95% confidence interval: 0.17 to 0.81) in cocker spaniels than in a mixed breeds reference.Clinical Significance: This metric applied at scale to identify old patients may provide a novel foundation for timely health interventions targeted to dogs at increased risk of developing various age‐related conditions.

Problem behaviours are a leading cause of relinquishment and euthanasia of young dogs. Previous research has identified associations between owner-reported problem behaviours and risk factors, including how dogs were acquired as puppies, early socialisation experiences, and owners’ experience levels. Puppies acquired during the 2020 phase of the UK COVID-19 pandemic (“Pandemic Puppies”) were more likely to be exposed to many of these risk factors compared to puppies acquired in 2019; however, consequences for their adult behaviour are, as yet, unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the impact of these early-life and provenance-based risk factors, in addition to owner management strategies (including training methods) into early adulthood, upon adult dog behaviour aged 21 months. An online longitudinal cohort study of n = 985 Pandemic Puppies was conducted, recruited from a cohort of n = 4369 puppies originally surveyed in November–December 2020, which included data on how and why they were acquired and their socialisation/habituation experiences <16 weeks of age. Nearly all owners (96.7%) reported that their dog had exhibited at least one problem behaviour up to 21 months of age (median: 5; IQR: 3–7). Almost one third of dogs (30.9%) were reported to have displayed separation-related behaviours. Multivariable linear regression modelling revealed that owners reporting more problem behaviours were more likely to use multiple aversive training techniques (e.g., physical punishment), the use of which was notably high in this population (82.3%) compared to previous studies. Attendance at online puppy classes was the sole protective factor against owner use of aversive training methods. Almost one third of owners had underestimated how hard training their dog would be; this view was more likely among first-time owners. Urgent efforts are required to support this vulnerable population of dogs, including providing owner education regarding humane training techniques, to improve canine emotional health and avoid future relinquishment and/or behavioural euthanasia.