HOW MUCH!!! Is that doggie in the window?

By Jessica Hodson Walker, Account Director

As the CMA petitions for more power to tackle companies profiteering from coronavirus, I’ve been looking at one sector which has been making a mint during the crisis… the pet market and the rise of #pandemicpuppy.

As the lockdown has forced us to spend all of our time at home, households are now able to do things that they have never had time to practice or consider before, be that bake bread, finish the DIY tasks you’ve been staring at for a while or, train a puppy (I’ve done or considered all of these). 

With no more commuting, it appears that the extra hours we have gained at home have prompted many to consider buying a puppy. It has also crossed my own mind. According to Newgate’s twitter analysis, tweets using the term buy/adopt a puppy increased by 51% in March/April compared to January/February. 

Whilst doing some (personal) research, I found that Cavapoos (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel mixed with Poodle – read as small fluff balls) cost a minimum of £3,000. A significant amount more than my parent’s (priceless) working Collie and Labrador combined. Other reports suggest that breeders are jumping on the bandwagon and profiteering from the sudden uptick in puppy purchasing, in some cases at more than double the normal price. 

In many ways, now is a good time to have a dog if you were previously considering getting one. We are no longer commuting, are less tied to a desk and are home to teach, nurture and exercise a new dog. For those who have office jobs, remote working looks like it will be a significant part of future working life. Similarly, I don’t envisage hopping on a plane for a good while longer. 

However, dogs need to be socialised, which at present is somewhat difficult. Similarly, at some point, life may resume to a previous level of normality, which may involve returning to work outside the home or the opportunity for a ‘quick drink’ post-work. Dogs Trust has warned that dogs may become anxious at the sudden reduction in their owner’s company and they have reminded us that ‘A dog is for life, not just for lockdown.’ 

Whilst I would love a dog and my boyfriend has come to terms with the fact that he would slip further down the pecking order (Fern the Collie is my screensaver), I am acutely aware that we live in a small flat in London, enjoy going out to meet friends and also think £3k is a bit steep. I plan to wait and see how life continues over the coming months …and watch the prices.