The Covid-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on dogs’ trainability, according to new research from the Dog Aging Project, a long-term scientific initiative dedicated to studying the ageing process in dogs.
The study, which analysed data from 47,444 dogs between 2019 and 2023, was originally intended to establish a behavioural baseline for canine subjects to support future research into ageing, health, and behavioural patterns. However, as the data collection coincided with the pandemic and its aftermath, researchers were also able to assess its broader impact.
They found that dogs enrolled in the study before 2020 were significantly more likely to have undergone formal training, while those brought in during or after the pandemic were less likely to have received consistent instruction. Owners’ reduced focus on training—due to stress, lockdown-related disruptions and shifting priorities—may have played a key role.
At the same time, the number of dogs adopted from shelters increased globally during the pandemic, meaning many animals began life in new homes with limited socialisation or structured learning.
Photo: freepik.com