Dogs Trust call on puppy owners for major UK study
Generation Pup is funded and operated by Dogs Trust, which has rehoming centres in Glasgow and West Calder.
Open to owners of puppies aged 16 weeks or younger, the research is the first of its kind in the UK to follow dogs of all breeds throughout their lives.
Read more: James Bond-themed dog party coming to Glasgow this summer
Jane Murray, welfare project and grants deputy head of research at Dogs Trust, said: "This important research study aims to deepen our understanding of how early life experiences influence the health and behaviour of dogs throughout their lives.
"Your participation will make a valuable contribution to improving the welfare of dogs now and in the future."
The study has already helped to identify key factors affecting dog health and behaviour.
Through the latest peer-reviewed paper published as part of the Generation Pup research, Owner-Perceived Undesirable Behaviours in Young Dogs and Changes with Age, researchers found that 12-month-old dogs are most likely to display behaviours such as excessive barking, poor recall, jumping up, and lead pulling — suggesting a difficult 'teenage' phase in dog development.
It examined owner-reported data at six, nine, 12, 15, and 18 months of age.
The study found that 12-month-old dogs showed the most undesirable behaviours, including barking, recall problems, pulling on the lead, and jumping up.
This supports the idea that dogs go through a challenging "teenage" phase.
Read more: Can you fling a piece oot a 20-storey flat? This Glasgow business wants to find out
Generation Pup gathers data on each puppy's home environment, health, routines, and social experiences.
Researchers can then analyse how elements such as diet, exercise, and daily routine can affect the development of common behavioural and health conditions.
By gathering data on puppies' environments, families, health, behaviour, and experiences, Dogs Trust hopes to build a clearer picture of influences on canine welfare across the UK and Ireland.
Puppies can be enrolled in the study from anywhere in the UK.
To find out more or to sign up, visit the Generation Pup website.
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