Dog Walking Intensity And Its Contribution To Owners’ Total Moderate-to-vigorous Physical Activity

Abstract

Approximately half of American households own a dog, and dog ownership is associated with higher levels of physical activity (PA). These increased PA levels are assumed to be dog-related, but there is limited scientific evidence to support this assumption. Though dog walking is classified as moderate intensity PA (3 METS) in the PA compendium, few studies have used objective PA measures to track intensity during dog walking bouts. PURPOSE: To 1) determine the % of daily accelerometer-estimated moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) minutes that are accumulated during self-reported dog walking bouts, and 2) quantify the % of dog walking minutes that qualify as MVPA. METHODS: Thirty-three healthy dog owners (30 female; BMI 27.2±5.3; age 45.2±15.3) wore an ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometer on their right hip for 7 days. Dogs were a mean age of 5.85±3.7 (size: 11 small, 12 medium, 9 large). Participants were asked to maintain their normal routine, log leisure-time activity with and without their dog, and ActiGraph on/off periods. T-tests were used to compare differences in MVPA for dog age (<7 vs. >7) and size (med/large vs. small). RESULTS: Thirty-three participants averaged 56.62 ±31.1 min/day in MVPA. An average 42.12 ±25.25% of this time was spent dog walking. Of time spent dog walking, 65.19 ±26% was MVPA. There was no significant difference in % of MVPA min/day attributable to dog walking or % of dog walking in MVPA based on dog age or size (p≥0.4). Combined ActiGraph and self-report data provides context for participants’ PA, and further insight for investigation (Figure 1). CONCLUSION: The sample demonstrated large variability, with some participants accumulating almost all MVPA from dog walking, and others accumulating little or none. Two-thirds of dog walking minutes were MVPA, but also varied by individual. Variations were not explained by dog size or age. Given the prevalence of dog ownership in America, further investigation into how dog ownership affects PA is warranted.Figure 1.: Combined ActiGraph and self-reported data of sample participant.