COVID-19: The puppy-child relationship during the pandemic was not a miracle cure

During the COVID-19 pandemic, thousands of families welcomed a puppy into their homes, hoping to provide their children with immediate emotional support. A recent study by the Royal Veterinary College paints a nuanced picture: while the presence of a young dog often provides comfort, brings structure to daily life, and facilitates social interactions, it also places a real burden on parents, sometimes leading to tension within the household. About one-third of families report that raising a puppy has proven more difficult than expected.  

Adoption as a Form of Recreation for Children

The pandemic has upended daily life: school closures, isolation, uncertainty, and anxiety have taken a toll on the well-being of the youngest children. Adopting a puppy then seemed like an “obvious” solution to reestablish a routine, get the body moving again through walks, and reintroduce play and physical affection into days dominated by screen time. The literature on human-animal attachment had already suggested positive effects on loneliness and emotional well-being, but the scale of the phenomenon, its duration, and its concrete effects in the context of a health crisis remained to be documented.  

The Actual Impacts Measured

The researchers surveyed British families who had welcomed a puppy during or just before the pandemic. The study protocol combined standardized questionnaires with qualitative data collection on lived experiences from caregivers and children aged 8 to 17. The questions focused on mood, anxiety, sleep, family organization, the division of caregiving responsibilities, as well as typical canine behaviors during the first few months (potty training, vocalizations, nipping, walking on a leash). This mixed-methods approach made it possible to compare perceived benefits with actual challenges, thereby reducing the bias toward idealization that is common in post-adoption accounts.  

Concrete but Varied Benefits

In most households, the arrival of the puppy was associated with greater comfort and a sense of emotional security among the children. The mere presence of an affectionate, playful, and attention-seeking animal served as an anchor in what were sometimes monotonous days. Walks reintroduced light but regular physical activity, and socializing around the dog (neighbors, other dogs, trainers) reactivated dormant connections. Several families described a warmer atmosphere at home and a greater willingness on the child’s part to open up while petting the animal. These beneficial effects, though not uniform, appeared to be inherent to living with a dog.  

The Hidden Cost of the Child-Puppy Relationship

There is, however, a flip side to the coin. The first few months with a puppy require a sustained investment: potty training, dealing with nighttime awakenings, teaching the puppy not to nip or bark, taking walks in all kinds of weather, and so on. Added to this are financial burdens (veterinary bills, food, supplies, etc.) and the need to reorganize the family’s schedule. In households where initial expectations were high, reality has proven disappointing: a puppy doesn’t alleviate anxiety in a fortnight, doesn’t magically improve sleep, and requires consistent training—which fatigue makes difficult to maintain. It is this parental mental load—often underestimated—that sometimes turns a source of comfort into a source of tension, especially when the division of labor has not been clarified in advance.  

Three Key Factors

The first is the level of expectations: families who view the pet as a source of emotional support rather than a miracle cure are better able to accept the ups and downs and the uneven progress. The second factor concerns planning for household organization: families who fare better have decided, before adoption, who will get up at night, who will take the pet out even in the rain, who will handle daily training, and so on. Families who adopted these rules from the very beginning and then adjusted them over the weeks managed to maintain a calmer atmosphere. The third key factor is seeking professional help: early dog training, based on positive reinforcement and emotional management, quickly reduces problematic behaviors and, as a result, eases family tension. It also provides children with a consistent framework for understanding a dog’s behavior, avoiding conflict, and learning appropriate ways to interact with the dog.  

Public Health Implications

From a human health perspective, adopting a puppy should never be presented as a first-line solution to mental health challenges. However, it can be part of a comprehensive support plan, alongside psychological counseling, healthy sleep routines, and appropriate physical activity. While the presence of a pet provides a secure emotional environment, it requires consistency and patience. Veterinarians and dog trainers can offer educational activities for the whole family (puppy school), identify early signs of behavioral stress, and refer individuals to reliable resources. This interprofessional care ensures the long-term benefits and protects both the animal and the child.  

Limitations of the Data Collected

The study is based on self-reports, which are subject to memory bias and social desirability bias. The authors therefore call for more objective measurements, both before and after adoption, using validated scales for anxiety, mood, and sleep in children, as well as daily monitoring of canine behavior using activity trackers and longitudinal follow-up of the animal. Replicating this research in other contexts—both urban and rural—and across varying socioeconomic levels will provide a better understanding of the conditions necessary for a peaceful and lasting human-animal relationship.   During the pandemic, puppies provided very real emotional support to many children and restored structure to their daily lives. But these benefits coexisted with predictable challenges, especially when adoptions were made in a rush or with unrealistic expectations. The gap between the image of the dog as an “emotional support animal” and the reality of the dog as a “source of stress” can be bridged by raising adopters’ awareness of the care required, by clearly defining roles within the family, and by seeking professional help when needed. It is only by meeting these conditions that the child-dog relationship can make a lasting contribution to mental health, animal welfare, and family harmony.