Pandemic puppy had to be re-homed as owners couldn't cope with dog's extreme anxiety

A little puppy with extreme anxiety taken in during lockdown had to be re-homed because her owners couldn't cope with the dog's behaviour.

Peggy - an 18-month-old poodle cross - thought she found her forever home early into the pandemic.

But the pup was handed in to animal charity Blue Cross because they just couldn't deal with the challenge.

Lockdown saw a surge in people getting new pets with an estimated 3.2million welcoming dogs but many have decided things are not working out.

Peggy has severe separation anxiety and aggressively guards objects around the house - something her owners couldn't live with.

Peggy had to find a new home when her owners couldn't cope (Blue Cross)

The poodle cross puppy was handed over to Blue Cross (Blue Cross)

Jenny Day, volunteer coordinator and animal welfare assistant at Blue Cross, had to step in and help the cute puppy find somewhere else to live.

"It took a lot of patience to help Peggy gain some confidence and find her feet," she says.

"We took our time for her to settle in and start to trust us. We worked with her slowly until she started to show her true self – a fantastic little dog who is playful and very clever.

"We are delighted to have now found her an understanding home where she will continue to feel supported.

"Peggy’s previous family did exactly the right thing by contacting us."

Charities are worries about pets who were brought during lockdown (Blue Cross)

The unprecedented demand for puppies during the pandemic has had "serious" consequences for animal health and welfare, a study has revealed.

The Dogs Trust and RSPCA say they have seen a 182% increase in website traffic looking for information about giving up a dog.

They say they receive 39% more phone calls than before the pandemic about re-homing animals.

Operations director Adam Clowes said: "Demand for dogs reached an all-time high during the pandemic and the addition of a dog to the family has made a positive difference to many people’s lives.

"However, dog ownership is a big commitment and some people are now discovering, as life returns to normal, that sadly their new circumstances mean they simply can’t care for their dog anymore.

"One of the most common reasons why dogs are handed into Dogs Trust is behaviour-related issues that could have been prevented early on.

"A rise in problematic behaviours, exacerbated by changes in the dog’s routine as its owners return to work and life as it was before the pandemic, could mean families have no option but to give up their dog."