title: Development and psychometric testing of the Dogs and WalkinG Survey (DAWGS).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Dog owners represent 40% of the population, a promising audience to increase population levels of physical activity. The purpose of this study was to develop and test the psychometric properties of a new instrument to assess social-cognitive theory constructs related to dog walking.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dog owners (N = 431) completed the Dogs and WalkinG Survey (DAWGS). Survey items assessed dog-walking behaviors and self-efficacy, social support, outcome expectations, and outcome expectancies for dog walking. Test-retest reliability was assessed among 252 (58%) survey respondents who completed the survey twice. Factorial validity and factorial invariance by age and walking level were tested using confirmatory factor analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  DAWGS items demonstrated moderate test-retest reliability (p = .39-.79; k = .41-.89). Acceptable model fit was found for all subscales. All subscales were invariant by age and walking level, except self-efficacy, which showed mixed evidence of invariance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The DAWGS is a psychometrically sound instrument for examining individual and interpersonal correlates of dog walking.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Purdue University, 502 N. University Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA. erichards@purdue.edu
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Purdue University, 502 N. University Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
authors.forename: Meghan H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: McDonough
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Purdue University, 502 N. University Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
authors.forename: Nancy E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Purdue University, 502 N. University Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
authors.forename: Roseann M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Lyle
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Purdue University, 502 N. University Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
authors.forename: Philip J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Troped
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057805:Pets; D011582:Psychological Theory; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016138:Walking; D055815:Young Adult