A new survey carried out by the pet experts at YuMOVE, has revealed that 78% of dogs have suffered behavioural changes upon their owners’ return to the workplace.
As more of people return to their regular working environments, the study highlights how the sudden change in routine is negatively impacting our pets.
Findings unveil that almost four in five dogs (78%) are showing physical signs of separation anxiety when their owners leave and return from work. Although lockdown may have seemed like the perfect time to find a canine companion, the lifting of lockdown restrictions has brought with it many new problems for owners and dogs alike.
Dog owners have reported both physical and emotional changes within their pet’s behaviour, indicating signs of separation anxiety and loneliness.
The most common behavioural change is an increase in vocal signs of distress. A third (30%) of so-called ‘lockdown dogs’ exhibit such behaviour – barking, whining or crying – when their owners leave for work. By contrast, this figure is halved (15%) for dogs that were part of the family prior to the pandemic.
In addition, 26% of lockdown dog owners reported their dogs become increasingly fearful upon their owners leaving for work. This figure decreases to 21% for pre-pandemic dogs — further emphasising that dogs brought home during the pandemic are more likely to struggle with separation anxiety when left alone.
Bearing all these behavioural changes in mind, 72% of dog owners believe that their pets would be happier if they did not have to return to the workplace.
The survey coincided with the UK launch of TV network DogTV, which sets out to alleviate pet separation anxiety.
