Research investigates whether dog walking is the key to a healthier more active lifestyle for older adults.

It’s a well-known fact, that as we age, we become less physically active. In fact, previous research has shown that older adults (60+ years) spend 60% of their day doing sedentary activities such as watching TV. Reasons for this include problems with mobility, like arthritis and reduced cardiovascular capacity, but also psychological barriers, including lack of motivation.

However, a sedentary lifestyle can itself produce a wide range of health challenges, including obesity, reduced muscle strength, weaker bones, increased inflammation and poorer blood circulation. For this reason, a number of health initiatives have been created to help older adults become more active, but have generally struggled with low adherence due to lack of perceived purpose. Therefore, to address this issue, recent research has investigated whether shelter dog walking can motivate older adults to be more active.

Dog walking program for older adults

The study included 54 older adults (65 years and over) residing in assisted living facilities in the Midwest, US. The study lasted 12 weeks and participants were allocated to one of three conditions: walking shelter dogs, walking with a human companion, and not in a walking program (control).

Participants in the shelter dog walking condition (12 people), were taken to an animal shelter to walk pre-assessed dogs five times a week for up to one hour each visit. Participants in the human companion walking condition (23 people), could walk with a person of their choice five days a week for up to one hour. Participants in the control condition (19 people) did not engage in a structured walking program and carried on with their normal activities.

The aim of the study was to measure the effects of dog walking on older adults, including their intent to walk, mood, walking distance, walking time, and bond with partner. The study also sought to gain deeper insights into participants’ personal experiences of dog walking.

Health benefits of dog walking

The results revealed no significant difference between participants’ intent to walk, mood or bonding in the shelter dog walking and human companion walking conditions. However, participants in the shelter dog walking condition walked significantly further and for longer than participants in the human companion walking condition.

Qualitative insights revealed that participants in both the shelter dog walking and human companion walking conditions had positive experiences, with few negative sentiments expressed. Participants in both groups reported enjoying the social aspects and felt motivated to engage in physical activity. Some participants in the shelter dog walking condition reported that helping the dogs was particularly motivating for them.

“I enjoyed my exercise but mainly getting the dog out of his cage.”

Research implications

Despite some limitations, including the small sample size and non-randomised design, the findings highlight the potential of shelter dog walking to increase the physical activity of older adults in assisted living facilities. The results also call attention to the importance of social interactions in walking programs, and future research into this area should consider capturing changes in mental health.

Overall, the results lend support to a growing body of research evidence indicating that dog owners are more likely to meet activity level guidelines than non-owners. However, importantly, this study shows that people can still gain these benefits through structured programs when dog ownership may not be possible.

Key study findings:

• Participants in the dog walking condition walked significantly longer and further than those walking with a human companion
• No differences in intent to walk, mood or bonding were observed
• Study limitations reduce ability to establish a causal relationship between walking programs and activity outcomes