The number of teenage dogs being surrendered to the DSPCA has surged by 120% in the past year. Overall, the charity has seen a 30% increase in the number of dogs being surrendered, with most of these being aged six to 24 months old.

The shelter has seen an increase in surrender requests for Cockapoos and Golden Retrievers. The DSPCA said this is likely because many people bought or adopted these breeds during Covid-19, and they are very energetic and require lots of attention.

A spokesperson for the shelter said: “Many families are now finding themselves unable to make time for them. This trend highlights the importance of understanding the commitment required to train and care for a dog throughout its different life stages.”

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While the shelter is sadly seeing more teenage dogs being surrendered, it has seen a decrease in the number of puppies under 16 weeks being left by their owners. The DSPCA’s Rachel Delaney is encouraging families looking to adopt to consider a dog aged six to 24 months old.

She said: “Teenage dogs offer a unique blend of puppy cuteness with developing personalities. They are typically toilet trained and have established exercise routines so they are young enough to adapt well into family life.

“This key development stage means they are eager to learn new training which is essential for dogs of this age. To support a smooth transition into their new homes, the DSPCA is now offering a free dog training course for all teenage dogs that are adopted from the shelter.”

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