Attention All Dog Owners! Do You Want to Adhere to a Healthy New Year’s Resolution? A Commentary on Dog Walking for Physical Activity and Health

M. Felicia Cavallini^1, and David J. Dyck²

¹Limestone University, 1115 College Dr., Gaffney, South Carolina 29340

²University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1

Cite this paper:
M. Felicia Cavallini and David J. Dyck. Attention All Dog Owners! Do You Want to Adhere to a Healthy New Year’s Resolution? A Commentary on Dog Walking for Physical Activity and Health. Journal of Physical Activity Research. 2020; 5(2):117-120. doi: 10.12691/jpar-5-2-8

Abstract

Every year, millions of Americans and Canadians pledge to become more physically active as part of their New Year’s Resolution, only to ultimately fizzle by the end of three months or less. Although the benefits of physical activity (PA) are understood universally, the majority of Americans and Canadians do not meet the recommended PA guidelines. Exercise, which is more planned and structured, has been robustly promoted for years. More recently research has indicated that many adults prefer a more realistic, natural, and enjoyable way of moving through lifestyle PA, such as walking. Walking is inexpensive and can be carried out just about anywhere at a variety of intensities such as strolling, walking, brisk walking, and power walking. The probability of meeting the PA guidelines is four times greater with dog walking owners. Our recent research demonstrates lack of time, whether real or perceived, is the major barrier to PA, and that there is a widely held belief that other obligations and responsibilities are more important. In addition, affective motivators such as “feeling good and happier afterwards” was indicated as a preferred motivator towards physical activity. Consequently, specific intervention strategies need to be implemented where adults can realistically partake in lifestyle PA. If people’s preferences for lifestyle PA consists of taking care of their dogs, and knowing the health benefits derived from walking, it stands to reason that promoting dog walking is an effective way to encourage more people to participate in PA.

Keywords:
dog walking New Year’s resolution physical activity adherence lifestyle physical activity intervention strategies

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