Dog park use: Perceived benefits, park proximity, and individual and neighborhood effects

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore the nature of dog park use and the role that perceived dog park benefits, park proximity, and both individual and neighborhood characteristics play in predicting dog park use. Factor analysis supported two dimensions of perceived benefits from dog parks (i.e., dog benefits and people benefits), which were used as composite variables in analyses. In addition to individual-level data gathered from the sample, this study used distance-related variables (e.g., street network approach to distance, buffer rings) computed from a Geographic Information System and socioeconomic neighborhood-level variables (e.g., percentage White in the neighborhood, home ownership) obtained from census tract data. Group differences, based upon park use, are explored with respect to both dog and people benefits. Logistic regression is used to predict dog owners’ likelihood of using a fenced dog park.

Keywords:

• Dog parks
• perceived benefits
• demographics
• proximity
• distance decay

Notes

1 The Stanton Foundation funded the current study and it is a private foundation established by Dr. Frank Stanton, former president of Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS). One of its foci is to fund academic research related to the advancement of canine health and welfare, which includes strengthening of the human/dog bond and the creation of dog parks, primarily in Massachusetts’ communities.

2 Respondents were asked to indicate how many times a week or month they visited the dog park, and all “weekly” answers were converted to monthly by multiplying by four or “monthly” answers were converted to weekly by dividing by four. This allowed for reporting on a weekly or monthly basis. The month time frame reflects the authors’ intent to distinguish between active users, visiting at least once a month, and those who never or rarely (less than once a month) use dog parks.

3 While multivariate analyses are discussed in terms of dog park use for efficiency in writing, the dependent variable technically refers to study participants’ stated use of fenced dog parks.

4 As described earlier, all continuous variables, including AGE, were converted to z scores to aid interpretation. We present the mean value for the unstandardized variables within the narrative, however, to help readers place the findings within context.

5 We thank an anonymous reviewer for highlighting such contradictory findings.

6 Considering the exploratory nature of the project, if we had presented traditional hypotheses using one-tailed tests, those variables of concern would meet conventional thresholds of statistical significance (i.e., p < .05). For example, perhaps a logical hypothesis evaluating retirement status would be that we would expect a positive relationship between dog park use and retirement, compared to those employed, because retirees may have more time to use such parks and value it as a site for social interaction.

7 While the “younger or retired” findings may appear contradictory, the results may reflect that segment of Norfolk’s population that works in occupations that “retire young.” For example, public school teachers, police officers, firefighters, and military personnel are often eligible to retire after providing 20 or 25 years of service. The Norfolk area, being home to the world’s largest naval station, has many retired military personnel living in the area.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by The Stanton Foundation (Cambridge, MA) (Grant ID: 17-348).