Was Your Dog Harder to Train During the Pandemic? Science Says You’re Not Alone

The Dog Aging Project's recent study revealed that the average trainability scores of dogs declined after 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, these scores have started to improve and return to pre-pandemic levels in 2023. The study analyzed data from over 18,000 dogs, which showed a noticeable drop in trainability scores in 2020 and 2021, when many people were working from home and spending more time with their pets. This suggests that the pandemic-induced changes in routine and environment may have affected the dogs' ability to learn and respond to training. Interestingly, the trainability scores began to rebound in 2022 and continued to improve in 2023, as people started to return to their pre-pandemic routines. This indicates that dogs can adapt to changes in their environment and training regimen over time. The findings of this study provide valuable insights for pet owners, trainers, and researchers, helping them understand the impact of major life events on a dog's behavior and trainability.