A recent study suggests a notable link between acquiring a dog and increased physical activity in young girls. Researchers from Telethon Kids Institute in Australia found that the presence or absence of a family dog is associated with children’s levels of physical activity, with girls exhibiting the most noticeable changes.
Lead researcher Emma Adams explained, “What these results show is that dog ownership can have a positive influence on children’s physical activity, and that we start to see those benefits from early childhood.”
The longitudinal study, conducted by researchers from Telethon Institute and The University of Western Australia, followed 600 children aged between two and seven over a three-year period. The impact of dog ownership or loss on physical activity levels was assessed using accelerometers—small devices worn on the hip for seven days at a time to measure sedentary time, screen time, and physical activity.
The study revealed that families acquiring a dog experienced a significant increase in children’s daily physical activity, particularly noticeable in girls. Girls who gained a canine companion showed a boost of almost an hour (52 minutes) in light-intensity activities and games. Conversely, girls who lost a family dog recorded a notable drop of 62 minutes in the same activities.
The study classified physical activities into structured and unstructured categories. Children who acquired a dog during the study period increased their unstructured physical activity—such as playing in the garden or walking the dog—by approximately seven occasions a week. On the other hand, children who lost a dog reduced their unstructured physical activity by 10.2 sessions a week for girls and 7.7 sessions for boys.
Emma Adams emphasized the importance of early-age physical activity for children’s overall health and development, noting the challenges many children face in meeting recommended daily activity levels. She clarified that the study is not advocating for families to get a dog solely for this purpose, acknowledging the responsibilities that come with pet ownership. Instead, the findings encourage families with existing dogs to leverage the positive influence of canine companionship to promote physical activity in children.
The research, published in the International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity, is groundbreaking for its demonstration of the relationship between dog ownership and specific types of children’s physical activity over an extended period.
