Dog-Walking, Health and the Human-Dog Bond

Brief name: Dog-Walking, Health and the Human-Dog Bond A cross-over design will be employed where each participant will undergo 4 conditions across 4 different days, in a randomised sequence, namely: 1) walk with their dog 2) walk without their dog 3) interact with their dog whilst remaining physically inactive e.g. vocal communication, stroking, eye contact 4) spend time on their own whilst remaining physically inactive The researcher should aim to book all 4 visits for each participant at approximately the same time of day. Time of day variation between participants will be accepted. The participant must lie at rest on their couch or similar in the supine position for 10 minutes, with no access to smartphone or other electronic devices and no communication with other household members. The participant and their dog (when necessary) must then complete the allocated condition for 15 minutes. The participant should wear the Polar V800 strap and watch throughout this period. For condition 1, participants must walk with their dog at their average pace on a route familiar to both owner and dog. The researcher will accompany and observe the participant throughout each condition to ensure intervention fidelity. During the walk, the researcher must record a milestone around the half-way point of the walk. The researcher must also record the distance walked using the Strava V3 app. The route must avoid the dog’s preferential urination spot (e.g. tree, lamppost in the backyard or outside the house) by walking around the area at a 10m radius. Neither the owner nor dog should interact with other humans or dogs during the walk. The exact length of the walk (min) should be documented upon the participant’s return home. For condition 2, participants must walk in a similar pattern and pace to condition 1. This requires the participant to include interruptions or pauses they would normally experience when walking with their dog. The participant should aim to reach the designated milestone at a similar time to condition 1. The owner should not interact with other humans or dogs during the walk or use smartphone devices. The exact length of the walk (min) should be documented upon the participant’s return home. Upon completion of each condition, the participant must then lie supine for an additional 10 minutes. A washout period of at least 24 hours will be employed following each condition.