Warry was inspired to get a puppy after her sister began looking, and found a litter with two male puppies up for adoption. Warry paid $3500 for one of the brothers, while the other pup went to her sister’s house.

The Malvern East mum says her daughter Alice, 10, and Tommy, 8, were beside themselves at Ralphy’s surprise arrival.

“It’s added another little dimension of something to do, and something they are excited about, because there’s not much excitement in their lives at the moment unfortunately,” says Warry. “He’s just brought a lot of joy, in a not-so-joyous time.”

In Sydney’s North Bondi, Jenna Isaacman and her family are enjoying the company of Teddy, a four-month-old cavoodle they bought two months ago.

“We ended up paying just under $3000, which is quite good for a cavoodle these days, because you can pay up to $6000 or $7000.”

She says her three kids had been asking for a pet for a while. “We just thought during this whole lockdown and isolation period it was probably a good time.”

Teddy has been a very welcome addition to the family. “He’s been amazing, honestly,” says Isaacman. “I take him to work with me every day and the kids absolutely love him.”

Oodles of Groodles and Cavoodles Australia, a small breeder based in Port Macquarie, has been inundated with enquiries, says employee Katie Barton.

“In March we probably increased by about 400 to 500 per cent, it was in the thousands.”

While it’s since calmed down a little, the business is still receiving about 30 enquiries a week from potential owners, with mini groodles a hot favourite.

With only a few litters since March and now, most people have ended up on a long waiting list.

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Registered breeder Elizabeth Graham, who sells longhaired dachshunds, worries that puppies purchased during the pandemic won’t be socialised properly – and will suffer separation anxiety once their owners eventually return to work.

“For a lot of people they just want a puppy to act as their distraction during COVID, which isn’t really the reason to buy a puppy.”

Buyers should also be aware of some ‘backyard breeders’ who were doubling or tripling their prices, without due care for the puppies or bitches, she says.

Dr Sarah Zito, a senior scientific officer at RSPCA Australia, says buyers need to do their research, particularly after reports of scams.

“One of the first things I’d say is never ever trust a seller who will send a pet straight to you without seeing the animal,” she says.

Dr Zito recommends visiting the place where the puppy has been living, so you can see the conditions, ask about any health issues, meet the mother and find out whether the dog has been socialised.

And if you can’t visit a breeder because of COVID-19 restrictions, she says a rescue dog may be a good, and much cheaper, alternative.