"I'm Just a'-Walking the Dog" correlates of regular dog walking

Fam Community Health. 2010 Jan-Mar;33(1):44-52. doi: 10.1097/FCH.0b013e3181c4e208.

Abstract

Intrapersonal and environmental factors associated with dog walking (N = 483) were examined. A greater proportion of regular (80%) than irregular (59%) dog walkers met the recommended 150 minutes of physical activity per week. Owners who perceived greater social support and motivation from their dogs to walk, and who had access to a dog-supportive park within their neighborhood, were more likely to regularly walk with their dogs, even after adjustment for other well-known correlates of physical activity. The higher level of physical activity of regular dog walkers can be attributed to the additional walking these owners perform with their dogs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Dogs*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Motor Activity / physiology*
  • Pets*
  • Recreation
  • Residence Characteristics
  • Social Support*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Time Factors
  • Walking / physiology*
  • Walking / psychology
  • Western Australia