The prevalence of canine obesity continues to increase and is due, in part, to inadequate levels of physical activity (PA). Accelerometers have emerged as a useful tool to objectively quantify levels of physical activity in humans, as well as companion pets, but there is little data on the levels/patterns of free-living physical activity in pet dogs and how it relates to body condition score (BCS) and owner physical activity.

PURPOSE:​ To quantify free-living physical activity levels of healthy pet dogs using a collar-mounted accelerometer and to relate this to BCS and owner-reported dog walking behavior.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:​ We recorded anthropometric data, BCS and five consecutive days of free-living physical activity via accelerometry in 74 dogs. Four consecutive days of one-minute accelerometer count epochs were summed to generate a measure of hourly and total daily physical activity levels. We also recorded step counts in 49 owners who were instructed to wear a hip-mounted pedometer while walking their dog and record the number of steps following each walk.

RESULTS:​ Mean (SE) accelerometer counts/day were 202,859(5,806). Dogs with a BCS of three were significantly more active than those with a BCS of four (p= 0.047). Dogs were more physically active in the morning and evening hours, presumably because their owners iii were present. Dogs appeared to engage in distinct periods of PA such that 40% or more of total daily activity occurred during three hours or ~12% of each day. We analyzed 169 days of owner walks. Mean (SE) accelerometer counts recorded during a walk and corresponding pedometer counts were 95,905(5,637) and 4,558(305) respectively. There was a significant positive relationship between accelerometry counts and steps (r² 0.63, p<​0.001).

DISCUSSION:​ These data support the use of accelerometry to assess freeliving physical activity in dogs and show that physical activity levels of dogs are inversely related to their adiposity. The strong relationship between dog physical activity and owner dog-walking suggests that interventions aimed to increase walking in dogs may benefit both the dogs and their owners. Accelerometers may be useful in a clinical setting to measure the effects of such interventions.