Dog Ownership and Older Adults’ Walking Destinations and Neighborhood Social Interaction

This study examined how dog ownership is associated with older adults’ recreational walking destinations and neighborhood social interaction in a high-density Japanese city. In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed 554 walkers aged 60 and older in Osaka. Compared with non-owners, dog owners more often chose green spaces (odds ratio 2.38), and dog ownership was strongly associated with greater neighborhood social interaction (unstandardized B = 0.84) and having walking companions (odds ratio 5.04). Objective environmental indicators showed no such associations. Mediation analysis indicated an indirect positive link to mental well-being via walking companions.