Table 5 Principal components analysis of other attitudes to dog walking

Component name

High responsibility and enjoyment

Low responsibility and enjoyment despite dog need

Dog doesn’t need walks

Dog doesn’t like walks

Component description

Feels responsible/obligated, routine, dog and owner enjoyment, active breed

Lower responsibility and enjoyment but don’t perceive dog doesn’t need it or health as a barrier.

Feels responsible/obligated but dog is small/low activity breed and has company so needs less walks

Dog dislikes rain, is lazy and can exercise in garden

Attitudes:

I feel an obligation to walk my dog daily

0.372411

0.073633

0.290149

0.112131

I feel a personal responsibility to walk my dog daily

0.381757

0.106079

0.32807

0.0736

Walking my dog(s) is part of my routine

0.386068

0.156494

0.192109

-0.0147

My dog(s) pressures me to take him/her for a walk daily

0.335032

0.044996

0.046263

0.158412

My dogs are at their happiest on a walk

0.368659

-0.04921

-0.14688

-0.11596

I feel happy when I see my dogs acting happy on a walk

0.388985

-0.02056

-0.19699

-0.21415

My breed of dog(s) requires a lot of exercise

0.239218

0.148158

-0.28372

0.19913

It feels wrong to go for a walk without my dog(s)

0.27376

-0.03729

-0.34853

-0.22248

My health prevents me walking my dog as much as I would like

0.054359

-0.36157

0.171443

-0.21292

My dog(s) have each other for exercise and company so need walking less

0.021239

-0.36471

0.273883

-0.13336

My dog(s) are small so do not require as much exercise as bigger dogs

0.027529

-0.35608

0.39083

-0.39875

My dog does not like the rain/cold

0.148586

-0.3928

-0.11741

0.248215

My dog(s) gets its exercise in the garden

0.009171

-0.40543

-0.03194

0.423812

My dog is lazy

0.070318

-0.39213

-0.12697

0.433722

As long as someone walks the dog it doesn’t have to be me

0.060151

-0.2601

-0.46766

-0.39595