Lots of time, home office, loneliness: In the corona crisis, loyal friends on four paws are more popular than ever before.
The Erdinger got into the dog.
But experts are not only enthusiastic about the trend.
Erding district
- Germans bought 20 percent more dogs in 2020.
The trend is also clearly noticeable in the Erding district.
“People are raging for puppies,” says breeder Evelyne Dudek from Fraunberg.
The run on the dog also worries animal rights activists.
30 percent more dogs than in other years
Much has fallen flat since the pandemic began.
Celebrations and vacations were canceled, cinemas and theaters closed, and club meetings canceled.
But one thing always works: the walk.
Many discovered this leisure activity on their own doorstep during the crisis.
What could be more natural than buying a loyal companion?
In the city of Dorfen alone, there were 94 new dog registrations last year.
In the previous year it was 66. That is an increase of 30 percent.
"It not only feels like there are more dogs around, the numbers say the same," says city spokeswoman Gudrun Gersbach.
Similar in the district town: In Erding, around 80 more dogs were registered in 2020 than in the previous year, the cancellations have already been factored out.
Purebred puppies are currently going away like hot cakes
Pedigree dogs in particular are going away like hot cakes at the moment.
“People sit in the home office and now have the time to raise a puppy,” explains German shepherd breeder Dudek, who has been running the Fraunberg dog school “Emma und Balu” since August.
The breeders can hardly keep up with delivering supplies.
At the same time, due to the fact that the borders have been closed again and again in recent months, the international market has now practically dried up.
Young dogs cost twice and three times more than usual
So young dogs are in short supply in the pandemic.
The result is a significant increase in prices.
Dudek reports about a friend who has paid over 3000 euros for a mixed breed puppy, around three times the normal price.
"This is not an isolated incident," she says.
Her shepherd puppies are currently being ripped from Dudek's hands for 1500 euros.
Usually she charges between 850 and 950 euros per animal.
"People get dogs, no matter where"
“People get dogs, regardless of where they come from, whether they are pedigree dogs or one from the animal shelter, everything is taken,” agrees Marion Hartmann.
The interest in a dog has increased massively since the beginning of the pandemic.
The dog trainer and head of the Forsterner dog school Hartmann sees this as a problem especially with puppies.
Because now, in lockdown, the dog schools are closed.
But puppies urgently need support during their socialization phase, explains Hartmann.
An accompaniment that Corona does not allow at the moment.
Expert training cannot simply be made up for later.
"When the puppy is six months old, it is no longer a puppy," says Hartmann.
Then the child has already fallen into the well.
A dog that did not learn to be friendly with other dogs and people in its youth will have a hard time later in life.
Expert worried: What about after Corona?
This whole dog hype in the pandemic is thought a little too short by some new dog owners, criticizes Hartmann.
“At some point Corona will be over and people's living conditions will change again.
And then the dog is still there for 15 years, ”says the 54-year-old.
Of course, she can understand that many people feel lonely in the pandemic and want a companion.
“I notice what my two are giving me right now.” But still, getting a dog shouldn't be a gut decision.
There must be enough money and time available.
Animal rights activist warns: "Purchase for life"
Angelika Schöner from the Erding Animal Protection Association is of the same opinion.
"Such a dog is an acquisition for life." It must be ensured that you can continue to work in the home office even after Corona and that there is enough time for the animal companion.
In contrast to pedigree puppies, the demand in the animal shelter in Kirchasch has only increased moderately compared to other years.
Most prospective buyers would have long toyed with the idea of getting a dog.
"Then Corona came and the opportunity suddenly came," says Schöner, "then they just snap."
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