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: 52,599 Count (%)
Description of the dog's lifestyle [pa_activity_level]
Not active 6,546 (12%)
Moderately active 35,229 (67%)
Very Active 10,824 (21%)
Physical activity per day (hours)* [pa_avg_daily_active_hours]
0 4,877 (9%)
1 14,920 (28%)
2 14,862 (28%)
3 7,672 (15%)
4 4,814 (9%)
5 1,975 (4%)
6 1,702 (3%)
7 368 (1%)
8+ 1,409 (3%)
Intensity of daily activity [pa_avg_activity_intensity]
Low (walking) 24,777 (47%)
Moderate (jogging) 17,493 (33%)
Vigorous (sprinting) 10,329 (20%)
*Curated data includes average minutes

Outdoor activity in moderate weather (40-85 F)

Regional prevalence of moderate weather
Sample size: 52,599 Count (%)
Months per year with outside temperatures 40-85 F [pa_moderate_weather_months_per_year]
0 18 (<1%)
1 25 (<1%)
2 145 (<1%)
3 534 (1%)
4 1,388 (3%)
5 2,486 (5%)
6 6,479 (12%)
7 6,716 (13%)
8 10,120 (19%)
9 8,722 (17%)
10 6,551 (12%)
11 3,338 (6%)
12 6,077 (12%)
Activity in regions with 1+ months of moderate weather
Subset sample size: 52,581 Count (%)
Time spent outside in temperatures 40-85 F [pa_moderate_weather_daily_hours_outside]
Less than 3 hours 32,741 (62%)
Between 3-8 hours 17,659 (34%)
Between 8-16 hours 1,200 (2%)
More than 16 hours 265 (1%)
My dog does not spend time in moderate weather 716 (1%)
Ground surface exposure during moderate weather
Subset sample size: 51,865 Count (%)
Types of ground surfaces the dog uses [pa_moderate_weather_outdoor_]
Astroturf 3,546 (7%)
Concrete 27,869 (54%)
Grass Or Dirt 49,779 (96%)
Gravel 14,437 (28%)
Other Hard Surface 25,573 (49%)
Other Surface 3,953 (8%)
Sand 8,073 (16%)
Wood 13,575 (26%)
Degree of sun exposure [pa_moderate_weather_sun_exposure_level]
Full sun 1,211 (2%)
Access to shade or sun 49,475 (95%)
Full shade 1,179 (2%)

Oudoor activity in hot weather (over 85 F)

Regional prevalence of hot weather
Sample size: 52,599 Count (%)
Months per year with outside temperatures over 85 F [pa_hot_weather_months_per_year]
0 3,111 (6%)
1 8,976 (17%)
2 14,398 (27%)
3 13,110 (25%)
4 5,967 (11%)
5 2,717 (5%)
6 1,984 (4%)
7 789 (2%)
8 650 (1%)
9 455 (1%)
10 300 (1%)
11 64 (<1%)
12+ 78 (<1%)
Activity in regions with 1+ months of hot weather
Subset sample size: 49,488 Count (%)
Time spent outside in temperatures over 85 F [pa_hot_weather_daily_hours_outside]
Less than 3 hours 38,465 (78%)
Between 3-8 hours 4,700 (9%)
Between 8-16 hours 424 (1%)
More than 16 hours 152 (<1%)
My dog does not spend time in a hot area 5,747 (12%)
Ground surface exposure during hot weather
Subset sample size: 43,741 Count (%)
Types of ground surfaces the dog uses [pa_hot_weather_outdoor_]
Astroturf 2,481 (6%)
Concrete 17,212 (39%)
Grass Or Dirt 40,617 (93%)
Gravel 9,418 (22%)
Other Hard Surface 14,940 (34%)
Other Surface 2,755 (6%)
Sand 5,648 (13%)
Wood 9,613 (22%)
Degree of sun exposure [pa_hot_weather_sun_exposure_level]
Full sun 619 (1%)
Access to shade or sun 40,205 (92%)
Full shade 2,917 (7%)

Oudoor activity in cold weather (under 40 F)

Regional prevalence of cold weather
Sample size: 52,599 Count (%)
Months per year with outside temperatures under 40 F [pa_cold_weather_months_per_year]
0 8,321 (16%)
1 8,023 (15%)
2 10,719 (20%)
3 11,879 (23%)
4 7,474 (14%)
5 3,712 (7%)
6 1,695 (3%)
7 464 (1%)
8 191 (<1%)
9 88 (<1%)
10 20 (<1%)
11 4 (<1%)
12 9 (<1%)
Activity in regions with 1+ months of cold weather
Subset sample size: 44,278 Count (%)
Time spent outside in temperatures under 40 F [pa_cold_weather_daily_hours_outside]
Less than 3 hours 34,758 (78%)
Between 3-8 hours 4,785 (11%)
Between 8-16 hours 397 (1%)
More than 16 hours 138 (<1%)
My dog does not spend time in a cold area 4,200 (9%)
Ground surface exposure during cold weather
Subset sample size: 40,078 Count (%)
Types of ground surfaces the dog uses [pa_cold_weather_outdoor_]
Astroturf 1,932 (5%)
Concrete 17,872 (45%)
Grass Or Dirt 36,590 (91%)
Gravel 9,507 (24%)
Other Hard Surface 17,757 (44%)
Other Surface 4,410 (11%)
Sand 3,961 (10%)
Wood 9,369 (23%)
Degree of sun exposure [pa_cold_weather_sun_exposure_level]
Full sun 2,250 (6%)
Access to shade or sun 37,153 (93%)
Full shade 675 (2%)

On and off leash activities

Patterns of lead/leash usage
Sample size: 52,599 Count (%)
Leash status during outdoor activities [pa_on_leash_off_leash_walk]
My dog doesn't take walks 1,116 (2%)
On leash 29,683 (56%)
Off leash 1,616 (3%)
Both 20,184 (38%)
On leash activities
Subset sample size: 49,867 Count (%)
Frequency of on leash activities [pa_on_leash_walk_frequency]
Less than once a month 3,079 (6%)
Less than once a week 3,579 (7%)
Once or twice a week 6,014 (12%)
3-6 times a week 8,554 (17%)
Once a day 9,011 (18%)
More than once a day 19,630 (39%)
Duration of on leash activities (hours)* [pa_on_leash_walk_avg_hours]
0 25,754 (52%)
1 19,015 (38%)
2 3,974 (8%)
3 803 (2%)
4 185 (<1%)
5 51 (<1%)
6 26 (<1%)
7 14 (<1%)
8+ 45 (<1%)
Reason for on leash activities (Multiple choice) [pa_on_leash_walk_reasons_]
Activity And Enjoyment 43,095 (86%)
Dog Relieve Itself 28,304 (57%)
Exercise For Dog 41,210 (83%)
Exercise For Owner 34,436 (69%)
Other 3,090 (6%)
Training Obedience 14,850 (30%)
*Curated data includes average minutes and percentage of time at various paces
Off leash activities
Subset sample size: 21,800 Count (%)
Frequency of off leash activities [pa_off_leash_walk_frequency]
Less than once a month 534 (2%)
Less than once a week 1,059 (5%)
Once or twice a week 2,590 (12%)
3-6 times a week 3,638 (17%)
Once a day 3,494 (16%)
More than once a day 10,485 (48%)
Duration of off leash activities (hours)* [pa_off_leash_walk_avg_hours]
0 8,841 (41%)
1 6,926 (32%)
2 3,264 (15%)
3 1,402 (6%)
4 533 (2%)
5 193 (1%)
6 152 (1%)
7 46 (<1%)
8+ 443 (2%)
Reason for off leash activities (Multiple choice) [pa_off_leash_walk_reasons_]
Activity And Enjoyment 18,657 (86%)
Dog Relieve Itself 12,492 (57%)
Exercise For Dog 17,450 (80%)
Exercise For Owner 8,838 (41%)
Other 1,651 (8%)
Training Obedience 5,463 (25%)
Off leash activities in areas with boundaries (fences) [pa_off_leash_walk_in_enclosed_area]
No 6,652 (31%)
Yes 15,148 (69%)
Off leash activities in unbounded (unfenced) areas [pa_off_leash_walk_in_open_area]
No 5,035 (23%)
Yes 16,765 (77%)
Reliability of off leash recall [pa_off_leash_walk_returns_when_called_frequency]
Never 55 (<1%)
Always 11,005 (50%)
Most of the time 8,225 (38%)
Frequently 1,390 (6%)
Sometimes 973 (4%)
Rarely 152 (1%)
*Curated data includes average minutes and percentage of time at various paces
Activities involving play
Sample size: 52,599 Count (%)
Frequency of playing fetch or other games [pa_physical_games_frequency]
Daily 25,557 (49%)
Weekly 9,798 (19%)
Monthly 1,717 (3%)
Rarely 9,030 (17%)
Never 6,497 (12%)
Swimming
Sample size: 52,599 Count (%)
Participation in swimming activities [pa_swim]
No 36,666 (70%)
Yes 15,933 (30%)
Subset sample size: 15,927 Count (%)
Frequency of swimming in moderate weather (40-85 F) [pa_swim_moderate_weather_frequency]
Daily 1,213 (8%)
Weekly 4,560 (29%)
Monthly 4,230 (27%)
Rarely 5,441 (34%)
Never 391 (2%)
Did not answer 92 (1%)
Subset sample size: 14,899 Count (%)
Frequency of swimming in hot weather (over 85 F) [pa_swim_hot_weather_frequency]
Daily 2,572 (17%)
Weekly 4,351 (29%)
Monthly 2,927 (20%)
Rarely 3,599 (24%)
Never 219 (1%)
Did not answer 1,231 (8%)
Subset sample size: 13,534 Count (%)
Frequency of swimming in cold weather (under 40 F) [pa_swim_cold_weather_frequency]
Daily 121 (1%)
Weekly 554 (4%)
Monthly 618 (5%)
Rarely 3,431 (25%)
Never 8,061 (60%)
Did not answer 749 (6%)
Subset sample size: 15,933 Count (%)
Swimming locations (Multiple choice) [pa_swim_locations_]
Agricultural Ditch 391 (2%)
Ocean 3,380 (21%)
Other 665 (4%)
Pond Or Lake 9,895 (62%)
River Stream Or Creek 7,330 (46%)
Swimming Pool 4,641 (29%)
Other aerobic activities (working, mushing, herding, etc.)
Sample size: 52,599 Count (%)
Frequency of other aerobic activities [pa_other_aerobic_activity_frequency]
Never 28,392 (54%)
Less than once a month 3,675 (7%)
Less than once a week 2,952 (6%)
Once or twice a week 5,914 (11%)
3-6 times a week 3,686 (7%)
Once a day 4,166 (8%)
More than once a day 3,814 (7%)
Subset sample size: 24,207 Count (%)
Duration of other aerobic activities (hours)* [pa_other_aerobic_activity_avg_hours]
0 16,249 (67%)
1 5,237 (22%)
2 1,479 (6%)
3 506 (2%)
4 277 (1%)
5 156 (1%)
6 137 (1%)
7 46 (<1%)
8+ 119 (<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 12,611 (52%)
Engages in moderate exercise (greater than 30% of the time but less than 60% of the time) 8,603 (36%)
Engages in strenuous exercise most of the time (greater than 60%) 2,992 (12%)
Did not answer 1 (<1%)
*Curated data includes average minutes and percentage of time at various paces