Group differences by study characteristics and methods
| Grouping variable | Median effect size d (k) | Quartile | % of effects favouring dog-walking intervention |
| Total | 0.28 (k=9) | 0.02 | 9 of 11 studies (82%) |
| Design | |||
| Experimental design | 0.28 (k=7) | 0.05 | 6 of 7 studies (86%) |
| Quasi-experimental | 0.43 (k=2) | 0.16 | 3 of 4 studies (75%) |
| Control group | |||
| Active | 0.06 (k=2) | 0.16 | 2 of 3 studies (67%) |
| Passive | 0.30 (k=7) | 0.03 | 6 of 7 studies (86%) |
| Theoretical frame | |||
| Stated theory | 0.31 (k=6) | 0.03 | 6 of 7 studies (86%) |
| No theory | 0.10 (k=3) | 0.16 | 3 of 4 studies (75%) |
| BCTs | |||
| >4 BCTs | 0.28 (k=7) | 0.05 | 6 of 7 studies (86%) |
| <5 BCTs | 0.43 (k=2) | 0.16 | 3 of 4 studies (75%) |
| Follow-up (months) | |||
| >5 | 0.02 (k=4) | 0.13 | 3 of 5 studies (60%) |
| <5 | 0.50 (k=5) | 0.22 | 6 of 6 studies (100%) |
| Sample | |||
| Clinical population | 0.34 (k=3) | 0.16 | 2 of 3 studies (67%) |
| General population | 0.19 (k=6) | 0.03 | 7 of 8 studies (88%) |
| Sample size | |||
| <70 | 0.06 (k=2) | 0.16 | 2 of 3 studies (67%) |
| >69 | 0.34 (k=7) | 0.05 | 7 of 8 studies (88%) |
| Setting | |||
| Supervised | 0.68 (k=2) | 0.34 | 2 of 2 studies (100%) |
| Community | 0.10 (k=7) | 0.02 | 7 of 9 studies (77%) |
| Dissemination | |||
| Face-to-face | 0.42 (k=6) | 0.04 | 6 of 7 studies (86%) |
| Distance | 0.05 (k=3) | 0.02 | 3 of 4 studies (75%) |
BCT, behaviour change technique.