Arpeggio may seem like a puffed-up name for a puppy, but Alison Hodd says it suits her Australian bernedoodle, whose expensive tastes may as well have been imported from Italy.

The mother of two in Oakville, Ont., is among the legion of Canadians who decided to bring a four-legged friend into their lives while stuck at home under COVID-19 lockdown.

But despite the joys of canine companionship, Hodd admits she didnB次元官网网址檛 anticipate the financial, emotional and time commitment that dog ownership entails.

He becomes destructive if he doesnB次元官网网址檛 get his quota of lengthy walks, says Hodd. And if she wants to distract him with a dog chew, Hodd says $8 beef tendons are the only treats that pass his discerning palate.

SheB次元官网网址檚 spent thousands of dollars more than she budgeted on training, grooming and emergency vet visits. Then thereB次元官网网址檚 all of the accessories sheB次元官网网址檚 bought to make Arpeggio feel like part of the family, including a life-jacket/raincoat, birthday gifts and a treat advent calendar.

B次元官网网址淒id we bite off more than we can chew? B次元官网网址� Some days we do look at each other and we do wonder,B次元官网网址� Hodd said. B次元官网网址淏ut then we get a good nightB次元官网网址檚 sleep, and we figure it out, and we do it all over again.B次元官网网址�

The pandemic puppy boom has been a boon to the pet industry, helping businesses recoup lockdown-related losses, and in some cases, expand operations, say owners and analysts.

But some pet-care professionals warn that the canine rush has outpaced capacity to meet the distinct needs of these lockdown-raised pups, raising concerns about how theyB次元官网网址檒l adjust when their owners are no longer home to spoil them with affection.

A November survey of 2,000 Canadian adults by Narrative Research found that of the roughly half of respondents who identified as pet owners, about a third said they added an animal companion to their households since the start of the COVID-19 crisis.

This influx of new customers has boosted sales of pet supplies. One of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 largest retailers, Pet Valu Holdings Ltd., reported $200.7 million in revenues in its last quarter, an increase of more than 25 per cent compared to the year prior.

Lisa Hutcheson, managing partner at consulting firm J.C. Williams Group, said this explosive growth in the pet industry has largely been driven by millennials, and to a lesser extent empty nesters, catering to increasingly luxe canine lifestyles.

Among the amenities available to todayB次元官网网址檚 pampered pooch include curated subscription boxes, matching apparel for man and his best friend, temperature-controlled beds, GPS and activity trackers and interactive cameras that dispense treats.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e just seeing so many new ways to spoil your pet,B次元官网网址� said Hutcheson. B次元官网网址淭here are people out there that are taking advantage of this new category and finding opportunities.B次元官网网址�

Meghan Smith in Elora, Ont., is among the upstarts tapping into the doggie deluge.

After losing her last grooming job during lockdown, Smith decided to set up her own shop in April. And as overbooked groomers sent clients her way, Smith said it wasnB次元官网网址檛 long before MegB次元官网网址檚 Paw Spa was packed with fur balls.

B次元官网网址淭here was a boom in the pet industry, and I just went for it,B次元官网网址� she said.

Maddy Hajek, owner of Dog Logic Toronto, said she feared that the onset of the pandemic in early 2020 could spell the end of her fledgling walking, training and boarding service.

But since then, Hajek said, her roster of walking clients has nearly tripled to roughly 70 tail-wagging regulars, prompting her to expand her staff from one to four co-wranglers.

This expansion was aided by competitors-turned-collaborators who referred clients to Dog Logic after their packs hit maximum capacity, said Hajek.

This fall, Hajek found herself in a similar position, announcing on Instagram that walking services were fully booked until spring 2022.

But that didnB次元官网网址檛 stem the flood of inquiries to her inbox, many from dog owners desperate to find a solution for their pups after being summoned back to the office.

Hajek said she plans to bring on two more walkers in January, with an eye toward hanging up her leash so she can focus on overseeing operations.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 one of many independent businesses in Toronto whoB次元官网网址檚 thriving right now,B次元官网网址� said Hajek, a certified dog trainer. B次元官网网址淭he downside of that is B次元官网网址� there arenB次元官网网址檛 enough qualified hands to manage the amount of customer inflow that weB次元官网网址檝e had in the last year, and so certain dogs are going to be left behind.B次元官网网址�

Lee Neil, an associate professor at the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph, is among the animal advocates who worry that pandemic-prolonged wait lists for training services could pose long-term risks to pet welfare.

Many owners couldnB次元官网网址檛 access resources such as socialization classes during a critical period of early canine development, which could lead to a rise in behavioural issues, such as aggression and separation anxiety, said Neil.

She said lack of regulation in the pet profession could open the door to self-proclaimed B次元官网网址渢rainersB次元官网网址� with unscientific or inhumane techniques.

Neil is concerned that some petsB次元官网网址� problems could overwhelm owners, and in severe cases, raise public safety concerns or put animals at risk of relinquishment.

So far, thereB次元官网网址檚 no clear evidence that these worst fears have come to fruition, said Neil.

But given all of the comfort that pets have brought us during the COVID-19 crisis, she hopes weB次元官网网址檒l return the favour by preparing them for post-pandemic life.

B次元官网网址淭he pandemic has kind of opened peopleB次元官网网址檚 eyes to their animalsB次元官网网址� needs,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲e definitely need to be B次元官网网址� thinking of ways that we can keep them busy when weB次元官网网址檙e not home.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址擜dina Bresge, The Canadian Press