Does anyone have any predictions for how the next year will play out with regards to puppy supply/ demand

[Bluebeeee]

We are hoping for a puppy ourselves. But not sure how long we will have to wait as most of the reputable breeders don’t have any plans for litters for a while still. Will the rescue centres become inundated with lockdown puppies being rehomed do you think? I would consider a rescue if we could be sure it was used to children. It’s such a crazy situation just now with puppies in such high demand it’s hard to imagine a reversal of this. I occasionally do look at pets4homes in case I see an advert that looks ok. But there isn’t really time to research the breeder and ask questions, as by the time I do that they have sold the puppies, normally within 24 hours. I guess this is a sign they aren’t really reputable. How on earth can a litter of 6 puppies be sold for £3000 each with 24 hours ?!

Others will disagree but I think prices will remain high. I'm still at home and will be for some time.

As for rescues I actually think those that get a dog on a whim and decide to rehome won't rehome to a rescue as they will want to get most of their money back.

I dont think prices are going to come down as people are willing to pay current prices. Its just supply and demand. I also don't think many will end up in rescue centres. I think alot of people have taken advantage of being at home for getting a much wanted puppy and being there 24/7 for the first few months. By the time most people are going back to work the puppies will be over a year old and used to being left for longer periods. If home working stopped now id use a combination of family/doggy day care. Wouldnt in a million years think of giving him up.

Interesting. I think you both speak a lot of sense. With potential of lockdown ending soon I kind of wondered if some people may think about not getting a dog afterall. But there seems to be no let up in demand at all.

I think there may be a slight downward trend from the start of the lockdown periods as there was a peak in demand. But I don't think prices will reduce down to the amounts of 2 or 3 years ago because they know that some people are prepared to pay more.

i'm also not convinced the rescue centres will be inundated with a large number of dogs as not every puppy was bought on a whim and those that were will probably be sold on.

Sadly I think those that do end up being signed over to rescue rather than re-sold to try and recoup money, are going to have behavioural issues like separation anxiety or too much youthful exuberance not properly channeled into positive behaviour.

Once furlough ends I think there's going to be a lot more people finding themselves with less income or without a job entirely as well and not being able to afford their dog :(

I think a lot of dogs will end up in rescues. At some point those on furlough or WFH will have to go back into work or lose their job. Rescues will be overwhelmed.

I will go back to the office eventually but I will do what I have always done which is pay for dog care.

I anticipate dog walkers and daycare being in higher demand. Admittedly I pay a lot for daycare but a group walk a day for an adult dog costs a lot less.

I was looking today and prices are already starting to come down. Dogs which would have sold for 3k a month ago are now on for 2k.

I also looked at pets4homes, but it worries me, I read a report that the site is inundated with scammers, so I think unless they activate the safe deposit and you can physically go see the puppies and the mother in their environment I’d not go near it, but then puppy farmers can easily transport them into a home for viewing.

Kc registered breeders is likely the only way to go. Anything else scares me in case it’s either a scam or a puppy farmer,

I think rescues will be inundated but it will be with year old dogs, not puppies.
People who want puppies will still pay for them but who wants to pay privately for a probably poorly trained adolescent dog?
If you would be happy with a year old dog who needs some training and is used to kids you will probably find one in a rescue OP, maybe not till autumn though.

I can't comment on what will happen with demand/price of puppies but I suspect that most of the young dogs that end up in rescues won't be suitable for someone with small children. I suspect that most well behaved dogs that owners find they can't managed once wfh etc ends will be sold on (as pp said, looking to recoup part of the high price they'll have paid for a pup). Sadly, I suspect that there will be many that end up being sent to rescue centres because they develop difficult behaviours. Lockdown has made it difficult to socialise puppies and get them used to visitors/crowds etc so I suspect that quite a few will become reactive to other dogs/strangers etc. This will make it especially difficult for people who were planning to use a dog walker when they are back in work, people who want to put the dog in kennels when they go on holiday etc.

I have a reactive rescue dog and he's lovely but I wouldn't want to do it with small children in the house.

Shelters will be swamped with dogs aged between 1 and 2.

If a half trained and poorly socialised pooch appeals to you, you are going to have lots to choose from.

It’s funny I was looking at chihuahua prices and they definitely seem to have come down since last time I looked.. my shiba inus though are still rising

At some point those on furlough or WFH will have to go back into work or lose their job. Rescues will be overwhelmed
Do you really think that everyone who owned a dog pre lockdown worked from home? That no-one who works has a pet?
People will make arrangements to suit their circumstances not just throw their much loved pet into a rescue centre

People have made semi permanent lifestyle changes. I think demand will probably stay quite high.

I've seen plenty of ads for dogs that are 4 or 5 months old for the same as a pup.
There's also plenty like us who found a chance to get a dog that is unlikely to come again. We can cover most of the week between us and will use walker/day care for the rest.
Our non pedigree Westie was 2k. But every dog was that or more.

I don’t know if rescues will be full. This has been the talk for months but no signs yet. Many lockdown pups will be in their teenage tricky years now so you’d expect to see some signs already, but maybe it will be after the summer.

We have a 10 month old pup. We used the opportunity of everyone being home to get a long wanted dog. I work from home permanently before anyone shouts, but having dh and teen dc home meant we were all able to help with puppy phase (plus no holidays / long days out etc). Pup has just started with a group walker a couple of days a week in preparation for real life- but he is a treasured member of our family and would never be rehomed. I suspect many puppies were bought in similar situations