Research in Human-Animal Interaction
American Journal of Public Health 66-69 January 2008, Vol 98, No. 1 Hayley Cutt, BSc, Billie Giles-Corti, PhD, Matthew Knuiman, PhD, Anna Timperio, PhD and Fiona Bull, PhD Hayley Cutt, Billie Giles-Corti, Matthew Knuiman, and Fiona Bull are with the School of Population Health, The University of Western Australia, Crawley. Anna Timperio is with the Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Australia.
We examined the influence of dog ownership on physical activity, independent of demographic, intrapersonal, and perceived environmental factors, in a cross-sectional survey of 1813 adults. Although only 23% of the dog owners walked their dogs 5 or more times per week, the adjusted odds of achieving sufficient physical activity and walking were 57% to 77% higher among dog owners compared with those not owning dogs (P< .05). Dog ownership was independently associated with physical activity and walking. Actively encouraging more dog walking may increase community physical activity levels.