Physical Activity and Neighborhood Characteristics of Dog Walkers

PURPOSE: This study examined differences in physical activity, weight status and neighborhood environment walkability and income between dog owners and non-owners. METHODS: Participants aged 20 to 64 years (N = 2199, 52% male, 74% white, M age = 45) were recruited from 32 neighborhoods in the Seattle, WA and Baltimore, MD regions. Neighborhoods (i.e. a cluster of census block groups) represented high or low income (census data) and high or low walkability (using a GIS-based index). Dog ownership and minutes of dog walking were self-reported. Overall physical activity was measured by 7 days of accelerometry and self-reported time spent walking per day for leisure from the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Covariates included ethnicity, age, highest level of household education, and sex. RESULTS: About 28% of the sample were dog owners. Dog owners were more likely to live in high vs. low income (32% vs. 24%, p < .001) and low vs. high walkable neighborhoods (32% vs. 24%, p < .001). Dog owners reported more leisure walking per day (M = 29.1 minutes) than non-owners (M = 17.8, p < .001). There were no differences in accelerometer counts between dog owners and non-owners. Dog walkers spent an average of 25 minutes/week walking the dog, and 27% met physical activity guidelines of 150 minutes per week with dog walking. However, 30% of owners spent no time walking their dogs. Dog owners living in high vs. low walkable areas spent more time walking their dogs (adj M = 37.4 vs. 19.07, p < .001). Dog owners were divided into those who walked their dogs (> 0 min/week) and those who did not. Dog walkers had lower BMIs than non-dog walkers (M = 26.6 vs. 28.0, p = .003), greater leisure time walking (M = 40.4 vs. 8.5, p < .001), and greater total accelerometer counts/day (M = 313,160 vs. 282,962, p = .009). Dog walkers were more likely to live in high walkable areas than non-dog walkers (47% vs. 32%, p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Dog ownership was associated with higher levels of self-reported leisure time physical activity. Dog walkers had lower BMIs and accelerometer scores that were 11% higher than those of dog owners who did not walk their dogs. Encouraging dog walking among owners who do not regularly walk them could promote improved health. More dog walking appears to be a health benefit of living in walkable neighborhoods.