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Table 1 Summary of studies of the correlates of dog walking

From: How might we increase physical activity through dog walking?: A comprehensive review of dog walking correlates

Author

Study type

N

Location

Outcomes studied

Confounding considered?

  

Owner

 

Owner PA

 

Oka and Shibata, 2012 [27]

Cross-sectional survey

930 adult DO

Japan

DW yes/no

Yes

Rohlf et al., 2012 [23]

Cross-sectional survey (non-significant variables in model unknown)

1016 adult DO

Australia

Dog exercise frequency

Yes

Rhodes et al., 2012 [41]

Randomised Controlled Trial

58 inactive DO adults

Canada

DW min/week and pedometer step count

Yes

Degeling et al., 2012 [40]

Cross-sectional survey

241 DO

Canada

DW frequency, achieving 150 m/week

Yes

Arnberger and Eder, 2012 [52]

Cross-sectional survey of visitors

330 visitors

Austria

Perceptions of parks and coping behaviours

No

Ioja et al., 2011 [56]

Park observation and visitor perception survey

5240 DO and NDO adults

Romania

Frequency and length of visits plus perceptions of parks

No

Heuberger and Wakshlag, 2011 [36]

Cross-sectional survey

318 DO adults

USA

Dogs activity, owner’s exercise

No

McCormack et al., 2011 [58]

Cross-sectional survey

506 DO adults

Canada

DW yes/no, DW frequency

Yes

Scheibeck et al., 2011 [60]

Qualitative interview

23 elderly DO

Austria

DW frequency and distance

No

Hoerster et al., 2011 [26]

Cross-sectional survey (some non-significant variables unknown)

984 adult DO

USA

DW yes/no

Yes

Christian et al., 2010 [25]

Cross-sectional survey

483 adult DW

Australia

Regular/irregular DW

Yes

Rohlf et al., 2010 [43]

Cross-sectional survey of exercise intentions (non-significant variables in model unknown)

182 adult DO

Australia

Dog exercise intentions, dog exercise amount (frequency and duration)

Yes

Westgarth et al., 2009 [34]

Cross-sectional survey

224 DO households

UK

Number of areas visited on dog walks

No

Lee et al., 2009 [57]

‘Dog park’ observation and user perception survey

‘Dog park’ observation and user perception survey

267 DO who use dog parks

USA

Perceptions of dog park use

No

Coleman et al., 2008 [59]

Cross-sectional survey

2199 adult DO and NDO

USA

DW yes/no

No

Cutt et al., 2008a [16]

Qualitative focus groups

51 adult DO

Australia

Barriers and motivators to DW

No

Knight and Edwards, 2008 [47]

Qualitative focus groups

65 adult DW

UK

Exploring aspects of DO and DW

No

Cutt et al., 2008b [24]

Cross-sectional survey

629 adult DO

Australia

DW yes/no

Yes

Thorpe et al., 2006 [83]

Cross-sectional survey

394 DO

USA

DW yes/no

No

Ham and Epping, 2006 [101]

Cross-sectional survey

1282 DW youth and adults

USA

DW frequency and duration

No

Brown and Rhodes, 2006 [42]

Cross-sectional survey

351 adult NDO and DO

Canada

Walk frequency and duration

No

Schofield et al., 2005 [102]

Cross-sectional survey

1237 adult NDO and DO

Australia

Walking for leisure

No

Suminski et al., 2005 [48]

Cross-sectional survey

474 adult NDO and DO

USA

DW yes/no

Yes

Carver et al., 2005 [49]

Cross-sectional survey (non-significant variables not presented)

347 adolescents

Australia

DW yes/no weekends

Yes

Arnberger and Hinterberger, 2003 [51]

Observations of park use and cross-sectional survey

140 DW 420 NDW interviewed

Austria

Frequency and duration of park visit

No

  

Dog

 

Dog PA

 

Westgarth et al., 2008 [35]

Cross-sectional survey

279 dogs

UK

Walk frequency and duration

No

Tami et al., 2008 [37]

Cross-sectional survey

181 dogs (Argentine Dogos)

Italy

Daily walk duration

No

Masters and McGreevy, 2008 [103]

Cross-sectional survey (non-significant findings not presented)

690 dogs

Australia

Walk frequency

No

Robertson, 2003 [20]

Cross-sectional survey

860 dogs

Australia

Land exercise yes/no

No

Kobelt et al., 2003 [39]

Cross-sectional survey

254 dogs

Australia

Walk frequency

No

Podberscek and Serpell, 1997 [38]

Cross-sectional survey

435 dogs (English Cocker Spaniels)

UK

Frequency and duration of walks/exercise

No

  1. PA = Physical activity, DO = Dog ownership or dog owner, NDO = Non-dog owner, DW = Dog walking or dog walker (owner who walks their dog), NDW = Non-dog walker (owner who does not walk their dog).