Your Pets Daily - lockdown dogs

Expert Comment on the abandonment of lockdown dogs - Joe Inglis

Your Pets Daily Editor — Sun, 12 Sep 2021 07:51:28 +0000

New stats out today reveal that more people are trying to give up their lockdown dogs – with The Dogs Trust seeing a 35% rise in calls related to giving up dogs in the last few weeks*. Below Dr Joe Inglis, Media Vet and Founder of VetChef.com provides expert comments and advice to those worried about not being able to cope with owning a dog now they’re returning to the office.

Vet Joe Inglis, Founder of VetChef.com says: “The Dogs Trust stats revealed today are alarming but sadly unsurprising. There was an enormous rise in dog ownership during the pandemic and now that we are starting to return to our normal work routines, some people have found it hard to continue to prioritise the care of their new canine companions. However, there are ways around it without giving up your pet - speak to your employer about the options of bringing your dog to work with you, seek out a support network who might be able to help care for your dog while you’re out at work, or find a quality doggy day care service to take advantage of. And work from home as much as you are able and try to avoid leaving your dog alone for long periods of time which can increase the risks of separation anxiety. It’s not an easy situation to be in but there are ways around it without leaving more dogs homeless."

Home Alone - Tips for owners of lockdown dogs facing time alone for the first time

Your Pets Daily Editor — Sun, 27 Jun 2021 09:59:39 +0000

Lockdown Dogs Facing Spending Time Alone for First Time

The pandemic saw a huge rise in pet ownership, going from 41% of households to 59%[1] in just one year. Dogs remain the most popular choice. Furlough, home working, limits on outdoor activities and loneliness all contributed to the rise. However, the imminent return to the office, for most people (at least part time), means that many of these pampered pooches will be facing extended periods of alone time for the first time, while others may find themselves accompanying their owners to work. Vet Dr Joe Inglis, from home-cooking platform VetChef.com, explains how you can help your dog through this huge change in his or her life.

Joe advised; “Dogs are pack animals and can be distressed if suddenly left for long periods of time. It’s important to prepare for and manage the separation. The extension of the lockdown gives you the time you need.”

Joe’s top tips for preparing for the separation:

There will be fierce competition for dog walkers. Book yours now as a whole day without exercise, or the chance to use the toilet, is too much to expect from your dog.
Start leaving your animal alone for a short time now. Gradually build to longer periods.
Crates are not recommended for dogs over long periods (such as the typical working day). However if you intend to use a crate for your dog for some of the time, start by leaving the crate door open and fill the crate with their bed and favourite toys so they learn to see the crate as a place of comfort and security. Once they’re happy in the crate, shut them in for short periods with food and give them lots of rewards and attention when they come out.
Adapt your routine to what it will be when you start work. E.g. Walk your dog at the beginning and end of the day so they get used to the idea of less activity in the middle of the day.

We can also expect to see a rise in dogs coming to work. If you intend to take your dog to the office Joe advises:

Only consider it if your boss and other employees are happy for you to do so. Check no-one has an allergy. How many other people will be bringing in dogs? Are there times people would rather the dog was not there (e.g. client meetings)?
Make sure your dog is very well trained. No-one wants a dog in the office if there is a risk of them barking at the wrong time or jumping up on visitors. You may think it’s adorable; most people won’t and you’ll find yourself very unpopular.
Does the dog sit quietly at your feet while you work, or does it often distract you? An office is a fascinating place for a dog, full of lots of interesting smells and people. If the dog is not chilled at home, it will not be calm in your office and you and everyone else will find it very distracting.
Check there is somewhere safe nearby for the dog to exercise and relieve itself.
Check that the dog is happy travelling. Some are terrified of getting on trains. Take the dog for a couple of trial runs, where you can go in for an hour and straight back home again, without any pressure on either of you.

Whether at home or in an office Joe advises that diet is far more important than most people realise: “We now know that if you feed a child nothing but processed food it can result in behavioural problems. The same is true with dogs. A well-fed dog, getting fresh food and the right nutrients, will be happier and healthier and far less likely to resort to destructive behaviour.”

Dog owners are increasingly moving to a fresh diet for their pets as companies, like VetChef, with their team of specialist dog nutritionists, make it easy and hassle free.

Joe explained; “Feeding fresh homemade food is very straightforward and cost effective. You just need to make sure you get the nutritional balance right. That’s why we offer free recipes, tailored to different dogs, together with supplements. The cooking steps are quick and easy - little more than getting all your ingredients and simmering them together in a pan. Dogs are not interested in presentation, so it’s all about taste and texture!”

Joe concluded: “As a vet I know the huge impact that an improved diet will have on the happiness and well-being of dogs. It is therefore the single most important part of the transition for our beloved pets as we come out of lockdown. VetChef is here to help.”

The 10 Best Dog Breeds For Owners Who Work From Home

Your Pets Daily Editor — Sat, 05 Jun 2021 11:01:18 +0000

Shih Tzus are a remote worker's best friend, study reveals

A new study finds the most suitable dog breeds for a remote working environment

Doberman Pinschers are the least likely to bark through your video calls with the lowest tendency to bark score within the whole study
Bulldogs are the most expensive to buy at an average of £3,947 in the UK, while Mastiffs are the most affordable at £1,316
Buying a dog cost an average of £781 more now than before the pandemic, that is an average price rise of 130%

The pandemic has resulted in a huge puppy boom, with people seeking comfort from four-legged friends during lockdown as research shows that 3.2 million households believed to have bought a pet during the pandemic1. But which breeds are the most suitable for a remote working environment?

A new study by Small Business Prices has analysed 30 of the most popular dog breeds and their traits to find the most professional dog breeds for remote working, as well as how much they cost to buy or adopt. The study also finds the UK's favourite dog breeds taking the web by storm by analysing the number of Instagram hashtags and monthly search volume for each dog breed.

You can view the full piece here.

The top 10 most suitable dog breeds for remote working

While getting a furry friend is particularly tempting during a lockdown, not all breeds are suitable for a remote working environment. If you're looking to transition to a hybrid-working system as the UK comes out of lockdown, you'll want to ensure your pup is also tolerant to being alone.

To find the best dog breeds for aspiring remote working dog owners, the study measured 30 dog breeds on key traits that are particularly important when working from home with your dog. These include their ability to adapt to flat living, tolerance for being alone, trainability, their tendency to bark through your calls, energy levels and exercise needs.

These are the top 10 best breeds for a remote working environment and how they score on different traits:

Rank	Dog breed	Adaptation to flat living /5	Tolerance for being alone /5	Trainability /5	Tendency to bark /5	Energy levels /5	Exercise needs /5	Total score /5
1	Shih Tzu	5	3	3	2	2	2	4.17
2	Doberman Pinscher	3	2	5	1	3	3	3.72
3	Havanese	5	1	5	2	3	3	3.72
4	French Bulldog	5	1	4	3	3	2	3.61
5	Bulldog	5	3	3	4	2	3	3.61
6	Cavalier King Charles Spaniel	5	1	4	2	3	4	3.33
7	Cocker Spaniel	5	1	5	3	4	3	3.33
8	Boston Terrier	5	3	4	3	4	4	3.28
9	Poodle	5	1	5	2	4	4	3.28
10	Miniature Schnauzer	4	5	5	3	5	5	3.17

The results show that Shih Tzus are the ultimate dogs for a remote working environment– a breed that is highly adaptive to flat living with low energy levels that won't get you distracted during the working day. The trustworthy Doberman Pinscher also ranks high with a great tolerance for being alone and a low tendency to bark through your work calls, followed by the charming Havanese with a great tolerance for being alone.

With low scores for tolerance of being alone and a high tendency to bark, these are the top five least suitable breeds for remote workers:

Rank	Dog breed	Adaptation to flat living /5	Tolerance for being alone /5	Trainability /5	Tendency to bark /5	Energy levels /5	Exercise needs /5	Suitability score for remote working /5
1	Siberian Husky	2	1	2	5	5	5	1.39
2	Brittany	1	1	3	3	5	5	2.00
3	Vizsla	1	1	5	5	5	5	1.67
4	Great Dane	1	1	5	4	5	5	2.00
5	Beagle	4	1	1	5	4	4	3.00

COVID-19's impact on the cost to buy a dog

As a result of the pandemic puppy boom, the cost to buy a dog has increased by an average of +130%, pushing the average cost of the most expensive breed in the study up to £3,947.

Small Business Prices analysed the cost to buy or adopt each of the 30 dog breeds in 2021 comparing the current market value with the average cost before the pandemic.

Shih Tzus, the most suitable dog breed for remote working in the study, is also one of the most affordable options on the market, making it a great fit for many. While the increased demand for dogs has pushed the average price for Shih Tzus up to an average of £1,896, some still sell for as low as £850-£1,000.

These are the top five most affordable options out of all 30 dog breeds in the study:

Rank	Dog breed	Cost to buy/adopt in 2021 (£)
1	Mastiff	£1,316
2	Australian Shepherd	£1,705
3	Beagle	£1,754
4	Brittany	£1,829
5	Shih Tzu	£1,896

However, for some dog breeds, the demand increase has pushed the average cost well past the £3,000 mark. These are the most expensive breeds on the market in 2021:

Rank	Dog breed	Cost to buy/adopt in 2021 (£)
1	Bulldog	£3,947
2	Bernese Mountain Dog	£3,209
3	Havanese	£3,167
4	Great Dane	£3,151
5	French Bulldog	£3,142

The most popular dog breeds online

Dogs are greatly popular both in real life and online, with the dog breeds in this study seeing a 51% average increase in search interest during the pandemic. But which are the most popular breeds taking social media by storm?

These are the top five dog breeds that are the most popular online right now according to the average search volume per breed and the number of breed hashtags on Instagram.

Crowd favourites like French Bulldogs, Golden Retrievers and Bulldogs all feature on the list of the most popular dog breeds on Instagram, but which breeds have gained the most popularity during the pandemic?

Rank	Dog breed	Average monthly search volume Mar 19 - Jan 20	Average monthly search volume Mar 20 - Jan 21	Search volume increase during COVID-19(%)
1	Labrador Retriever	24,100	59,864	148%
2	Pembroke Welsh Corgi	5,973	12,309	106%
3	Havanese	15,509	30,600	97%
4	Shetland Sheepdog	9,282	18,073	95%
5	Cavalier King Charles Spaniel	44,064	83,545	90%

Looking after your dog in a remote working environment

Dogs are known to be a man's best friend, but remote working can make it challenging to meet your dog's needs while remaining focused at work during office hours. To help with this, Small Business Prices has spoken with animal behaviourist and founder of Barket Place, Caroline Wilkinson. These are her top tips for looking after your dog while working remotely:

Is your dog barking through your work calls? They might not be getting enough rest:

"Our dogs aren't getting as much rest, with our constant typing and talking or the hecticness of homeschooling taking place. An overtired dog will be much more likely to bark and react to their environment, than one who's had a good balance of rest alongside mental and physical exercise during the day."
Make sure your dog's needs are met while you work from home:

"Allow your dog plenty of opportunity to get a quiet space to sleep. If they're struggling with noises outside your home, try playing some white noise in your home or a classical music playlist. Be fair to your dog and ensure both their physical and emotional needs have been met with a walk, alongside some sniffing activities or a short training session."
Train your dog at home to adapt to a remote working environment:

"Create a calm den-like space that they feel comfortable settling in - preferably away from your desk, so your movements don't constantly disturb them. Set aside slots in your calendar to give them exercise or attention, so that they're more relaxed when you need to focus - plus getting outside with your dog will increase your own productivity afterwards! Prep plenty of long-lasting chews or filled dog food toys for when you have those really important meetings. Remember this year has been as much about change for our dogs, as it has for us!"

Ian Wright, founder of Small Business Prices comments: "With remote working becoming the new normal over the last year and with millions affected by lockdowns, many have sought comfort and company in dogs. And with this resulting in a big puppy boom over the last year, we thought it would be interesting to see just how suitable the most popular breeds are for a remote working environment and how the increased demand has affected the cost of our four-legged friends.

It's important to keep in mind that not all dog breeds adapt as well to a remote working environment, and we hope that this research can help those who are looking to buy or adopt a dog with making the right choice for their living situation and lifestyle."

To explore more of the top secluded areas to work remotely around the world, visit the full research on Small Business Prices.

Your Pets Daily - lockdown dogs

Expert Comment on the abandonment of lockdown dogs - Joe Inglis

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Home Alone - Tips for owners of lockdown dogs facing time alone for the first time

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The 10 Best Dog Breeds For Owners Who Work From Home

Shih Tzus are a remote worker's best friend, study reveals

The top 10 most suitable dog breeds for remote working

COVID-19's impact on the cost to buy a dog

Looking after your dog in a remote working environment

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