First Draft: 

Pets that were adopted or gotten during COVID have more anxiety and separation issues than most pets now that COVID lock down is over.

The COVID-19 lockdown was hard for many people in the year of 2020. Starting in March the government issued a nationwide lockdown due to the rapidly spreading disease, Coronavirus, due to increasing cases and deaths. What made the lockdown so hard was the lockdown portion, having to stay at home from school, work, extracurricular activities, etc. And if you did go out there were certain guidelines that you had to follow such as social distancing and wearing a mask. Now during the lockdown pandemic it became a popular trend of getting a pandemic pet. Most people who got a pandemic pet noticed a better environment during the lockdown compared to when they did not have a pet to keep them company. “The majority of respondents indicated that their psychological tension was reduced due to the presence of the dog[…]”(ScienceDirect). Though there were also reports of behavioral changes in the pets during the lockdown, “Respondents in lockdown indicated more negative behavioural changes in their dogs than expected by chance, including restlessness, increased barking and anxiousness.” The Journal of Surgical Research says, “Dogs have been one of the ways people and families have mitigated the emotional stresses of the pandemic.”

According to The Veterinary Record, Volume 187, Issue 8, “Our research shows some early warning signs that lockdown is having a negative impact on some dogs behavior.” Also there are studies showing “[…] in particular negative behavioural changes such as increased vocalization, fear of loud or sudden noises, problems with being left alone at home, and aggression towards unfamiliar humans and dogs.” 

According to Bonnie V. G. Beaver, vocalization in dogs comes from a deep rooted action of calling out for their mothers when in distress and not by their mothers side, a separation anxiety. “When young puppies are separated from their mother, they use distress vocalization as a technique to reunite them” (Bonnie V. G. Beaver).

 Aggression in dogs is identified as “perhaps the most challenging canine behavioral problem presented to behavioral specialists and continues to be the most common reason for referral to veterinary behaviorists” according to Ilana R Reisner.

Since pandemic pets became so popular, many dogs got so used to their owners being home from work and school that they never had to worry about them leaving, but now since the pandemic is over many pets are left alone as the work and school days ensue, thus leaving them with separation anxiety, which is the second most behavioral problems for dogs according to AVMA Publications“[…]is the second most com- mon behavioral problem in dogs […].”

Separation anxiety in dogs is a behavioral problem where the dog shows signs of distress when alone or away from their owner, the person they are attached to. Separation anxiety is not distinguished between breeds or the sexes of dogs, any dog can have it. But not all dogs with separation anxiety have generalized anxiety or an attachment to their owner. The diagnosis of separation anxiety can be made based on behavioral history. Some characteristics of separation anxiety in dogs is destructiveness, hypersalivation, and pacing. In order to diagnose separation anxiety these actions must be done when the dog is alone. The ScienceDirect Journal of Veterinary Behavior says, “The separation from only one of the owners could trigger a light expres-sion of distress for a short time, essentially crying next to the door then the dog would settle down.”

Separation anxiety though not stuck to just one breed it is often seen as unclear as to why some dogs get separation anxiety and others do not, “Why some dogs develop separation anxiety and others do not is unclear.” (Bonnie V. G. Beaver). Most dogs with separation anxiety tend to be mixed-breeds, “Although the dogs most commonly presented for separation anxiety are mixed-breed dogs from shelters, purebred dogs that have lived in the same home all of their lives can be subject to this problem” (Simpson, 1998).

Codependency between a pet and their owner can be a big problem. Codependency is “excessive emotional or psychological reliance on a partner, typically one who requires support on account of an illness or addiction” (Oxford Languages). Codependency can include “[…] signs such as barking or crying; pacing; chewing or otherwise damaging furniture or the house; using the bathroom on the floor; and even running away.” (Petbucket).

There are three ways that separation anxiety in dogs can be managed. It “consists of environmental control, behavior modification, and medication.” (Barbara L. Sherman). AVMA Publications released an issue with a study of anxiety medication effects on dogs. “Thirty-two (62%) dogs had improved, whereas 20 were the same, were worse, or had been euthanatized or given away.” Along with anxiety medication there are actions that can be done to fix the behavioral problem, such as music therapy, exercise, creating a safe space, and more, this said by Temple Grandin and Cathy Johnson in Animal Translation. 

In conclusion, the COVID-19 2020 lockdown affected dogs greatly in a sense that they gained separation anxiety for their owners when left alone for long periods of time. It is evident that dogs thrived on the continuous presence of their owners. The sudden return to a regular schedule is stressful on them. More time together strengthened the bond, making it harder for pets to adjust to being alone more often when the COVID Pandemic Lockdown ended. 

References 

Author links open overlay panelChristie Siettou, & AbstractImpulsive puppy purchases have always been problematic and national policies have been developed to discourage this by promoting responsible dog ownership and limiting third party sales. Public interest in puppies between 2018 and 2021 was analyse. (2021, September 16). Societal interest in puppies and the COVID-19 pandemic: A google trends analysis. Preventive Veterinary Medicine. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167587721002403 

Author links open overlay panelNicola J. Rooney a, a, b, c, d, AbstractThe causes of fear and anxiety in working dogs are multifactorial and may include inherited characteristics that differ between individuals (e.g. Goddard and Beilharz, Aisa, B., Arhant, C., Arvelius, P., Asher, L., Batt, L., Batt, L. S., Battaglia, C. L., Bennett, P. C., Bijlsma, E. Y., Blackwell, E. J., Blackwell, E., Bosch, O. J., Bradshaw, J. W. S., … Koolhaas, J. M. (2016, December 12). Minimizing fear and anxiety in working dogs: A Review. Journal of Veterinary Behavior. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1558787816301770?casa_token=2cBJe7d_3AIAAAAA%3A7yJXkDCgMMj_Qk606GdA2VYApgV3O3MQFhLmUPyin7Y6mbydTqeWhBB3QHNgt9oDyRnzqufY5yE 

Author links open overlay panelTadeusz Jezierski a, a, b, c, Highlights•688 dog owners completed a survey on dog care during the COVID-19 pandemic.•Respondents in lockdown and quarantine reported most dog behavioural changes.•Respondents in lockdown or without a garden perceived more dog care difficulties.•Owners p, & AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic affects human health. (2021, July 1). Changes in the health and behaviour of pet dogs during the covid-19 pandemic as reported by the owners. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159121001829 

Author links open overlay panelTheodore E. Habarth-Morales BS, a, b, c, AbstractIntroductionThe public health implications of the COVID-19 pandemic reach beyond those of the disease itself. Various centers have anecdotally reported increases in the incidence of dog bite injuries which predominate in pediatric populations. The, Loder, R. T., Siettou, C., Dixon, C. A., Saleem, S. M., Piccart, F., Tuckel, P. S., & Overall, K. L. (2022, April 1). Pandemic puppies: Man’s best friend or public health problem? A multidatabase study. Journal of Surgical Research. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002248042200110X?casa_token=XFnnbIepwksAAAAA%3AtpQiQjfewn_lA_ayIJ8OHKdXVXJF1qyKEy5G24BgFANFrrdXEWcbgytKE-qi6mhF_VVqkN-NuYo 

Author links open overlay panelValli Parthasarathy MS, a, b, & AbstractDogs’ dysfunctional attachment relationships with their owners are assumed to be the underlying cause of separation anxiety. Thirty-two dogs with and 43 dogs without owner-reported separation anxiety (SA) participated in a formal attachment test (. (2006, December 5). Relationship between attachment to owners and separation anxiety in pet dogs (canis lupus familiaris). Journal of Veterinary Behavior. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S155878780600116X 

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