Demand for ‘doggy daycare’ rockets as lockdown puppy owners head back to the workplace

A massive increase in demand for ‘doggy daycare’ places is being caused by people returning to workplaces after prolonged periods of home working. That is the message from one dog care business owner planning to expand into new premises to take care of more ‘lockdown puppies’ suffering from separation anxiety as their owners return to more traditional working patterns.

Dotty Doolittles, who currently operate a small breed day care centre in Bury New Road, Whitefield, have applied to Bury Council to change the use of new premises on Whitelegge Street, Bury into a second centre. Around 3.2 million households in the UK acquired a pet since the start of the pandemic, research by the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association released in March 2021 suggested.

They said almost two thirds (59 per cent) of new owners are aged 16-34. Dotty Doolittles business owner, Amanda Burke, gave the background to the planning submission in documents published this week by Bury Council.

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She said: “Places are in high demand with one in four households now having a dog due to lockdowns. There has been a drastic increase in the amount of dogs suffering with separation anxiety and not being used to being left alone for long periods of time.

“Doggy day care ensures that the dog feels more at ease and stress free being with human contact and this keeps the dogs well socialised with others. Many owners do not like leaving their dogs alone while they go out or are working.

“Due to such high demand of dog places we no longer have enough room and we are constantly turning away custom. This is why we need to expand our business the new doggy daycare centre will be for small breeds only