Table 2.

An overview of major themes and codes identified in the course of analysis. The number of times each main code was applied to survey response data is provided (n) alongside a percentage which reflects the proportion of the main codes that each main code accounts for (%). The number and percentage calculations are based on the survey content only; the main codes and sub-codes were, however, present also across the general population and Generation Pup diaries.

Theme	Main Codes	n	%	Examples of Sub-Codes
Spending Time at Home with Dogs	Owner Health and Wellbeing	1621	12.8	Improves owner’s mood Mental health benefits Distraction Provides purpose Source of comfort Love the dog provides
	Companionship	1869	14.8	Mitigates against loneliness Friendship
	Concerns Over Other People’s Dogs	512	4.1	Concerns for dogs acquired during the lockdown Fear of dogs being relinquished after the lockdown
	Concerns for Dog’s Welfare and Medical Care	857	6.8	Dog spends more time alone (e.g., key workers) Reduced availability of veterinary care Fear of being unable to care for the dog due to owner’s illness
Walking Practices	Enjoyment of Dog Walking	1356	10.7	More pleasant walking experiences ○ Walking a dog as highlight of a day ○ Walking a dog provides routine ○ Family walks ○ Walks as an opportunity for social interactions (human–human) with other people ○ More leisurely walking experience ○ Exploring local area ○ Easier, where quiet, to manage dogs with existing behavioural problems
	Changes in Dog Walking and Exercise Routine	2180	17.3	Less pleasant walking experiences ○ Fear of COVID-19 transmission during walks ○ Impact of restricted walking on dog’s health/welfare ○ Socially distanced walks as not “good enough” ○ Difficulties in maintaining social distance on dog walks ○ Challenging, where busy, to manage dogs with existing behavioural problems on socially distanced walks Supplementing/replacing walks with exercises/enrichment at home
Behaviour and Training	Behaviour Linked to Changes in Daily Care Routine (-,1974, 27.21)	1725	13.7	Dogs enjoying increased human company Signs of separation-related behaviours Fear of separation-related issues developing in the future Concerns over dog’s ability to adapt to post-lockdown routine Strategies for preventing separation-related behaviours in the future Anticipating a need to re-train a dog in the future Attention-seeking behaviours Restlessness/difficulties in settling down Increase in destructive behaviour (when householders were present) Increase in mouthing/nipping Concerns over dog’s emotional wellbeing
	Behaviour Linked with Reduced Social Contact	981	7.8	Dogs missing social contact with other familiar dogs or humans Concerns over the impact of lack of social interaction on dog’s future behaviour Undesirable behaviours as a result of limited social interaction Concerns over a puppy not having a chance to develop social skills Socially distanced methods of socialising puppies
	Positive Impact on Training	379	3.0	More time for training New games and training plans Enjoyment of at home training during the lockdown
	Negative Impact on Training	204	1.6	Interruption of ongoing training Interruption of ongoing efforts to address behaviours owners find problematic
No Concerns *	n/a	940	7.4
No Aspects Owner is Enjoying †	n/a	9	0.1

* “No concerns” code was applied to all survey responses in which the participant reported that they had no concerns. This code was only applied to data from survey participants. Of the 5041 survey responses included in analysis, an additional 119 participants left this question response field blank, but provided a response to the question about aspects they were enjoying. † “No Aspects Owner Is Enjoying” code was applied to all survey responses in which the participant reported that they were not enjoying anything, or nothing in particular, about dog ownership during the lockdown. This code was only applied to data from survey participants. Of the 5041 survey responses included in analysis, an additional 22 participants left this question response field blank, but provided a response to the question about aspects they were concerned about.