https://amp.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/apr/15/dog-bite-britain-the-problem-with-the-pandemic-puppy-explosion

According to this artical dog bites are on the rise after the surge in puppy buying in the pandemic.

I could see this happening unfortunately even before the pandemic too many still didn't do the proper training and socialization required.

Unfortunately dog training and socialisation classes have also ground to a halt with Covid which isn't helping.  I know that 1 to 1 classes can still be arranged but the majority of people can't, or won't, pay £40 ph.  Even dog walking with friends has been difficult because of the social distancing required.  It's a very sad situation.

I would agree with this, but also say that I think it’s due to the ever growing number of ‘bullies’, mainly American XL or pocket bulldogs, being produced and bought. My girl got attacked and badly bitten last year, another dog I know got bitten also (different dog but same/similar breed) and then a friend of the family actually got bitten twice by this type of dog!! The bruise was massive, covered her whole back thigh going up her bum and stopping down behind her knee. Unfortunately she never reported it...a completely separate issue that I highly disagreed with but here you go

I don’t want to misrepresent the breed itself at all, there’s actually a rather lovely ‘xl pocket bully’ (staffie x American bulldog) that lives a few houses down from me. But if he was wired slightly differently or perhaps didn’t’ like something then I think it would be rather hard stopping him from doing anything. The owners struggle walking him anyway due to his lack of training and now how big and strong he is, and he isn’t a lockdown pup...think he’s 2/3 years old.

I think a lot of novice owners are failing their puppies sadly. They don't know what they should and shouldn't be doing coupled with often impulse buying from dodgy sources and not doing their homework on traits and requirements of the breed or cross.
Its very sad really.
I think reputable breeders are or hopefully checking that owners can afford 121 training whilst classes aren't taking place. Some have started, some were on zoom as well during the pandemic, not the same but there is help out there.

I think the prices of puppies is not helping, It means a higher percentage of pups go to those who are used to idea of you pay loads of money and get what you want with no effort.  These people who happily can hand over £3000 for a puppy tend to think the money buys you the 'best' and the dog will do all they expect, plus look good on a walk, match the fancy car etc without the need for training.

Massive rise in backyard breeding with no regard to temperament (or understanding that that is hereditary - I've had that convo with someone just now and he didn't realise), selling to people with no clue what they're buying beyond "it's a puppy" and no attempt to make them aware or refuse to sell to an unsuitable home, poor or no socialisation and poor or no training on top.  It's a horrendous situation.

In malinois in particular, rescues have seen a big rise in people wanting to hand over young pups because they are becoming aggressive (genuinely, not puppy nipping), because clueless people have been sold poorly bred highly driven working line pups with absolutely no idea what they are, and it's going wrong FAST.

And that's just them.  Tomorrow I have a young collie X terrier pup for training, described as very hyper and very bitey, can't do anything with her.  I am fully expecting a farm collie crossed with a patterdale or similar, sold to someone who didn't know what they were getting.

On another forum I use there was someone with a collie cross patterdale who were having big issues, so would t be surprised. What a combination

I met a man today with a very attractive 17 week old puppy.  He told me it's a cocker spaniel crossed with an Australian kelpie.  I really do wonder if he knows just what he's taken on.

Even better - they were sold her as a full collie!  She's very obviously terrier, I'd say 50/50 of the two but no idea what kind of terrier.  Possibly lakeland looking at her face and coat.  Hyperactive but trainable luckily!

Not replying to anyone in particular. In my view it would be good to spread the word about online puppy courses. Many qualified practitioners are now offering these, with great success and they are no more expensive than in situ courses.

> In my view it would be good to spread the word about online puppy courses.

I'm not sure about online classes, I like to take all of mine to classes for the socialisation, I was brought up in an obedience home, so I've been training dogs for a very long time, but every pup I get goes to at least 1 class a week, preferably 2 or 3.

Most new owners I see at class, it's the owner not the dog that needs trained, and for that you need to be able to see what they're doing wrong. I love the kikopup videos, but I bet a lot of new owners couldn't reproduce that, they'd get the timing wrong or be rewarding the wrong things.

During lockdown if it's all you could do then they would be better than nothing I guess, but now things are opening up again those pups need to go to class. IN fact all the dogs bought over the last year need to get out to training classes

Many 121 trainers have worked through the pandemic, yes it costs more but at least you can get in face training that way.
As said above many classes are now opening up for face to face training.
Let's hope those novice dog owners enrol ASAP because most if not all will need them.

Love Emily Larlham too but that is not what I mean.

This is a class that is taken by a trainer virtually, in real time. Many say that a plus side is that owners and pups are better able to focus without the distraction of another dog in the room. As you say, the aim is to teach owners to reach their dogs and trainers set up for this will have their own videos and other tools set up for the job.

Anyhow, it does seem like things are opening up again. I only mentioned it because the cost of 6 or 9 121 sessions might be too much for some.