What did puppy purchasers think would happen after lockdown?

[copernicium]

Did people think that they would stay at home forever? Did people think that after a year at home, puppy would wave you off for ten hours a day and sit happily at home? Did people not think about a year in advance?

Obviously, everything is getting back to normal, offices are opening, people are being more sociable ... have the poor dogs just been forgotten?!

I'm not against dogs or their owners. In fact, I purchased a dog last summer. However, this had been planned for a very long time, I had been on a couple of breeders lists pre covid, waiting and hoping, and if anything lockdown slowed things for us, not made our decision. I am at home 95% of the time and this absolutely won't ever change, but I've still trained the dog to be happy alone for short periods (and have a camera to confirm).

Sitting here now, I can hear approx five different puppies yapping/barking/crying away, one has been howling and crying since 5:30am. From what I know of the area they were new puppies during lockdown and one was only purchased in the last few weeks (saw neighbour showing it off).

I just don't get what people were thinking...I feel cross at such selfish owners and I feel so sad for these babies. Plus, a fair bit of rage when woken by barking at 6am on Bank Holiday!

I really really mean that in the nicest way. When you have really put the time and effort in to meet your dogs' needs it is really tough to see people who don't seem to care. But I promise you, that's everywhere and I've learned the hard way to let it go. Sorry if I seemed harsh.

I know a lockdown puppy buyer who now just leaves said puppy with her parents 90% of the time. They all pretend she's the owner but in reality she has him every other weekend.

We got a puppy in May. Husband and children had been pestering me for years. I never wanted one as didn't like the thought of him being left at home during the day which in reality even before covid would have one day a week max. I agreed to have one we are now in a situation where there will never be a day where one of us isn't at home. I couldn't imagine leaving him. We do need to start though as he is coming up to 6m old and has been left only a couple of times for less than half an hour
My neighbour also bought a puppy in lockdown and he's a really big dog already despite not being a year old. They both work full time out of the house and he is left but I think they are now getting a dog walker in

... but my lockdown dog is different ....

^ sorry, my post above wasn't directed specifically at the OP but generally at people who have bought lockdown dogs - there's always some reason or other why theirs will be OK.

To be honest, and please take this the right way, you are going to have to let lots of dog-related stuff go because people around you are always going to do things with their dog a different way to the way you do it.

This is so true. Lots of dogs all over the world kept in very different ways to accepted norm here - some the worse for it and some much happier than a pampered UK pet.

I have specific ideas about the life I want to provide for my own dog, but try hard these days to not have such a judgement on anyone doing anything differently unless it is really clear there is a significant welfare detriment for the dog. I don't always succed at that, but I am trying

Totally agree with the post above. It really never pays to be too smug or self righteous OP

You either need to let it go or actually get out there and engage with these people in a friendly, non-judgemental way and help educate them - and that's if they're even open to that (unlikely).

It actually really annoys me when nice well-meaning strangers try and give me advice on how to handle my dog or try and tell me that X would work better.

It rarely ever comes across as non-judgmental and always appears to be incredibly patronising and many of them fail to realise I work with dogs for a living

Unless someone is being abusive or neglectful - why not just mind your own business? Unless someone specifically asks you for help, just..don't. It's not necessary and it pretty much always makes the person feel like total rubbish.

Lockdown puppy or not, people will always have to leave their dogs home alone at some point.

This could be 30 minutes or 8 hours, some howl some bark and some destroy the home while others just snooze on the bed. Some of this behaviour is down to training, some is down to temperament and some is down to the breed traits.

Fact is, you won't be able to change anything regarding dogs being left alone.