Public health agencies throughout the world recognize the need for physical activity. Walking is one “low-cost” activity that can be employed by a very diverse range of people, and dog-walking may be a way to encourage it. Past studies have shown that people who live with companion dogs make 15% fewer annual visits to the doctor, on average. Other evidence shows that living with a dog contributes to lower rates of cardiovascular disease, mainly because of dog-walking. It’s an activity that has positive effects for both people and dogs. It also engenders a sense of responsibility in people. Those who report “feeling a sense of responsibility to walk their dog have a higher level of physical activity.” In turn, dogs become our exercise buddies and we can support their health and welfare while they support us.

This study’s purpose was three-fold: 1) review evidence about dog-walking as a strategy to increase physical activity in people, 2) review how the “physical and policy environment” affects where and how people walk their dogs, and 3) recommend ways to encourage dog-walking. For the purposes of this summary, we’ll focus on the second and third goals, as those are the aspects that are more focused on the dogs’ experiences. The physical environment is very important, and there is a “wealth of evidence” that shows “support for the influence of the neighborhood environment on walking.” Most dog-walking occurs within a 10-15 minute walk of the home and studies show that 50-60% of walking happens in residential neighbourhoods. Interestingly, the study found that many people who visit fenced dog parks “spend much of their time stationary.”

Overall, the authors find that the “walkability” of any given area is vital to supporting dog-walking as an activity. Regarding policy, the authors note that encouraging dog-walking is still mostly done through a patchwork approach. Pilot studies have encouraged more dog-walking for years, but scaling the results of those pilot studies to population levels remains largely unexplored. For companion animal advocates, the human health angle presents a potential avenue to help drive adoptions. It also has the potential to encourage more activity for otherwise sedentary dogs and even urban planning that supports dog-walking and dog welfare generally.