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Third of families find raising puppy harder than expected
Some relationships strained over fair sharing of care duties
While for many people bringing a puppy into the home can be a profoundly rewarding part of life, new research from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has revealed that one in three families find it harder than expected.
The RVC said common challenges include managing behaviour and sharing pet care responsibilities among family members.
Outcomes among households who took in a young dog "varied widely" with some reporting stress and unmet expectations leading them to consider rehoming.
The study, which was funded by the Society for Companion Animal Studies (SCAS) as part of the RVC's ongoing Pandemic Puppies research programme, explored interactions between puppies, children and caregivers in the UK, and involved collecting insights from children as well as adults, and examined the experiences of families who adopted a puppy before or during the pandemic.
Researchers found that while dogs often provide joy, comfort and companionship, households can 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 findings included:
- Puppies were a source of comfort, companionship and emotional support for many children, often describing dogs as “best friends”.
- Physical interactions, such as hugging and cuddling, were highly valued by children but can lead to dog bites if dogs feel stressed by the interactions, potentially using aggression to escape 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.
- One in five caregivers said their child had taken on 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 as the reason.
It's hoped the study findings will encourage prospective puppy parents to involve the whole family in researching what to expect, from safe child-dog interactions, sharing the care burden fairly, and preparing for the challenges of puppyhood.
It also highlighted 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 study author, 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, visit Blue Cross (opens new tab).
