Raising a Puppy is Harder than Expected.

New research from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has shed light on how children and caregivers experience life with a puppy – revealing that despite many rewards, more than one third of families found raising a puppy harder than anticipated. Common challenges included managing puppy behaviour and an unequal distribution of responsibilities amongst family members.

The surge in puppy ownership during the COVID-19 pandemic was partly driven by families hoping to boost mental health and wellbeing. However, this study highlights how bringing a puppy into a home does not always deliver the consistent benefits many families expect. Instead, outcomes vary widely, with some families reporting stress and unmet expectations leading to some considering rehoming their puppy.

The findings from this research highlight the importance of all household members being involved in researching and understanding the realities of pet care and responsibilities, prior to purchasing a puppy. Furthermore, the findings emphasise the common disconnection between motivations for purchasing a puppy and the reality of puppy ownership.

The study, funded by the Society for Companion Animal Studies (SCAS) and part of the RVC’s ongoing Pandemic Puppies research programme, explored the interactions between puppies, children and caregivers in UK households. Unlike most previous studies, which focus on a single “owner-dog” relationship, this project involved collecting insights from 382 adult caregivers and 216 children (aged 8 to 17 years) living in the same household.

The online survey analysed views of participants who acquired puppies before and during the pandemic. The findings revealed that while dogs often provide joy, comfort and companionship to children, families may also face difficulties in managing puppy behaviour, setting safe boundaries for child-dog interactions and negotiating care responsibilities, with the burden often falling on the mother.

Additional key findings included that:

• Puppies were a source of comfort, companionship and emotional support for many children, often describing dogs as “best friends”.
• Close physical interactions - such as hugging and cuddling - were highly valued by children but may lead to an increase in the risk of dog bites if dogs feel stressed or overwhelmed by these interactions, potentially using aggression to escape this close contact.
• More than one-third of caregivers (37.3%) found living with a puppy harder than expected.
• First-time dog owners were especially likely to report challenges managing puppy-child interactions.
• Adult caregivers often shouldered the bulk of responsibility for puppy care, with many mothers in particular reporting that the mental load of juggling childcare and dog care was greater than anticipated, causing overwhelm due to their competing needs.
• Expectations around children’s involvement in care were often unmet. One in five (21.1%) caregivers said their child took less responsibility than expected, leaving them feeling frustrated or stressed.
• Problem behaviours such as nipping, jumping up and unwanted play sometimes caused strain on relationships, with nearly half (47.1%) of those who considered rehoming their dog citing behaviour issues as the reason.

It is hoped that the findings from this study will help lead to the development of more family-focused guidance for new dog owners - including safe child-dog interactions, sharing responsibilities fairly and preparing for the challenges of puppyhood. It also highlights the importance of considering the often-maternal mental load in households where women are the primary caregivers for both children and dogs.

Dr Rowena Packer, Senior Lecturer in Companion Animal Behaviour and Welfare Scientist at the RVC, and senior author of the study, said:

“Our study shows that young children often interact with dogs in ways that can increase the risk of bites, such as hugging or cuddling them. Children are especially likely to approach their dogs for comfort when they feel upset, bored or lonely, which can lead to very close contact that some dogs find stressful. In these moments, dogs may react defensively, sometimes by snapping or biting to try and escape the situation.

“We appreciate that parents of young children have a lot to juggle, and that their children often genuinely enjoy physical interactions with their dogs, but we can’t expect children to know how to safely interact with dogs or read their body language without help. We encourage parents and caregivers to learn about safe dog–child interactions alongside their children, set clear boundaries with their children, and closely monitor their interactions with dogs to protect both children and pets.”

Dr Zoe Belshaw, veterinary specialist, and first author of the study, said:

“Families often see a new puppy as a source of joy, companionship, and fun. However, behind the excitement lies a great deal of work to integrate that puppy successfully into the household, then meet its ongoing needs for many years.

“Our research identified that dog care responsibility tends to fall to mothers. Children’s initial excitement at looking after a puppy may wear off, leading to them taking less ongoing responsibility than their parents had anticipated. Mothers involved in our research described feeling overwhelmed trying to juggle the competing needs of their dog, their family, and work commitments. This appeared particularly acute during the puppyhood stages when puppy behaviours such as jumping up and nipping may be unexpectedly frightening to young children. This study identifies dog care as a significant and overlooked form of women's work.”

For guidance on safe dog-child interactions, please visit: Blue Cross - Be Safe With Dogs.