Table 2.

Dog and owner characteristics.

Dog characteristics ( n , %)
Sex	Male (n = 359, 50) Female (n = 350, 50) Missing information (n = 2, 0.1)
Age	Mean age: 82.0 months (6.8 years); SD = 52.2 months Median 72 months (6 years); IQR = 84 months
Neuter status	Neutered (n = 550, 77) Unneutered (n = 168, 23) Unknown (n = 1, 0.1)
Most common breeds	Cross-breed/ mongrel (n = 93, 13) Labrador Retriever (n = 66, 9) Border Collie (n = 45, 6) Miniature Schnauzer (n = 33, 5) Cocker Spaniel (n = 30, 4)
Size	Toy (n = 29, 11) Small (n = 171, 24) Medium (n = 282, 39) Large (n = 227, 32) Giant (n = 11, 2)
Timing of acquisition	Acquired before the pandemic (n=646, 90) Acquired during the pandemic (n=72, 10)
Source of acquisition	Commercial or hobby breeder (n = 403; 56) Dog shelter/ rescue (n = 213; 30) Other source** (n = 104; 14)
Number of dogs in the household	One (n = 380, 53) Two (n = 182, 25) Three or more (n = 120, 17) Dog passed away during the pandemic (n = 34, 5)
Owner characteristics ( n , %)
Gender	Woman (n = 665, 93); Man (n = 43, 6) Prefer not to say (n = 7, 1) Non-binary (n = 2, 0.3)
Age	<50 years of age (n = 418, 58) >50 years of age (n = 292; 41) Prefer not to say (n = 6, 1)
Education	Educated to a degree level or above (n = 407, 57) Educate below a degree level (n = 303, 43)
Living arrangements	Living with others (n = 582, 82) Living alone (n =129, 18)
Dog-ownership experience	First time owning a dog as an adult (n = 277, 39) Owned previous dogs during adulthood (n = 436; 61)
Household income	Within or above UK's median (n = 473, 66) Below UK's median (n = 92, 13) Prefer not to say (n = 145, 20)
Concerns regarding the impact of the pandemic on financial security	Unconcerned (n = 314, 44) Neither concerned nor unconcerned (n = 80, 11) Concerned (n = 275, 38) Prefer not to say (n = 50, 7)

^*The UK median in 2021 was £29,900 annually (52).

^**Other sources included: guide dog organizations, farms, friends/ family.