Pets in Germany: Owners find life with dogs more stressful than expected

Many prospective dog owners expect joy and fun from adopting a puppy. However, caring for the little one can be stressful, as a survey confirms. Many owners find life with a dog more stressful than expected – and even children aren't always happy with their new pet, reports a research team led by Rowena Packer from the Royal Veterinary College in London in the journal PLOS One .

In 2023, a quantitative and qualitative analysis surveyed 382 adults and 216 children aged 8 to 17 in British households that had welcomed puppies into the family between 2019 and 2021.

Many parents and children enjoy having a dog. Many owners also stated that their dog promotes their children's mental health, and children reported feeling comfort and joy from their dogs. "Dogs were described as childhood friends, playmates, surrogate siblings, or even littermates," the analysis states. A dog was particularly helpful for many during the pandemic and lockdown.

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However, more than a third of the adult primary caregivers (37 percent) also reported that caring for the puppy was more challenging than expected—and this was true soon after the dog arrived. One problem cited, for example, was that the puppy nipped and bit children during play.

In the analysis, the primary caregivers of the dogs were almost always women (96 percent) – thus, mothers in particular often reported feeling overwhelmed by the responsibility of caring for the puppy. Maternal stress already has negative consequences for women's mental health, the researchers point out. They recommend further research into the mental load on women caused by dog ​​ownership in families.

First-time owners, in particular, reported that their children participated less than expected in caring for their dogs, except for feeding. Of all dog owners, over 20 percent stated that they had expected their children to play more with their pets. Some children also expressed disappointment, citing, among other things, frustration with their dogs' attention-seeking behavior.

At least one in 17 owners reported having considered giving their pet back. This was predominantly the case with first-time owners. The main reasons given were underestimating the time commitment and finding it difficult to distribute dog care within the family. Many also found it difficult to cope with their dog's behavior.

The survey involved dog owners who had a puppy between 2019 and 2021 – during the peak of the pandemic, which presented particular challenges for families. In Germany, too, a particularly high number of new pets were brought into families during this time – and according to the German Animal Welfare Association, many of them are still being surrendered to animal shelters.

"Overwhelm is a major reason," said Lea Schmitz, spokesperson for the Animal Welfare Association in Bonn. This could be due, among other things, to owners not knowing enough about how to handle dogs – for example, when they exhibit unusual behavior like snapping.

"We see that a dog is often chosen based on its appearance, and no one considers the behavioral characteristics of each breed. For example, whether a dog has a lot of energy and therefore needs to be outside a lot," Schmitz explained. Furthermore, the costs are underestimated.

The result: "The animal shelters are overwhelmed – many are full, others are often at capacity," Schmitz explained. "This is a new problem; we didn't experience it before the coronavirus pandemic."

RND/dpa