Dog walking during the lockdown in the Covid-19 pandemic situation in the Czech Republic: a questionnaire survey

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the frequency, duration, and location of dog walking during and before the first Covid-19 lockdown (LD) and possible variable factors. The research team interviewed 504 adult Czech dog owners using an online questionnaire regarding their dog walking activity. During the LD in April 2020, the frequency of dog walking was significantly lower, and a single walk duration was significantly higher than before (p < 0.001). The preference for locations also changed during the LD. Dog walking was considered beneficial for physical activity (PA) and daily rhythm. Factors related to dog walking frequency during the LD were age (p = 0.016) and the length of working/studying hours (p < 0.001). These factors were significant before and during the LD: the number of children (p < 0.001), the number of household members (p = 0.044), and the type of housing (p = 0.006). This study brings a broad amount of data on current trends and changes in dog walking during the unprecedented lockdown, which might contribute to the organisation of public health or research methodology in future relatable situations.