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: 50,188 Count (%)
Description of the dog's lifestyle [pa_activity_level]
Not active 6,255 (12%)
Moderately active 33,595 (67%)
Very Active 10,338 (21%)
Physical activity per day (hours)* [pa_avg_daily_active_hours]
0 4,656 (9%)
1 14,252 (28%)
2 14,215 (28%)
3 7,287 (15%)
4 4,608 (9%)
5 1,869 (4%)
6 1,612 (3%)
7 348 (1%)
8+ 1,341 (3%)
Intensity of daily activity [pa_avg_activity_intensity]
Low (walking) 23,635 (47%)
Moderate (jogging) 16,664 (33%)
Vigorous (sprinting) 9,889 (20%)
*Curated data includes average minutes

Outdoor activity in moderate weather (40-85 F)

Regional prevalence of moderate weather
Sample size: 50,188 Count (%)
Months per year with outside temperatures 40-85 F [pa_moderate_weather_months_per_year]
0 17 (<1%)
1 23 (<1%)
2 132 (<1%)
3 485 (1%)
4 1,297 (3%)
5 2,312 (5%)
6 6,144 (12%)
7 6,422 (13%)
8 9,701 (19%)
9 8,339 (17%)
10 6,277 (13%)
11 3,206 (6%)
12 5,833 (12%)
Activity in regions with 1+ months of moderate weather
Subset sample size: 50,171 Count (%)
Time spent outside in temperatures 40-85 F [pa_moderate_weather_daily_hours_outside]
Less than 3 hours 31,230 (62%)
Between 3-8 hours 16,857 (34%)
Between 8-16 hours 1,143 (2%)
More than 16 hours 261 (1%)
My dog does not spend time in moderate weather 680 (1%)
Ground surface exposure during moderate weather
Subset sample size: 49,491 Count (%)
Types of ground surfaces the dog uses [pa_moderate_weather_outdoor_]
Astroturf 3,318 (7%)
Concrete 26,480 (54%)
Grass Or Dirt 47,480 (96%)
Gravel 13,743 (28%)
Other Hard Surface 24,398 (49%)
Other Surface 3,758 (8%)
Sand 7,667 (15%)
Wood 12,963 (26%)
Degree of sun exposure [pa_moderate_weather_sun_exposure_level]
Full sun 1,143 (2%)
Access to shade or sun 47,220 (95%)
Full shade 1,128 (2%)

Oudoor activity in hot weather (over 85 F)

Regional prevalence of hot weather
Sample size: 50,188 Count (%)
Months per year with outside temperatures over 85 F [pa_hot_weather_months_per_year]
0 2,971 (6%)
1 8,659 (17%)
2 13,804 (28%)
3 12,494 (25%)
4 5,673 (11%)
5 2,548 (5%)
6 1,864 (4%)
7 721 (1%)
8 613 (1%)
9 426 (1%)
10 281 (1%)
11 58 (<1%)
12+ 76 (<1%)
Activity in regions with 1+ months of hot weather
Subset sample size: 47,217 Count (%)
Time spent outside in temperatures over 85 F [pa_hot_weather_daily_hours_outside]
Less than 3 hours 36,670 (78%)
Between 3-8 hours 4,507 (10%)
Between 8-16 hours 403 (1%)
More than 16 hours 149 (<1%)
My dog does not spend time in a hot area 5,488 (12%)
Ground surface exposure during hot weather
Subset sample size: 41,729 Count (%)
Types of ground surfaces the dog uses [pa_hot_weather_outdoor_]
Astroturf 2,337 (6%)
Concrete 16,386 (39%)
Grass Or Dirt 38,738 (93%)
Gravel 8,979 (22%)
Other Hard Surface 14,258 (34%)
Other Surface 2,628 (6%)
Sand 5,370 (13%)
Wood 9,192 (22%)
Degree of sun exposure [pa_hot_weather_sun_exposure_level]
Full sun 597 (1%)
Access to shade or sun 38,348 (92%)
Full shade 2,784 (7%)

Oudoor activity in cold weather (under 40 F)

Regional prevalence of cold weather
Sample size: 50,188 Count (%)
Months per year with outside temperatures under 40 F [pa_cold_weather_months_per_year]
0 7,951 (16%)
1 7,578 (15%)
2 10,199 (20%)
3 11,351 (23%)
4 7,166 (14%)
5 3,577 (7%)
6 1,628 (3%)
7 444 (1%)
8 182 (<1%)
9 81 (<1%)
10 18 (<1%)
11 4 (<1%)
12 9 (<1%)
Activity in regions with 1+ months of cold weather
Subset sample size: 42,237 Count (%)
Time spent outside in temperatures under 40 F [pa_cold_weather_daily_hours_outside]
Less than 3 hours 33,166 (79%)
Between 3-8 hours 4,550 (11%)
Between 8-16 hours 375 (1%)
More than 16 hours 137 (<1%)
My dog does not spend time in a cold area 4,009 (9%)
Ground surface exposure during cold weather
Subset sample size: 38,228 Count (%)
Types of ground surfaces the dog uses [pa_cold_weather_outdoor_]
Astroturf 1,806 (5%)
Concrete 16,917 (44%)
Grass Or Dirt 34,882 (91%)
Gravel 9,037 (24%)
Other Hard Surface 16,899 (44%)
Other Surface 4,217 (11%)
Sand 3,747 (10%)
Wood 8,939 (23%)
Degree of sun exposure [pa_cold_weather_sun_exposure_level]
Full sun 2,156 (6%)
Access to shade or sun 35,425 (93%)
Full shade 647 (2%)

On and off leash activities

Patterns of lead/leash usage
Sample size: 50,188 Count (%)
Leash status during outdoor activities [pa_on_leash_off_leash_walk]
My dog doesn't take walks 1,064 (2%)
On leash 28,292 (56%)
Off leash 1,551 (3%)
Both 19,281 (38%)
On leash activities
Subset sample size: 47,573 Count (%)
Frequency of on leash activities [pa_on_leash_walk_frequency]
Less than once a month 2,949 (6%)
Less than once a week 3,401 (7%)
Once or twice a week 5,725 (12%)
3-6 times a week 8,153 (17%)
Once a day 8,633 (18%)
More than once a day 18,712 (39%)
Duration of on leash activities (hours)* [pa_on_leash_walk_avg_hours]
0 24,564 (52%)
1 18,160 (38%)
2 3,784 (8%)
3 760 (2%)
4 177 (<1%)
5 48 (<1%)
6 25 (<1%)
7 14 (<1%)
8+ 41 (<1%)
Reason for on leash activities (Multiple choice) [pa_on_leash_walk_reasons_]
Activity And Enjoyment 41,087 (86%)
Dog Relieve Itself 26,912 (57%)
Exercise For Dog 39,295 (83%)
Exercise For Owner 32,913 (69%)
Other 2,920 (6%)
Training Obedience 14,101 (30%)
*Curated data includes average minutes and percentage of time at various paces
Off leash activities
Subset sample size: 20,832 Count (%)
Frequency of off leash activities [pa_off_leash_walk_frequency]
Less than once a month 506 (2%)
Less than once a week 1,012 (5%)
Once or twice a week 2,468 (12%)
3-6 times a week 3,471 (17%)
Once a day 3,338 (16%)
More than once a day 10,037 (48%)
Duration of off leash activities (hours)* [pa_off_leash_walk_avg_hours]
0 8,417 (40%)
1 6,598 (32%)
2 3,131 (15%)
3 1,361 (7%)
4 520 (2%)
5 191 (1%)
6 145 (1%)
7 43 (<1%)
8+ 426 (2%)
Reason for off leash activities (Multiple choice) [pa_off_leash_walk_reasons_]
Activity And Enjoyment 17,811 (85%)
Dog Relieve Itself 11,933 (57%)
Exercise For Dog 16,670 (80%)
Exercise For Owner 8,482 (41%)
Other 1,580 (8%)
Training Obedience 5,196 (25%)
Off leash activities in areas with boundaries (fences) [pa_off_leash_walk_in_enclosed_area]
No 6,379 (31%)
Yes 14,453 (69%)
Off leash activities in unbounded (unfenced) areas [pa_off_leash_walk_in_open_area]
No 4,791 (23%)
Yes 16,041 (77%)
Reliability of off leash recall [pa_off_leash_walk_returns_when_called_frequency]
Never 51 (<1%)
Always 10,520 (50%)
Most of the time 7,852 (38%)
Frequently 1,333 (6%)
Sometimes 930 (4%)
Rarely 146 (1%)
*Curated data includes average minutes and percentage of time at various paces
Activities involving play
Sample size: 50,188 Count (%)
Frequency of playing fetch or other games [pa_physical_games_frequency]
Daily 24,438 (49%)
Weekly 9,354 (19%)
Monthly 1,626 (3%)
Rarely 8,558 (17%)
Never 6,212 (12%)
Swimming
Sample size: 50,188 Count (%)
Participation in swimming activities [pa_swim]
No 34,981 (70%)
Yes 15,207 (30%)
Subset sample size: 15,201 Count (%)
Frequency of swimming in moderate weather (40-85 F) [pa_swim_moderate_weather_frequency]
Daily 1,169 (8%)
Weekly 4,361 (29%)
Monthly 4,043 (27%)
Rarely 5,167 (34%)
Never 370 (2%)
Did not answer 91 (1%)
Subset sample size: 14,217 Count (%)
Frequency of swimming in hot weather (over 85 F) [pa_swim_hot_weather_frequency]
Daily 2,467 (17%)
Weekly 4,174 (29%)
Monthly 2,780 (20%)
Rarely 3,415 (24%)
Never 203 (1%)
Did not answer 1,178 (8%)
Subset sample size: 12,909 Count (%)
Frequency of swimming in cold weather (under 40 F) [pa_swim_cold_weather_frequency]
Daily 115 (1%)
Weekly 524 (4%)
Monthly 590 (5%)
Rarely 3,263 (25%)
Never 7,702 (60%)
Did not answer 715 (6%)
Subset sample size: 15,207 Count (%)
Swimming locations (Multiple choice) [pa_swim_locations_]
Agricultural Ditch 370 (2%)
Ocean 3,221 (21%)
Other 630 (4%)
Pond Or Lake 9,454 (62%)
River Stream Or Creek 7,006 (46%)
Swimming Pool 4,393 (29%)
Other aerobic activities (working, mushing, herding, etc.)
Sample size: 50,188 Count (%)
Frequency of other aerobic activities [pa_other_aerobic_activity_frequency]
Never 27,072 (54%)
Less than once a month 3,517 (7%)
Less than once a week 2,803 (6%)
Once or twice a week 5,672 (11%)
3-6 times a week 3,507 (7%)
Once a day 3,967 (8%)
More than once a day 3,650 (7%)
Subset sample size: 23,116 Count (%)
Duration of other aerobic activities (hours)* [pa_other_aerobic_activity_avg_hours]
0 15,514 (67%)
1 4,997 (22%)
2 1,415 (6%)
3 477 (2%)
4 271 (1%)
5 149 (1%)
6 131 (1%)
7 46 (<1%)
8+ 115 (<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 11,987 (52%)
Engages in moderate exercise (greater than 30% of the time but less than 60% of the time) 8,255 (36%)
Engages in strenuous exercise most of the time (greater than 60%) 2,873 (12%)
Did not answer 1 (<1%)
*Curated data includes average minutes and percentage of time at various paces