The Dublin Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA) has reported a significant increase in the number of teenage dogs being surrendered to their shelter.
The number of dogs between six and 24 months in the shelter has increased by 120 per cent in the last year.
The shelter has seen an increase in the surrender requests for breeds such as Cockapoos and Golden Retrievers.
These energetic breeds were highly sought-after during the COVID-19 pandemic, but many families are now finding themselves unable to make time for them.
DSPCA’s Rachel Delaney 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.
