“Pandemic puppies” or “COVID puppies” are all the rage right now. While we are happy to see so many rescue dogs finding homes, we cannot stress the importance of families truly thinking about the commitment they are signing up for.
A puppy is for life. A puppy is not something to fill the time with temporarily. Remember – life will go back to a new normal eventually, and puppies are just as much work as a toddler, requiring attention and exercise. What happens when you return to work, and have less free time? Puppies require training (we ALWAYS recommend classes), socialization, structure and boundaries. Medically, they require 3-4 puppy vaccines to protect them from common diseases they are vulnerable to (primarily the often-fatal parvovirus).
Puppies are not entertainment for children. Most children need to be taught to act appropriately around pets. Puppies (or any age of dog) should not be left unsupervised with children. Children should not be allowed to climb on or pick up puppies/dogs. Children should not be allowed to take toys or treats from puppies/dogs.
Sadly, we have already seen several puppy returns from families who did not consider these factors prior to adoption. To quote Kim Cooper, a professional dog trainer, “the bottom line is: what is going to happen when this is all over? Not today, but what is going to happen six months from today? Think about that before you make your decision”.