HLES_PhysicalActivity

About the Physical Activity Survey

The Physical Activity Survey captures seasonal variation in activity level, activity type, and the physical spaces in which activity occurs.

Survey Instrument: HLES Physical Activity

General activity patterns

Average activity levels over the last year
Sample size: 47,444 Count (%)
Description of the dog's lifestyle [pa_activity_level]
Not active 5,967 (13%)
Moderately active 31,830 (67%)
Very Active 9,647 (20%)
Physical activity per day (hours)* [pa_avg_daily_active_hours]
0 4,434 (9%)
1 13,557 (29%)
2 13,418 (28%)
3 6,890 (15%)
4 4,322 (9%)
5 1,747 (4%)
6 1,501 (3%)
7 330 (1%)
8+ 1,245 (3%)
Intensity of daily activity [pa_avg_activity_intensity]
Low (walking) 22,485 (47%)
Moderate (jogging) 15,693 (33%)
Vigorous (sprinting) 9,266 (20%)
*Curated data includes average minutes

Outdoor activity in moderate weather (40-85 F)

Regional prevalence of moderate weather
Sample size: 47,444 Count (%)
Months per year with outside temperatures 40-85 F [pa_moderate_weather_months_per_year]
0 17 (<1%)
1 21 (<1%)
2 123 (<1%)
3 462 (1%)
4 1,206 (3%)
5 2,183 (5%)
6 5,755 (12%)
7 6,065 (13%)
8 9,125 (19%)
9 7,918 (17%)
10 5,960 (13%)
11 3,057 (6%)
12 5,552 (12%)
Activity in regions with 1+ months of moderate weather
Subset sample size: 47,427 Count (%)
Time spent outside in temperatures 40-85 F [pa_moderate_weather_daily_hours_outside]
Less than 3 hours 29,565 (62%)
Between 3-8 hours 15,875 (33%)
Between 8-16 hours 1,081 (2%)
More than 16 hours 254 (1%)
My dog does not spend time in moderate weather 652 (1%)
Ground surface exposure during moderate weather
Subset sample size: 46,775 Count (%)
Types of ground surfaces the dog uses [pa_moderate_weather_outdoor_]
Astroturf 3,060 (7%)
Concrete 25,013 (53%)
Grass Or Dirt 44,877 (96%)
Gravel 12,934 (28%)
Other Hard Surface 23,004 (49%)
Other Surface 3,554 (8%)
Sand 7,158 (15%)
Wood 12,250 (26%)
Degree of sun exposure [pa_moderate_weather_sun_exposure_level]
Full sun 1,093 (2%)
Access to shade or sun 44,603 (95%)
Full shade 1,079 (2%)

Oudoor activity in hot weather (over 85 F)

Regional prevalence of hot weather
Sample size: 47,444 Count (%)
Months per year with outside temperatures over 85 F [pa_hot_weather_months_per_year]
0 2,839 (6%)
1 8,208 (17%)
2 13,045 (27%)
3 11,819 (25%)
4 5,330 (11%)
5 2,399 (5%)
6 1,739 (4%)
7 688 (1%)
8 579 (1%)
9 405 (1%)
10 268 (1%)
11 55 (<1%)
12+ 70 (<1%)
Activity in regions with 1+ months of hot weather
Subset sample size: 44,605 Count (%)
Time spent outside in temperatures over 85 F [pa_hot_weather_daily_hours_outside]
Less than 3 hours 34,635 (78%)
Between 3-8 hours 4,261 (10%)
Between 8-16 hours 389 (1%)
More than 16 hours 143 (<1%)
My dog does not spend time in a hot area 5,177 (12%)
Ground surface exposure during hot weather
Subset sample size: 39,428 Count (%)
Types of ground surfaces the dog uses [pa_hot_weather_outdoor_]
Astroturf 2,143 (5%)
Concrete 15,488 (39%)
Grass Or Dirt 36,610 (93%)
Gravel 8,456 (21%)
Other Hard Surface 13,456 (34%)
Other Surface 2,488 (6%)
Sand 5,008 (13%)
Wood 8,674 (22%)
Degree of sun exposure [pa_hot_weather_sun_exposure_level]
Full sun 572 (1%)
Access to shade or sun 36,237 (92%)
Full shade 2,619 (7%)

Oudoor activity in cold weather (under 40 F)

Regional prevalence of cold weather
Sample size: 47,444 Count (%)
Months per year with outside temperatures under 40 F [pa_cold_weather_months_per_year]
0 7,518 (16%)
1 7,173 (15%)
2 9,615 (20%)
3 10,697 (23%)
4 6,764 (14%)
5 3,409 (7%)
6 1,559 (3%)
7 428 (1%)
8 175 (<1%)
9 76 (<1%)
10 17 (<1%)
11 4 (<1%)
12 9 (<1%)
Activity in regions with 1+ months of cold weather
Subset sample size: 39,926 Count (%)
Time spent outside in temperatures under 40 F [pa_cold_weather_daily_hours_outside]
Less than 3 hours 31,355 (79%)
Between 3-8 hours 4,271 (11%)
Between 8-16 hours 359 (1%)
More than 16 hours 133 (<1%)
My dog does not spend time in a cold area 3,808 (10%)
Ground surface exposure during cold weather
Subset sample size: 36,118 Count (%)
Types of ground surfaces the dog uses [pa_cold_weather_outdoor_]
Astroturf 1,657 (5%)
Concrete 15,955 (44%)
Grass Or Dirt 32,942 (91%)
Gravel 8,495 (24%)
Other Hard Surface 15,905 (44%)
Other Surface 3,990 (11%)
Sand 3,499 (10%)
Wood 8,412 (23%)
Degree of sun exposure [pa_cold_weather_sun_exposure_level]
Full sun 2,031 (6%)
Access to shade or sun 33,479 (93%)
Full shade 608 (2%)

On and off leash activities

Patterns of lead/leash usage
Sample size: 47,444 Count (%)
Leash status during outdoor activities [pa_on_leash_off_leash_walk]
My dog doesn't take walks 1,016 (2%)
On leash 26,655 (56%)
Off leash 1,480 (3%)
Both 18,293 (39%)
On leash activities
Subset sample size: 44,948 Count (%)
Frequency of on leash activities [pa_on_leash_walk_frequency]
Less than once a month 2,807 (6%)
Less than once a week 3,230 (7%)
Once or twice a week 5,437 (12%)
3-6 times a week 7,711 (17%)
Once a day 8,133 (18%)
More than once a day 17,630 (39%)
Duration of on leash activities (hours)* [pa_on_leash_walk_avg_hours]
0 23,215 (52%)
1 17,172 (38%)
2 3,560 (8%)
3 718 (2%)
4 165 (<1%)
5 46 (<1%)
6 25 (<1%)
7 13 (<1%)
8+ 34 (<1%)
Reason for on leash activities (Multiple choice) [pa_on_leash_walk_reasons_]
Activity And Enjoyment 38,773 (86%)
Dog Relieve Itself 25,336 (56%)
Exercise For Dog 37,122 (83%)
Exercise For Owner 31,124 (69%)
Other 2,730 (6%)
Training Obedience 13,109 (29%)
*Curated data includes average minutes and percentage of time at various paces
Off leash activities
Subset sample size: 19,773 Count (%)
Frequency of off leash activities [pa_off_leash_walk_frequency]
Less than once a month 479 (2%)
Less than once a week 970 (5%)
Once or twice a week 2,361 (12%)
3-6 times a week 3,311 (17%)
Once a day 3,158 (16%)
More than once a day 9,494 (48%)
Duration of off leash activities (hours)* [pa_off_leash_walk_avg_hours]
0 8,008 (40%)
1 6,247 (32%)
2 2,996 (15%)
3 1,282 (6%)
4 484 (2%)
5 182 (1%)
6 134 (1%)
7 40 (<1%)
8+ 400 (2%)
Reason for off leash activities (Multiple choice) [pa_off_leash_walk_reasons_]
Activity And Enjoyment 16,892 (85%)
Dog Relieve Itself 11,302 (57%)
Exercise For Dog 15,783 (80%)
Exercise For Owner 8,031 (41%)
Other 1,493 (8%)
Training Obedience 4,870 (25%)
Off leash activities in areas with boundaries (fences) [pa_off_leash_walk_in_enclosed_area]
No 6,082 (31%)
Yes 13,691 (69%)
Off leash activities in unbounded (unfenced) areas [pa_off_leash_walk_in_open_area]
No 4,505 (23%)
Yes 15,268 (77%)
Reliability of off leash recall [pa_off_leash_walk_returns_when_called_frequency]
Never 50 (<1%)
Always 9,979 (50%)
Most of the time 7,443 (38%)
Frequently 1,276 (6%)
Sometimes 887 (4%)
Rarely 138 (1%)
*Curated data includes average minutes and percentage of time at various paces
Activities involving play
Sample size: 47,444 Count (%)
Frequency of playing fetch or other games [pa_physical_games_frequency]
Daily 23,008 (48%)
Weekly 8,865 (19%)
Monthly 1,537 (3%)
Rarely 8,138 (17%)
Never 5,896 (12%)
Swimming
Sample size: 47,444 Count (%)
Participation in swimming activities [pa_swim]
No 33,008 (70%)
Yes 14,436 (30%)
Subset sample size: 14,430 Count (%)
Frequency of swimming in moderate weather (40-85 F) [pa_swim_moderate_weather_frequency]
Daily 1,103 (8%)
Weekly 4,144 (29%)
Monthly 3,843 (27%)
Rarely 4,896 (34%)
Never 355 (2%)
Did not answer 89 (1%)
Subset sample size: 13,480 Count (%)
Frequency of swimming in hot weather (over 85 F) [pa_swim_hot_weather_frequency]
Daily 2,345 (17%)
Weekly 3,951 (29%)
Monthly 2,626 (19%)
Rarely 3,246 (24%)
Never 194 (1%)
Did not answer 1,118 (8%)
Subset sample size: 12,253 Count (%)
Frequency of swimming in cold weather (under 40 F) [pa_swim_cold_weather_frequency]
Daily 104 (1%)
Weekly 497 (4%)
Monthly 558 (5%)
Rarely 3,099 (25%)
Never 7,312 (60%)
Did not answer 683 (6%)
Subset sample size: 14,436 Count (%)
Swimming locations (Multiple choice) [pa_swim_locations_]
Agricultural Ditch 354 (2%)
Ocean 3,046 (21%)
Other 596 (4%)
Pond Or Lake 8,984 (62%)
River Stream Or Creek 6,659 (46%)
Swimming Pool 4,140 (29%)
Other aerobic activities (working, mushing, herding, etc.)
Sample size: 47,444 Count (%)
Frequency of other aerobic activities [pa_other_aerobic_activity_frequency]
Never 25,659 (54%)
Less than once a month 3,314 (7%)
Less than once a week 2,643 (6%)
Once or twice a week 5,330 (11%)
3-6 times a week 3,313 (7%)
Once a day 3,722 (8%)
More than once a day 3,463 (7%)
Subset sample size: 21,785 Count (%)
Duration of other aerobic activities (hours)* [pa_other_aerobic_activity_avg_hours]
0 14,647 (67%)
1 4,676 (21%)
2 1,326 (6%)
3 455 (2%)
4 258 (1%)
5 143 (1%)
6 125 (1%)
7 44 (<1%)
8+ 110 (1%)
Did not answer 1 (<1%)
Typical aerobic activity level [pa_other_aerobic_activity_avg_intensity]
Bursts of exercise less than 30% of the time 11,312 (52%)
Engages in moderate exercise (greater than 30% of the time but less than 60% of the time) 7,766 (36%)
Engages in strenuous exercise most of the time (greater than 60%) 2,706 (12%)
Did not answer 1 (<1%)
*Curated data includes average minutes and percentage of time at various paces