title: Dog ownership and physical activity in later life: a cross-sectional observational study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine whether dog ownership amongst community dwelling older adults (≥ 65 years) is associated with objectively measured physical activity (PA).
  
  
  METHODS
  We used data from the Physical Activity Cohort Scotland (PACS) which consists of 547 people aged 65 and over, resident in the community in Tayside, Scotland. The data was collected in 2009-2011. We assessed whether dog ownership is associated with objectively measured physical activity (accelerometry counts).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The physical activity (PA) counts of 547 older people (mean age 79 (standard deviation (SD) 8 years, 54% female) were analysed. Linear mixed models showed that dog ownership was positively related to higher PA levels. This positive relationship remained after controlling for a large number of individual and contextual variables, including attitude towards exercise, physical activity intention and history of physical activity. Dog owners were found to be 12% more active (21,875 counts, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 2810 to 40,939, p<0.05) than non-dog owners.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dog ownership is associated with physical activity in later life. Interventions to increase activity amongst older people might usefully attempt to replicate elements of the dog ownership experience.
authors.affiliation: Longitudinal Studies Centre for Scotland, University of St Andrews, Scotland, UK; Ageing and Health, University of Dundee, Dundee, Tayside, Scotland, UK. Electronic address: zhiqiang.feng@st-andrews.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Zhiqiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Longitudinal Studies Centre for Scotland, University of St Andrews, Scotland, UK; School of Geography and Geosciences, University of St Andrews, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dibben
authors.affiliation: Ageing and Health, University of Dundee, Dundee, Tayside, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Miles D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Witham
authors.affiliation: Division of Population Health Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, Tayside, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Peter T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Donnan
authors.affiliation: Division of Population Health Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, Tayside, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Thenmalar
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vadiveloo
authors.affiliation: Centre for Translational Research in Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, England, UK.
authors.forename: Falko
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sniehotta
authors.affiliation: Division of Population Health Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, Tayside, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Iain K
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Crombie
authors.affiliation: Ageing and Health, University of Dundee, Dundee, Tayside, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Marion E T
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: McMurdo
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004285:Dogs; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D010067:Ownership; D057805:Pets; D012606:Scotland; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Accelerometry counts; Dog ownership; Later life; Physical activity