Dog Walking Research Articles

Dog walking brings Toxocara eggs to people's homes

To find out the transmission routes for Toxocara infection, the possibility of transfer of Toxocara eggs from the soil on the paws of animals and on the shoes of people was explored. For this purpose, a study was conducted to find helminth eggs in washings from the paws of dogs after walking, from the shoes of their owners, as well as non-dog owners. Toxocara eggs were detected in 19.4% of the dogs’ paws washings and in 11.4% of washings from the shoes of their owners. The number of eggs found on the paws was about twice as high as on the shoes. The mean number of eggs in the sample was 2.9 in washings from the paws and 1.8 from the shoes. In the samples, Toxocara cati eggs prevailed both in occurrence and in abundance. Out of the total number of positive samples, the eggs of T. cati were found in 83%, and T. canis in 42%. 79% of the found eggs belonged to T. cati and 21% to T. canis. In the washings from shoes of people that do not own dogs, the eggs of parasites were not found. This study demonstrates that the helminth eggs can be transferred from contaminated soil to people’s homes on the paws and shoe soles. Even animals without a patent infection may take part in propagation of infection causing risks of human toxocariasis. In dogs, in addition, the transferred on paws T. canis eggs can serve as a causative agent of permanent, cumulative subclinical infection with a deferred manifestation in posterity. It is supposed that infestation “through the paws” is one of the probable routes of transmission of toxocariasis in dogs.

'More people talk to you when you have a dog' - dogs as catalysts for social inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities.

Research has shown Australian group homes, and supported living options, fail to support people with intellectual disabilities (IDs) to develop social connections. This pilot study evaluates the effectiveness of a visiting dog walking program to facilitate encounters with other community members. Sixteen adults with IDs were assigned to one of two groups, matched on key characteristics. Group 1 had 14, 1-hour outings in the community with a dog and their handler; Group 2 had 14 outings with a handler alone, followed by an additional five outings with a handler and a dog. Within and between group differences were analysed according to number of encounters when a dog was present and absent. Qualitative data provided insights into the nature of these encounters. The number of encounters was significantly higher when a dog was present than when participants went out into the community with a handler alone. This pattern was reflected in the qualitative data, which also suggested the presence of a dog helped to break social norms about speaking to strangers and discourage disrespect towards people with IDs. A dog walking program has the potential to encourage convivial encounters, which in the long term could be catalysts to help people with IDs build social connections in their communities; this should be further explored.

Two Sides of the City: Dog-keeping Practices in Russian Urban Areas

ABSTRACTThis article examines dog–owner relations and dog ownership in Omsk, Russia. We describe typical dog-keeping practices and reveal how diverse urban environments can influence these practices. A two-stage survey was conducted in 2014 to determine the numbers and management of dogs owned. In total, some 1,583 households at the first stage of the research and 323 households at the second stage were interviewed face-to-face. About 23% of all households in Omsk owned dogs, but this proportion varied markedly for different parts of the city. In the city's single-story area, 71.5% of households had dogs, while in the multi-story area this was only 10.8%. Dog-keeping practices were different in these areas. Significant differences in these practices were shown for almost all aspects: the selection criteria, dog feeding, veterinary treatment, dog walking, the roles of dogs, and owners’ attitudes toward them. Owners living in the single-story area demonstrated a utilitarian or functional approach to their dogs—influencing the sex, size, and the breed of the animal. Dogs often lived outside the house; they were vaccinated and taken to the veterinarian less often than dogs from the multi-story area. The owners in the multi-story area described more affectionate feelings toward their dogs. This is reflected in both the choice and treatment of the animals. We observed a larger proportion of pedigree dogs, a larger proportion of female animals, more vaccinations, and the owners making a variety of purchases for their dogs.

Preliminary Findings From A Stealth Physical Activity Intervention Targeting Inactive Dog Owners

Given that 60 million American households own at least one dog, there is growing interest in promoting dog walking to increase physical activity at the population level. An estimated 40% of dog owners do not walk the dog regularly, providing a large target population for intervention. Dog obedience training could plausibly serve as a stealth physical activity intervention as it aims to strengthen the dog-owner bond, a construct strongly associated with dog walking behavior. PURPOSE: To examine changes in dog owners’ self-reported dog walking behavior and device-measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) after completing basic obedience training. METHODS: Forty-one healthy but inactive individuals (85% female; mean age=40) who reported walking their dog ≤3 d/wk were randomized to a 6-week basic obedience training class (INT; n=21) or wait list control group (CON; n=20). Participants recorded all dog walking bouts and wore an Actigraph GT3X+ on their right hip for 7d at baseline and 6-weeks. T-tests assessed group differences in self-reported dog walking and device-measured MVPA change scores. RESULTS: At baseline, participants reported 48.5±62.7 min/wk of dog walking and averaged 22.0±14.0 min/d of MVPA. Intervention participants that completed post-program assessments (n=17) attended an average 5.6 of 6 training classes. Preliminary analyses of n=31 participants (n=13 INT) with valid Actigraph data (≥4d with ≥8hrs weartime at both time points) found a differential change in self-reported dog walking behavior between groups (+36.1±58.4min/wk versus -26.7±90.3min/wk in INT and CON participants, respectively; p=0.04), but no differential change in MVPA (+7.4±22.2min/d versus +1.6±11.3min/d in INT and CON participants, respectively; p=0.35). CONCLUSIONS: In this small pilot study, dog obedience training led to increases in self-reported dog walking behavior but no change in device-measured MVPA as compared to a waitlist control group. There was large variability in both physical activity outcomes measures, so results should be interpreted with caution. This approach should be tested in a larger sample and should specifically target inactive dog owners that intend to or would like to walk the dog regularly but report barriers (rather than owners that do not intend to walk the dog).

Dog ownership, dog walking, and leisure-time walking among Taiwanese metropolitan and nonmetropolitan older adults

BackgroundThis study examined the prevalence of dog ownership and dog walking and its association with leisure-time walking among metropolitan and nonmetropolitan older adults.MethodsA telephone-based cross-sectional survey targeting Taiwanese older adults was conducted in November 2016. Data related to dog ownership, time spent dog walking (categorized as non-dog owner, non-dog walkers, and dog walkers), and sociodemographic variables were obtained from 1074 older adults. Adjusted binary logistic regression was then performed.ResultsIn this sample, 12% of Taiwanese older adults owned a dog and 31% of them walked their dogs for an average of 232.13 min over 5.9 days/week (standard deviation = 2.03). Older adults living in nonmetropolitan areas were more likely to own a dog (14.7% vs. 9.1%) but less likely to walk their dog (25.9% vs. 39.6%) than were those living in metropolitan areas. Compared with non-dog owners, only older adults living in nonmetropolitan areas who were dog walkers achieved 150 min of leisure-time walking (odds ratio: 3.03, 95% confidence interval: 1.05–8.77), after adjustment for potential confounders.ConclusionOlder Taiwanese adults living in nonmetropolitan areas who owned and walked their dogs were more likely to achieve health-enhancing levels of leisure-time walking. Tailored physical activity interventions for promoting dog walking should be developed for older adults who are dog owners living in nonmetropolitan areas and who do not engage in dog walking.

Neighbourhood greenspace is related to physical activity in England, but only for dog owners

Evidence supporting a positive association between neighbourhood greenspace and physical activity is equivocal. Using data from a large, nationally representative survey in England (n = 280,790), we found that while a positive relationship between the amount of neighbourhood greenspace and the odds of achieving recommended weekly physical activity existed for dog owners, no relationship was found for non-dog owners. The findings highlight the importance of neighbourhood greenspaces for supporting physical activity through dog walking in the UK context, but also raise the issue of how to encourage non-dog owners to use greenspaces in health-promoting ways. The results may also help to explain previously mixed findings in the international evidence base, and emphasise the need to adequately account for dog-ownership in future research exploring the relationship between greenspaces and physical activity.

Comparison of Electronic and Self-Reported Pedometer Step Counts in a Dog Walking Study

1. Abstract Some pedometers capture an electronic record of steps, while others require that participants read step counts from the pedometer and record them in a separate log. This study characterizes discrepancies between self-report and electronic capture of daily step counts, compares compliance between methods over time, and assesses reliability and validity of average daily step counts using both methods. Daily step counts were obtained from a sample of 29 participants over a three-month period using both electronically stored pedometer recordings and paper-and-pencil activity logs based on pedometer readings. Differences in compliance and average step counts between pedometer and self-reported were low to moderate, and self-reported step counts were of sufficient quantity and quality that they provide a reliable, valid and possibly less expensive alternative to pedometer step counts. The purpose of this paper is to identify and characterize discrepancies between self-report and electronic capture of daily step counts in a sample of participants asked to wear a pedometer for three months. We also compare compliance between methods over time, and assess reliability and validity of average daily step counts using both methods. We hypothesize that electronic capture of daily step counts will be associated with higher compliance, and more valid and reliable data than self-report of daily step counts in a hand-written activity log 2. Keywords: Compliance; Dog walking; Physical activity; Reliability; Self-report; Validity

Comparison of Electronic and Self-Reported Pedometer Step Counts in a Dog Walking Study

Comparison of Electronic and Self-Reported Pedometer Step Counts in a Dog Walking Study

Sociability modifies dogs\u2019 sensitivity to biological motion of different social relevance

Preferential attention to living creatures is believed to be an intrinsic capacity of the visual system of several species, with perception of biological motion often studied and, in humans, it correlates with social cognitive performance. Although domestic dogs are exceptionally attentive to human social cues, it is unknown whether their sociability is associated with sensitivity to conspecific and heterospecific biological motion cues of different social relevance. We recorded video clips of point-light displays depicting a human or dog walking in either frontal or lateral view. In a preferential looking paradigm, dogs spontaneously viewed 16 paired point-light displays showing combinations of normal/inverted (control condition), human/dog and frontal/lateral views. Overall, dogs looked significantly longer at frontal human point-light display versus the inverted control, probably due to its clearer social/biological relevance. Dogs’ sociability, assessed through owner-completed questionnaires, further revealed that low-sociability dogs preferred the lateral point-light display view, whereas high-sociability dogs preferred the frontal view. Clearly, dogs can recognize biological motion, but their preference is influenced by their sociability and the stimulus salience, implying biological motion perception may reflect aspects of dogs’ social cognition.

Pond neurons

I was awakened early on December 25, 2016, by our young dog, who does not appreciate the concept of sleeping in on holidays and who loves taking long morning walks, especially in cold weather. As we crossed the bridge over a nearby pond, I noted “neurons” embedded in the ice along the shore. Nature's present for a neurologist on a freezing morning dog walk. A multipolar neuron (upper left), a Purkinje-like neuron (upper right), and a pyramidal neuron (bottom). The oak leaves fortuitously included in each photograph provide perspective on size of the “neurons.”

Acquiring a Dog and Walking It: A Preliminary Examination of the Possible Physical Activity and Health Benefits

Abstract In light of the detrimental health consequences associated with insufficient physical activity, there is growing concern about the low percentage of adults who are sufficiently active. Given that some researchers have recommended that acquiring a dog should be promoted as a means of increasing physical activity, this longitudinal study examined whether acquiring a dog and walking it leads to an increase in physical activity. Results revealed that participants in the acquired-dog group ( n = 17) increased their moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity in 10-minute bouts from baseline to 8 months, while there was no change in the control group ( n = 28). The present study also examined whether, if dog owners become more physically active, this results in health benefits. Although individuals in the acquired-dog group increased their physical activity, they did not experience any improvements in their physical or psychological health over the course of the study relative to the control group. However, it is noteworthy that the majority of the acquired-dog group perceived that acquiring a dog had positively affected their health. Taken together, these findings suggest that acquiring a dog and walking it merits further attention as a way of increasing physical activity and there is a need for additional research on the possible physical activity-related health benefits from dog walking.

More than A to B: Understanding and managing visitor spatial behaviour in urban forests using public participation GIS

Planning and management needs up-to-date, easily-obtainable and accurate information on the spatial and social aspects of visitor behaviour in order to balance human use and impacts, and protection of natural resources in public parks. We used a web-based public participation GIS (PPGIS) approach to gather citizen data on visitor behaviour in Helsinki's Central Park in order to aid collaborative spatial decision-making. The study combined smartphone GPS tracking, route drawing and a questionnaire to examine differences between user groups in their use of formal trails, off-trail behaviour and the motivations that affect it. In our sample (n = 233), different activity types were associated with distinctive spatial patterns and potential extent of impacts. The density mapping and statistical analyses indicated three types of behaviour: predominantly on or close to formal trails (runners and cyclists), spatially concentrated off-trail behaviour confined to a few informal paths (mountain bikers), and dispersed off-trail use pattern (walkers and dog walkers). Across all user groups, off-trail behaviour was mainly motivated by positive attraction towards the environment such as scenic view, exploration, and viewing flora and fauna. Study findings lead to several management recommendations that were presented to city officials. These include reducing dispersion and the spatial extent of trampling impacts by encouraging use of a limited number of well-established informal paths away from sensitive vegetation and protected habitats.

The Influence of Family Dog Ownership and Parental Perceived Built Environment Measures on Children's Physical Activity within the Washington, DC Area.

Sedentary behavior and physical inactivity are significant contributors to youth obesity in the United States. Neighborhood dog walking is an outlet for physical activity (PA). Therefore, understanding the relationship between built environment, dog ownership, and youth PA is essential. This study examined the influence of dog ownership and parental built environment perceptions on children’s PA in the Washington, D.C. area. In 2014, questionnaires were mailed to 2000 parents to assess family dog ownership; children’s outdoor dog walking or playing; and parental perceived built environment measures. Chi-square analyses examined differences in parental perceived built environment measures between children with and without family dogs. The sample included 144 children (50% female; average-age 9.7 years; 56.3% White; 23.7% African-American; 10.4% Asian-American; 29.9% owned dog). Only 13% and 5.6% of the children walked or played outdoors with the dog daily, respectively. A significantly greater proportion (p-value < 0.05) of parents who owned dogs recognized and observed some home built environment measures (e.g., traffic speed on most streets is 30 mph or less) that were PA -promoting for their children. Findings suggest that dog ownership may provide more positive parental perceptions of the neighborhood built environment, which supports children’s outdoor PA through dog walking and playing.

Factors Influencing Off-leash Dog Walking in Public Places

Little is known about factors that influence owners’ decisions walking their dogs on or off a leash in public places. We examined the effect of the type of public place, dog’s age, sex and size, and human gender on off‑leash dog walking. Observations of 1850 dogs and their owners were made in streets and parks in Brno (Czech Republic). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed no significant effect of human gender on the frequency of unleashed dogs in streets and parks. Off‑leash dog walking was 2.8 times more likely in parks than in streets. Adult dogs were unleashed 1.9 times more likely than puppies in streets and parks. Larger dogs were unleashed 3.4 times less likely than smaller dogs in streets and 2.8 times more likely in parks. Male dogs were unleashed 1.7 times less likely than female dogs in streets. The dog’s sex had no effect on off‑leash dog walking in parks. The age and sex of dogs walked by men and women in public places were not significantly different. Larger dogs were walked by men 1.9 times more likely than by women. Results indicate that off‑leash dog walking is affected by the type of public place and dog’s age, sex and size.

Aquatic treadmill water level influence on pelvic limb kinematics in cranial cruciate ligament-deficient dogs with surgically stabilised stifles.

To compare pelvic limb joint kinematics and temporal gait characteristics during land-based and aquatic-based treadmill walking in dogs that have undergone surgical stabilisation for cranial cruciate ligament deficiency. Client-owned dogs with surgically stabilised stifles following cranial cruciate ligament deficiency performed three walking trials consisting of three consecutive gait cycles on an aquatic treadmill under four water levels. Hip, stifle and hock range of motion; peak extension; and peak flexion were assessed for the affected limb at each water level. Gait cycle time and stance phase percentage were also determined. Ten client-owned dogs of varying breeds were evaluated at a mean of 55·2 days postoperatively. Aquatic treadmill water level influenced pelvic limb kinematics and temporal gait outcomes. Increased stifle joint flexion was observed as treadmill water level increased, peaking when the water level was at the hip. Similarly, hip flexion increased at the hip water level. Stifle range of motion was greatest at stifle and hip water levels. Stance phase percentage was significantly decreased when water level was at the hip. Aquatic treadmill walking has become a common rehabilitation modality following surgical stabilisation of cranial cruciate ligament deficiency. However, evidence-based best practice guidelines to enhance stifle kinematics do not exist. Our findings suggest that rehabilitation utilising a water level at or above the stifle will achieve the best stifle kinematics following surgical stifle stabilisation.

A dog walk a day keeps the doctor away

Caring for patients with the various chronic diseases linked to obesity is a major part of the job for small animal practitioners these days – treating not just the dogs but the owners as well. Research shows that vets have an important role in ensuring that their clients undertake enough exercise to keep themselves lean and healthy. John Bonner reports.

Understanding the context for pet cat and dog feeding and exercising behaviour among pet owners in Ireland: a qualitative study

BackgroundPet cat and dog obesity contributes to increased risk of several diseases, including cancer and diabetes mellitus as well as a worsening of orthopaedic problems, and a reduction in survival rate. This study aims to develop a better understanding of cat and dog owners’ self-reported beliefs and factors that influence owner behaviour around feeding and exercising their pet cat or dog, as there is a lack of in-depth understanding in this area. Seven focus group discussions, with 43 pet owners in total, were conducted.ResultsPet owners often reported a perceived a low level of control over feeding; often undermined by other people feeding of their pet, their pets begging for food, and their pets attitude towards food. Treats were used in the absence of owner control over pet begging and emotional attachment, and to influence pet behaviour. The majority of participants had positive attitudes to pet exercise, which could be related to pet specific requirements, especially differences in cats and dogs. There were some negative experiences of stress associated with dog walking and fears over aggressive confrontations with other dogs.ConclusionFeeding one’s pet is influenced by beliefs about pet specific needs, pet food and pet health, pet owners’ perceived control over feeding, and the implications for the pet owner. Pet exercise is influenced by beliefs about pet specific exercise needs, and the implications of exercising one’s pet for the pet owner. Understanding owner behaviours on feeding and exercise allows for a more targeted approach to preventing and treating pet obesity.

Applying public participation GIS (PPGIS) to inform and manage visitor conflict along multi-use trails

ABSTRACTManaging visitor conflict is an important task in protected areas. This study used public participation GIS (PPGIS) mapping and a visitor survey to research conflicts between mountain bikers and horse riders, and other groups frequenting trails for tourism and recreation in national parks in northern Sydney (Australia). The goal was to evaluate the effectiveness of the PPGIS for determining conflict locations, and to integrate stated reasons and conflict resolution measures in a model. The survey showed that 42% of mountain bikers and 69% of horse riders had experienced conflicts, with each other, motorbike riders, walkers/hikers and dog walkers. PPGIS effectively mapped concurrent usage intensity to predict potential conflict locations over a reasonably large study area thereby identifying trails of the greatest concern. PPGIS also offered high-quality GIS visualisation options, and the novelty of the PPGIS increased participant engagement. We evaluated PPGIS compared to questionnaire-based surveying, direct visitor observations, GPS tracking, traffic counters and cameras. Because visitor conflict occurs within a spatial context, conflict management will require greater spatial knowledge of visitor activity, which can be obtained through the innovative PPGIS mapping. A conflict model is presented that integrates this study's empirical findings on conflict reasons and resolutions with existing conflict theory.

I Walk My Dog Because It Makes Me Happy: A Qualitative Study to Understand Why Dogs Motivate Walking and Improved Health.

Dog walking is a popular everyday physical activity. Dog owners are generally more active than non-owners, but some rarely walk with their dog. The strength of the dog–owner relationship is known to be correlated with dog walking, and this qualitative study investigates why. Twenty-six interviews were combined with autoethnography of dog walking experiences. Dog walking was constructed as “for the dog”, however, owners represented their dog’s needs in a way which aligned with their own. Central to the construction of need was perceptions of dog personality and behaviour. Owners reported deriving positive outcomes from dog walking, most notably, feelings of “happiness”, but these were “contingent” on the perception that their dogs were enjoying the experience. Owner physical activity and social interaction were secondary bonuses but rarely motivating. Perceptions and beliefs of owners about dog walking were continually negotiated, depending on how the needs of the owner and dog were constructed at that time. Complex social interactions with the “significant other” of a pet can strongly motivate human health behaviour. Potential interventions to promote dog walking need to account for this complexity and the effect of the dog-owner relationship on owner mental wellbeing.

Dog ownership supports the maintenance of physical activity during poor weather in older English adults: cross-sectional results from the EPIC Norfolk cohort

BackgroundDog ownership has been suggested to encourage physical activity in older adults and may enhance resilience to poor environmental conditions. This study investigates the role of dog ownership and walking...