Not Health, But Happiness Is the Reason behind Outdoor Dog Walking

Washington, Sep 03, 2017: What impels the 'Dog Walking'? Is it the health concern? No. Dog owners choose outdoors to walk their dogs in the light of the fact that it makes them exhilarated, not because of other well-being and social advantages, indicated a new study.

The study was conducted by the University of Liverpool which interviews 26 dog owners and recorded their perceptions and experiences of dog walking, mentioned ANI.

The researchers studied that while the dog owners may state the reason they go strolling is the dog's health, however, the point of their enhanced satisfaction and prosperity is clear.

These sentiments of happiness, nevertheless, are dependent upon the dog owner trusting that their dog is getting charged out of the walk as well. Anything that undermines this, for example, behavior issues makes it unlikely to walk.

Heightened physical movement and social connections with other dog owners were observed to be a bonus but seldom rousing.

Study lead Dr. Carri Westgarth said that the factors that motivate dog walking are incredibly complex, "yet we know they can strongly motivate human health behavior. It is crucial to understand why owners walk their dogs if we are to be able to effectively promote owners to walk their dogs more."

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Westgarth further added: "It's clear from our findings that dog walking is used to meet the emotional needs of the owner as well as the needs of the dog. This may explain why pilot dog walking interventions with messages focused on health or social benefits have not been particularly successful.

"Possible key points for future interventions to increase dog walking are to promote how it may increase the dogs, and thus the owner's, happiness," he concluded.

The study appears in the journal International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.