When the corona pandemic hit Norway hard, many chose to get a puppy. Many people had home offices, and thought this was the right time to go for the acquisition of a dog. A total of 29,260 new dogs were registered with the Norwegian Kennel Club in 2020, an increase of 2507 dogs from the previous year. For some, the little furry charmer turned into a four-legged nightmare. – Many dogs are scared. They have not met people, had people visit their homes or greeted other dogs. It can escalate to the point that they bite or bite, says behavior consultant Anna Bjurgård Compton at the Animal Behavior Center. Long waiting lists The Animal Behavior Center is now experiencing an enormous influx of desperate dog owners who want help in dealing with the problems. Now the employees need more behavioral consultants to meet the demand. Behavior consultant Anna Bjurgård Compton at the Animal Behavior Center. Photo: Jan-Erik Wilthil / news – Both the dog and the owners are in pain. We get dogs to have a social companion. Instead, it will be a full-time job to handle this dog, says Compton. The coronary restrictions meant that many of the puppies were not allowed to attend courses or meet other dogs. They have to pay the price for that today. Fear and separation anxiety are among the most common problems. For many, the new center of the family became a biting stressful moment. On the website Finn.no, in 2020 there were around 5,000 people who had placed an advertisement where they wanted to buy a dog. It is a doubling from 2019. Attacking strangers The video above shows a Rottweiler with some major behavioral problems. It acts strongly against strangers and has become a great burden for the owner, who wishes to remain anonymous. – We acquired the puppy in February 2020, just before the closure. I was in the home office, and was with the dog around the clock, says the owner, a family man in Eastern Norway. Due to the restrictions, the family was not allowed to visit the home, nor was the puppy in contact with other dogs. – It started to protect me, and attacked both cars, bicycles and people who came too close. The owner describes a demanding everyday life. – It is a huge burden for the whole family. We have to use a muzzle when we get a visit at home, he says. Yet he sees hope. – The dog has become much better, but there is still a lot of work to do, says the man, who encourages others in the same situation to seek help. Puppies at a garden party – It is incredibly important that the puppies are socialized from the age of eight to 14 weeks. This is a critical age, says dog trainer Gro Saugerud. She arranges garden parties for puppies, so that they can get used to interacting with other dogs. Here the puppies can run free and play together on a flower meadow. Dog trainer Gro Saugerud arranges garden parties for puppies. Photo: Jan-Erik Wilthil / DKBU Saugerud is concerned that all puppies are exposed to encounters with strangers and animals, while they are still small. – Are dog owners aware of how important this is? – There is a lot of lack of knowledge. I think they would like to, but do not quite know how to do it. Saugerud warned early on about the consequences of the lack of puppy courses and other training offers during the corona pandemic. Last year, almost half of the puppies she had in training showed signs of behavioral problems. Now that the dogs have gotten bigger, the problems have become far more serious. – It has gotten worse than we feared. Very many dogs show fearful behavior, says Saugerud. It is estimated that there are currently 560,000 dogs living in Norway, an estimated figure used by the authorities and NKK. Mingling at a garden party. Socialization is essential to avoid behavioral problems. Photo: Jan-Erik Wilthil / news
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Korona dogs are struggling with behavioral problems – news Oslo and Viken – Local news, TV and radio
