by Dora Motateanu

An investigation into New Zealand dog pound statistics, the behavioural challenges owners face, why dogs are surrendered, and why the behaviour displayed in a pound should never automatically define a dog’s future.

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Introduction: Are New Zealand dogs really being surrendered because they are difficult?

Every year, dogs across New Zealand enter council pounds, SPCA facilities and rescue organisations because they have become unwanted, are found roaming, are surrendered by their owners or are considered difficult to manage.

Behind these figures are individual dogs with different histories, experiences, temperaments and behavioural needs.

Some have never received appropriate training. Others have experienced neglect, inadequate socialisation, inconsistent boundaries or traumatic experiences. Some are surrendered because their owners can no longer afford to care for them, lose their accommodation or experience changes in personal circumstances.

And some dogs develop behavioural difficulties that their owners simply do not know how to manage.

Barking, destructive behaviour, lead pulling, reactivity, separation-related distress, escaping, resource guarding and aggression are among the problems that can make dog ownership challenging.

But there is an important distinction between a dog displaying undesirable behaviour and a dog being permanently unsuitable for domestic life.

A dog that barks excessively may be experiencing anxiety. A dog that reacts to other dogs may be frightened, frustrated or overwhelmed. A dog that destroys furniture may be struggling with isolation or insufficient stimulation.

The behaviour is visible. The underlying reason is not always obvious.

This article examines what New Zealand’s available statistics actually tell us, what they do not tell us, and why a more comprehensive approach to canine behavioural assessment is needed.

1. What do New Zealand statistics tell us about dogs entering pounds?

New Zealand does not currently have one comprehensive national database that records the individual reasons owners surrender dogs, including the proportion surrendered specifically because of behavioural problems.

The Ministry responsible for dog-control statistics publishes national information covering registration, injury and enforcement. However, these datasets do not provide a consistent nationwide breakdown of owner-surrender reasons.

This is an important information gap.

We can examine individual council reports, but we must not present one council’s figures as representative of the entire country.

Auckland Council: Animal Management Annual Report 2024–2025

Auckland Council’s report provides one of the most detailed publicly available pictures of dog impounding in New Zealand.

During the 2024–2025 financial year:

• 10,214 dogs were impounded.
• 529 dogs were voluntarily surrendered by their owners.
• 3,585 dogs were claimed or returned to their owners.
• 6,079 dogs were euthanised.
• 332 dogs were adopted or transferred to rescue organisations.

The 529 voluntary surrenders represented approximately 5.2% of all recorded impounds.

This distinction is essential: voluntary surrender is only one category of pound entry. Dogs collected because they are roaming, picked up following public requests or involved in incidents are recorded separately.

Auckland: Reasons dogs entered the shelters

Recorded reason for entry	Number	Percentage
Pick-up requested by a member of the public	4,122	40.4%
Roaming in a public place	2,440	23.9%
Dropped off by a member of the public	866	8.5%
Attack on a person or animal	734	7.2%
Voluntary owner surrender	529	5.2%
Welfare concerns	460	4.5%
Not controlled or confined on owner’s property	303	3.0%
No current registration	290	2.8%

Source: Auckland Council, Animal Management Annual Report 2024–2025.

These figures reveal that the majority of dogs entering Auckland shelters are not recorded as voluntary owner surrenders.

They also demonstrate the scale of the roaming-dog problem and the importance of responsible ownership, appropriate containment, education and early intervention.

However, the figures do not establish why individual owners surrendered their dogs. In particular, Auckland’s report does not provide a percentage breakdown of the 529 voluntary surrenders by behavioural, financial, housing or other reasons.

It would therefore be misleading to claim that a particular percentage of these dogs was surrendered because of aggression, anxiety or other behavioural problems.

That information needs to be collected and published.

2. What happens to dogs once they enter Auckland pounds?

Perhaps the most concerning aspect of Auckland’s 2024–2025 report is the recorded outcome of impounded dogs.

Recorded outcome	Number	Percentage
Euthanised	6,079	60.1%
Claimed by owner	3,115	30.8%
Returned to owner by an Animal Management Officer	393	3.9%
Adopted	166	1.6%
Transferred to SPCA or rescue organisations	166	1.6%

The report also provides a breakdown of the recorded reasons for euthanasia.

Recorded reasons for euthanasia in Auckland, 2024–2025

Recorded reason	Number
Failed temperament test	3,307
Shelter full	1,613
Health issues determined by a veterinarian	366
Infectious disease (parvovirus)	365
Involved in an attack	290
No longer suitable for adoption	43
Involved in a rushing incident	42
Court order for destruction	27
Classified as menacing because of behaviour	24
Classified as dangerous	2

Two figures deserve particular attention.

3,307 dogs were recorded as euthanised following a failed temperament test.

1,613 dogs were recorded as euthanised because the shelter was full.

Together, these two categories account for approximately 81% of the recorded euthanasia reasons.

These figures should prompt serious questions about behavioural assessment, shelter capacity, access to rescue networks and the availability of rehabilitation opportunities.

They do not, by themselves, establish whether individual temperament assessments were appropriate or whether the dogs could safely have been rehomed.

However, they demonstrate why transparency around assessment methods and alternatives is so important.

A failed temperament test is a recorded outcome. It is not, on its own, a complete explanation of a dog’s behavioural history, emotional state or rehabilitation potential.

Source: Auckland Council, Animal Management Annual Report 2024–2025, pages 23–24 and 40–41.

3. Gisborne District: Another example of the challenges facing New Zealand pounds

Gisborne District Council’s 2024–2025 Dog Control Annual Report recorded:

• 927 dogs impounded.
• 332 claimed by their owners.
• 51 returned to their owners.
• 88 rehomed.
• 439 euthanised.
• 3 destroyed in the field.
• 14 picked up by SPCA.

This means approximately 47.4% of the recorded impounded dogs were euthanised.

Approximately 9.5% were rehomed.

These figures are specific to Gisborne and should not be interpreted as national percentages.

They nevertheless demonstrate why New Zealand needs more detailed information about the reasons behind impounding decisions and the opportunities available for rehoming.

A particularly important question is how many dogs are assessed for rehabilitation, how many receive specialist behavioural support and how many are considered unsuitable for rehoming without such intervention.

Source: Gisborne District Council, Annual Report Dog Control Policy and Practices 2024–2025.

4. What behavioural problems do New Zealand dog owners actually face?

One of the most useful pieces of New Zealand-specific research is the 2018 scientific study:

Post-Adoption Problem Behaviours in Adolescent and Adult Dogs Rehomed through a New Zealand Animal Shelter.

The research was conducted by researchers associated with Massey University and the SPCA, examining dogs adopted through an Auckland animal shelter.

The study analysed behavioural information for 57 adopted dogs.

The findings are particularly interesting because they demonstrate that behavioural challenges are common even among dogs that have already been successfully rehomed.

Findings from the New Zealand shelter study

Behaviour reported by adopters	Percentage
Poor manners	46%
Destructive behaviour towards household items	30%
Excessively high energy	28%
Aggression towards other animals	19%
Aggression towards people	19%
Running away or poor recall	18%
House-training or toileting problems	16%
Excessive barking while someone was home	7%
Escaping the property	5%

These percentages refer to the 57 dogs with behavioural information available. Individual dogs could display more than one behaviour.

The study also found that:

• 70% of the dogs displayed at least one reported problem behaviour.
• 30% had no reported problem behaviour.
• 87% of adopters reporting behavioural problems were either not concerned or only a little concerned about those problems.

This last finding is particularly important.

It suggests that many behavioural difficulties can be manageable for owners when they understand what they are dealing with.

A dog that jumps on visitors, pulls on the lead or destroys household objects does not automatically require a different home or permanent behavioural classification.

Often, what is missing is appropriate education, training and support.

Important limitation: This was a relatively small study involving adopted dogs from one Auckland shelter. It does not establish the prevalence of behavioural problems among all New Zealand dogs, nor does it establish the reasons dogs are surrendered nationally.

Nevertheless, it provides valuable local evidence about the types of behavioural challenges encountered by New Zealand dog owners.

5. The most common behavioural problems and what they actually mean

Understanding canine behaviour requires more than identifying what a dog does. It requires investigating why the behaviour occurs.

5.1 Lead pulling and lack of control

Many owners struggle with dogs that pull continuously, lunge towards other dogs or become excessively excited during walks.

Possible contributing factors include:

• Insufficient loose-lead training.
• High excitement.
• Frustration.
• Fear or insecurity.
• Lack of environmental exposure.
• Inconsistent handling.

A dog that pulls on the lead has not necessarily been taught how to walk calmly.

Lead manners are learned skills, not automatic characteristics.

5.2 Reactivity towards other dogs

Reactivity is one of the most misunderstood behavioural presentations.

A reactive dog may bark, growl, lunge, freeze or attempt to escape when encountering another dog.

Possible motivations include:

• Fear.
• Frustration.
• Previous negative experiences.
• Overstimulation.
• Territorial responses.
• Difficulty coping with close proximity.

Reactivity is not automatically equivalent to aggression or a history of biting.

The circumstances, intensity, predictability and recovery of the behaviour must be investigated.

5.3 Separation-related behaviour

Dogs that struggle when left alone may display:

• Excessive barking or howling.
• Destructive behaviour.
• Pacing.
• Attempts to escape.
• Toileting indoors.
• Excessive salivation.
• Distress when the owner prepares to leave.

These behaviours may indicate separation-related distress rather than deliberate disobedience.

Punishing the dog for destruction or vocalisation does not address the underlying emotional difficulty.

5.4 Destructive behaviour

Chewing, digging, scratching and destroying household objects can have several explanations.

These include:

• Insufficient stimulation.
• Boredom.
• Anxiety.
• Teething in puppies.
• Frustration.
• Inadequate exercise.
• Lack of appropriate chewing opportunities.

Medical conditions should also be considered when behaviour changes suddenly.

5.5 Resource guarding

Resource guarding occurs when a dog attempts to retain access to something valuable.

This may involve:

• Food.
• Toys.
• Sleeping areas.
• Chews.
• Objects collected outside.

Growling, freezing, blocking access and snapping may be warning signs.

The response should be based on understanding the triggers and implementing safe management and appropriate behavioural intervention, rather than forcibly taking resources away.

5.6 Excessive energy and difficulty settling

High-energy dogs may struggle in environments that do not provide sufficient physical activity, mental stimulation and opportunities to rest.

A dog that appears hyperactive may also be overtired, overstimulated or struggling with impulse control.

The solution is not simply to exhaust the dog.

It involves developing a balanced routine that includes appropriate activity, enrichment, training and rest.

6. What New Zealand pounds need to understand about behavioural changes

A pound is not a dog’s normal home.

It is an unfamiliar environment where the animal may experience:

• Separation from its owner.
• Unfamiliar handlers.
• New smells and noises.
• Confinement.
• Restricted movement.
• Unfamiliar dogs.
• Changes to feeding and sleeping routines.
• Unpredictable interactions.

All these factors can influence behaviour.

A dog that behaves calmly at home may become highly distressed in a pound.

A normally affectionate dog may withdraw from human contact.

A dog that usually tolerates other dogs may become reactive when exposed to repeated barking and unfamiliar animals.

A dog that is frightened may display defensive behaviour.

These observations should not be dismissed, but neither should they automatically be treated as an accurate representation of the dog’s normal temperament.

6.1 Stress can change behaviour

When dogs experience stressful situations, their physiological stress responses can influence how they behave.

Possible signs include:

• Pacing.
• Excessive barking.
• Panting.
• Reduced appetite.
• Withdrawal.
• Hypervigilance.
• Growling.
• Increased sensitivity to handling.
• Difficulty settling.
• Reduced tolerance of other animals.

A dog under significant stress may have a reduced ability to cope with situations it would normally tolerate.

This is why repeated observation under different conditions is important.

6.2 Fear-based behaviour is not the same as an established aggression problem

Aggression is a description of behaviour, not a complete explanation of motivation.

A dog that growls or lunges may be communicating fear, discomfort, frustration or a desire to increase distance.

Consider the difference between:

Fear-based defensive behaviour: The dog feels threatened and attempts to make the perceived threat move away.

Resource guarding: The dog attempts to protect something it considers valuable.

Frustration-related reactivity: The dog becomes increasingly frustrated because it cannot reach something it wants or cannot move away.

Pain-related defensive behaviour: The dog reacts because handling or approaching causes discomfort.

Learned defensive behaviour: The dog has learned that growling or lunging makes an uncomfortable situation stop.

These situations require different management strategies.

Understanding the motivation does not mean ignoring the risk of a bite. It means assessing the risk more intelligently and identifying appropriate interventions.

6.3 A dog can behave differently in a kennel

One important issue is kennel-related reactivity.

A dog that barks or lunges when another dog passes its enclosure may not respond in the same way during a properly managed introduction in a neutral environment.

Similarly, a dog that appears defensive when approached through kennel bars may be responding to confinement and perceived lack of escape.

This does not establish that the dog is safe around other animals.

It establishes that the context of the observation must be recorded.

6.4 The importance of decompression

Dogs entering shelters may need time to recover from transport, separation and unfamiliar surroundings.

Decompression involves providing a quieter, predictable environment and reducing unnecessary exposure to stressful situations.

A responsible process should include:

1. A period of quiet recovery where practical.
2. Consistent feeding and sleeping routines.
3. Opportunities for safe movement and enrichment.
4. Reduced exposure to unnecessary triggers.
5. Observation across different situations.
6. Veterinary examination when pain or illness is suspected.
7. Repeated behavioural assessment rather than relying exclusively on the initial intake observation.

There is no universal number of days that guarantees recovery.

Some dogs settle quickly, while others require considerably longer.

A dog should not be permanently defined by its first reaction to an unfamiliar environment.

7. The problem with relying on a single temperament test

New Zealand’s Auckland Council figures make this issue particularly important.

The 2024–2025 report recorded 3,307 euthanasias under the category of failed temperament test.

This represents approximately 54.4% of the dogs euthanised in Auckland during that reporting year.

It is therefore reasonable to ask:

• What assessment methods are being used?
• Are dogs assessed more than once?
• Are environmental factors recorded?
• Are medical causes investigated?
• Are dogs observed outside kennel environments?
• Are behavioural changes documented over time?
• Are specialist behavioural assessments available?
• Is rehabilitation considered before a final decision?

A temperament test can provide useful information, but it has limitations.

The New Zealand study published in Animals in 2018 also discusses the limitations of behavioural assessments in predicting post-adoption behaviour.

A test performed under specific conditions cannot guarantee how a dog will behave in every future environment.

Equally, passing an assessment does not guarantee that a dog will never display undesirable behaviour.

The purpose of assessment should be to identify risks, understand behavioural patterns and inform responsible placement decisions.

It should not create a false sense of certainty.

8. Behaviour is learned, and learning can change

One of the most important scientific concepts in canine behaviour is neuroplasticity.

Neuroplasticity refers to the brain’s ability to adapt and change through experience and learning.

Dogs develop behavioural responses through a combination of:

• Genetics.
• Early socialisation.
• Environmental experiences.
• Reinforcement.
• Emotional associations.
• Repeated interactions.
• Physical and mental health.

For example, a dog that repeatedly experiences frightening encounters with other dogs may develop a strong negative association with their presence.

It may begin reacting as soon as another dog approaches.

However, through appropriate desensitisation and counterconditioning, the dog can gradually develop different emotional associations and alternative behavioural responses.

A structured behaviour modification programme may involve:

1. Identifying the dog’s triggers.
2. Establishing a safe distance from those triggers.
3. Preventing repeated overwhelming experiences.
4. Pairing the trigger with positive experiences.
5. Teaching alternative responses.
6. Gradually increasing difficulty as the dog becomes more comfortable.
7. Monitoring progress and adjusting the programme.

Behaviour modification requires consistency, appropriate timing and realistic expectations.

Not every dog will become comfortable in every situation, and some dogs will require lifelong management.

Nevertheless, the possibility of improvement should not be dismissed simply because a dog has demonstrated undesirable behaviour.

A dog that has learned an undesirable response may also be capable of learning a more appropriate one.

9. What could prevent unnecessary dog surrenders in New Zealand?

If we genuinely want to reduce the number of dogs entering pounds, we need to look at prevention.

This requires more than enforcement and impounding.

It requires practical support for owners before their circumstances become unmanageable.

Possible initiatives include:

Initiative	Potential benefit
Affordable dog training	Helps owners address everyday behavioural problems
Behavioural support services	Provides guidance before problems escalate
Veterinary assessments	Identifies pain and medical conditions
Separation-related behaviour support	Helps owners manage distress when dogs are left alone
Temporary fostering	Supports owners experiencing illness or personal crises
Pet-friendly housing initiatives	Reduces housing-related surrender
Responsible ownership education	Improves training and containment
Post-adoption support	Reduces failed adoptions
Specialist rescue partnerships	Provides additional opportunities for suitable dogs
Behaviour rehabilitation programmes	Gives dogs opportunities to improve

A dog that is struggling should not automatically become a pound intake statistic.

Where appropriate, owners should have access to support that helps them retain their animals.

Likewise, rescue organisations should have opportunities to work with pounds before dogs reach a point where euthanasia becomes the only practical outcome.

10. What New Zealand councils should record and publish

New Zealand needs a more consistent national approach to collecting and publishing information about dogs entering pounds.

At present, councils publish annual dog-control reports, but the information and level of detail can vary.

A more useful national reporting system would include:

Reasons for surrender

• Behavioural difficulties.
• Aggression incidents.
• Housing difficulties.
• Financial circumstances.
• Owner illness.
• Lack of time.
• Changes in household circumstances.
• Unwanted litters.
• Other reasons.

Behavioural assessment

• Previous known behavioural history.
• Medical assessments.
• Behavioural observations at intake.
• Repeated assessment results.
• Specific triggers and circumstances.
• Evidence of stress-related behaviour.
• Behavioural support provided.

Rehabilitation and outcomes

• Number of dogs receiving rehabilitation.
• Number transferred to specialist rescues.
• Number placed in foster care.
• Number successfully adopted.
• Number returned to owners.
• Number euthanised following behavioural assessment.
• Number euthanised because of shelter capacity.
• Recorded reasons for each decision.

These figures should be collected using identical definitions across all councils.

They should also distinguish between a dog voluntarily surrendered by its owner, a dog found roaming, a dog impounded following an attack and a dog removed because of welfare concerns.

Without this distinction, it is impossible to understand the true scale of owner surrender and the reasons behind it.

11. The real question: Are we dealing with difficult dogs or dogs that have never been properly understood?

Perhaps the biggest problem with the way society approaches canine behaviour is that we sometimes expect dogs to understand a world that we have never properly taught them to navigate.

We expect them to walk calmly on a lead without teaching loose-lead walking.

We expect them to remain alone without helping them develop the ability to cope with separation.

We expect them to interact appropriately with other dogs without considering their previous experiences.

We expect reliable recall without consistent training.

We expect them to tolerate unfamiliar people, noises and environments without recognising their emotional limitations.

And when they fail to meet these expectations, we sometimes describe them as problematic.

But dogs do not come with an instruction manual.

Their behaviour develops through experience, learning, reinforcement and the relationship they have with their human caregivers.

A behavioural problem may result from inadequate training, fear, frustration, genetics, environmental stress, pain or a combination of factors.

The answer cannot always be to remove the dog.

Sometimes the answer is to educate the owner, change the environment, provide professional support and teach the dog alternative ways of responding.

And sometimes, when a dog has experienced serious behavioural difficulties, the answer is a carefully managed rehabilitation programme rather than an immediate conclusion that it cannot improve.

Conclusion: A New Zealand pound should be a place of assessment, not a place where a dog’s future is decided by its worst day

The New Zealand statistics raise important questions.

Auckland recorded 529 voluntary owner surrenders in 2024–2025, but the report does not explain the individual reasons behind those decisions.

It also recorded 3,307 euthanasias following failed temperament tests and 1,613 because of shelter capacity.

A New Zealand study found that 70% of the 57 adopted dogs examined displayed at least one reported behavioural problem, yet most adopters were not particularly concerned about those behaviours.

Together, these findings highlight the importance of understanding canine behaviour, providing owner support and ensuring that behavioural assessments are interpreted in context.

A dog displaying fear is not necessarily an inherently aggressive dog.

A dog displaying frustration is not necessarily uncontrollable.

A dog that has never learned boundaries is not necessarily incapable of learning them.

A dog that behaves differently in a pound is not necessarily demonstrating its normal temperament.

And a dog that has developed undesirable behavioural patterns is not automatically beyond rehabilitation.

Of course, not every dog can safely be rehomed. Serious risks must be recognised, and public safety must remain a priority.

But decisions about a dog’s future should be based on individual evidence, appropriate assessment and a genuine consideration of realistic alternatives.

New Zealand needs more transparency, more consistent data collection, better behavioural education and stronger cooperation between councils, pounds, veterinary professionals and rescue organisations.

The purpose of animal welfare should not simply be to manage the number of dogs entering our pounds.

It should be to reduce the number of dogs who need to enter them in the first place.

Dogs deserve more than a behavioural label. They deserve to be understood, assessed individually and given a genuine opportunity to improve wherever it is safe and reasonably possible.

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References and New Zealand sources

The following sources are New Zealand government, council and peer-reviewed research publications. They are provided so readers can check the original information.

1. Auckland Council – Animal Management Annual Report 2024–2025

The principal source for Auckland’s impounding, owner surrender, adoption, euthanasia and temperament-test statistics.

https://new.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/content/dam/ac/docs/bylaws/animal-management-annual-report-2024-2025.pdf

2. Massey University / SPCA researchers – Post-Adoption Problem Behaviours in Adolescent and Adult Dogs Rehomed through a New Zealand Animal Shelter (2018)

Peer-reviewed research published in Animals, Volume 8, Issue 6, Article 93.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6024916

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani8060093

3. Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport – New Zealand Dog Control Statistics

National information covering dog registration, injury and enforcement data. The Ministry explains the limitations of comparing council information.

https://www.mcert.govt.nz/our-work/local-government/dog-control/dog-control-statistics

4. Gisborne District Council – Annual Report Dog Control Policy and Practices 2024–2025

Source for Gisborne’s dog impounding, return, rehoming and euthanasia figures.

https://www.gdc.govt.nz/services/dogs-and-animals/dogs/dog-control-annual-report-202425

5. Tauranga City Council – Animal Services

Local council information on impounded dogs, roaming complaints, barking enquiries, attacks and adoption.

https://www.tauranga.govt.nz/services/animals/animal-services/what-animal-services-do

6. Palmerston North City Council – Dog Control Reports

Annual council reporting and historical dog-control information.

https://www.pncc.govt.nz/Council/Document-library/Research/Dog-control-report

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Important disclaimer

This article is intended for public education and animal welfare awareness. The statistical figures are drawn from specific New Zealand studies and council reports, not a single nationally representative survey. Auckland and Gisborne figures must not be interpreted as national averages.

Behavioural observations are not veterinary diagnoses. Dogs displaying aggression, severe anxiety or potentially dangerous behaviour require appropriate veterinary and qualified behavioural assessment. Behaviour modification must be undertaken using suitable safety measures and without exposing people or other animals to unnecessary risk.