Active Living with Furry Friends: The Influence of Dogs on Physical Activity Levels in Children and Adolescents - A Systematic Review

Context: Physical inactivity among children and adolescents is a major public health issue, as most do not meet international physical activity (PA) recommendations. Consequently, developing effective strategies to address this problem is urgently needed. Aims This systematic review aimed to determine the association between dog ownership and PA levels among children and adolescents, with a focus on the contextual factors that may influence this relationship. Methods A systematic search of five electronic databases was conducted to identify studies published up to November 19, 2024, that examined the relationship between dog ownership and PA in children and adolescents, with a focus on five contextual factors. Eligible study designs included randomized controlled trials, longitudinal studies, and cross-sectional studies. Data from the included studies were summarized chronologically, detailing study characteristics, objectives, participant demographics, PA assessment methods, protocols, contextual variables examined, and PA outcomes. Results Seventeen studies (three countries; n  = 14,483; 2–17 years old) met the inclusion criteria. Family dog walking was the most analyzed and strongly associated with PA (15/17 studies, 88.2%), while dog attachment and environmental context were the least examined (3/17 studies, 17.6% each). On average, dog walking increased PA by 26.9 minutes per day, with frequencies ranging from 1 to 7 times per week. Conclusions Findings suggest that children and adolescents who walk or play with dogs achieve higher PA levels than those who do not. Thus, dog ownership could contribute to nearly 50% of the international PA recommendation. Prospero registration number : CRD42023488709