‘Tracking Together’—Simultaneous Use Of Human And Dog Activity Trackers: A Factorial Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

PURPOSE: Human activity trackers have been shown to increase daily steps and physical activity intensity. Dog activity trackers may increase the owner’s awareness of their dog’s well-being, resulting in increased dog walking behavior, which may increase the owner’s physical activity. This study examines the impact of the simultaneous use of activity trackers by humans and their dogs on the physical activity of humans. METHODS: Fifty dog owners were randomized into one of four groups. Each group consisted of dog-human duos, in which both, human-only, dog-only, or neither were given an activity tracker to use for eight weeks. All human subjects wore a waist mounted accelerometer that quantified physical activity at two timepoints: one week prior to randomization and eight weeks after randomization. Commercial activity trackers were used during the eight-week session for tracking human and dog activity remotely. A factorial analysis of covariance was used to compare daily average sedentary, low, light, moderate, and vigorous physical activity across the four groups from pre to post. RESULTS: Change in daily average sedentary, low, light, moderate, and vigorous physical activity from fifty dog owners were analyzed (Control n = 13, Human Activity Tracker (HAT) n = 14, Dog Activity Tracker (DAT) n = 12, HAT + DAT n = 11). There was a significant main effect of HAT on change in average daily light physical activity (Avg Light PA) minutes. No HAT compared to HAT significantly increased Avg Light PA (30.83 ± 14.87 minutes/day, p = 0.04). There was a marginally significant effect of HAT on change in average daily sedentary physical activity minutes (Avg Sed PA). No HAT compared to HAT decreased Avg Sed PA (-43.8 ± 23.76 minutes/day, p = 0.07). There were no other significant changes in average daily physical activity categories. CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneous use of activity trackers did not change physical activity for this small, self-selected sample. The pandemic may have already increased dog walking for this sample, they may already have well-established dog-walking routines, or they may not have continuously worn trackers. Future studies should also explore behavioral interventions that utilize DAT for improving dog-walking behavior and other dog-engaged activities among dog-owners that positively impact health of both species.