Keywords

community, dog, environment, social support, walking

 

Authors

  1. Christian (nee Cutt), Hayley PhD
  2. Giles-Corti, Billie PhD
  3. Knuiman, Matthew PhD

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.