Pet dogs and child physical activity: the role of child–dog attachment

SummaryBackground Dog ownership has been associated with increased physical activity in children which in turn may mitigate childhood obesity. Objective To measure the association between child–dog attachment and child physical activity and screen time. Methods Cross-sectional study including 370 children (ages 4–10) who had pet dogs in the home. Parents completed the DartScreen, a web-based screener, before a well-child visit. Screener domains included child body mass index (BMI), physical activity, screen time and dog-related questions. The Companion Animal Bonding Scale (CABS) was used to measure child attachment to the dog. Clinic nurses weighed and measured the children. Associations between CABS, BMI z-score, screen time and physical activity were estimated. Results CABS was strongly associated with time spent being active with the dog (F = 22.81, p < 0.0001), but not with BMI z-score or screen time. Conclusions A higher level of child attachment to a pet dog is associated with increased child physical activity.