Three Things to Know
Using Japan as a case study, this article investigates the profound influence of the built environment in dense urban areas on both dog ownership and the dog-walking experience.
Several factors make dog ownership difficult: the prevalence of small urban homes without yards, a shortage of rental properties that permit pets, and a general lack of dog-friendly features within urban buildings themselves.
Beyond ownership, the act of walking a dog presents its own set of hurdles. These include insufficient public open spaces, significant overcrowding, and a dearth of essential amenities like dog waste bins. Additionally, narrow crosswalks, which offer little buffer between pedestrians and traffic, coupled with high parking fees, actively discourage car trips for dog-related activities.
For Dog Welfare Practitioners
To create more equitable cities for both people and their pets, dog welfare advocates should push for a shift in urban development. This shift needs to prioritize diverse pet-friendly housing options, enhance the dog-walking experience through more open spaces and amenities, and ensure access to pet-permitted public transport.
The Full Picture
While dog ownership can promote physical activity and other health benefits, not all owners walk their dogs, especially in urban settings where challenges exist. Most current research comes from low-density Western cities, leaving a gap in understanding how high-density environments — particularly in Asia — affect these behaviors. This study, “The Design Challenges for Dog Ownership and Dog Walking in Dense Urban Areas: The Case of Japan”, identifies key design challenges for promoting dog-related health and wellbeing in densely populated urban areas.
The Design Challenges for Dog Ownership and Dog Walking
Dog ownership has deep cultural and historical roots in Japan. In this rapidly-aging society, dogs are increasingly valued for their mental and emotional benefits, particularly among older adults. As of 2020, Japan had over 6 million registered dogs, though ownership rates are lower in dense urban areas like Tokyo and Osaka.
In particular, dense urban environments in Japan present several built environment challenges that limit dog ownership and dog walking. These challenges fall into three main categories:
- Buildings: Urban housing units are often small and lack private yards, making dog ownership — especially of larger breeds — difficult. Rental housing that permits pets is scarce (18.9% in Tokyo), more expensive, and often poorly located. Even many owned apartments prohibit pets. Dog-friendly features like leash hooks or pet amenities are typically absent in urban buildings.
- Public Open Spaces: Limited park space, overcrowding, and strict regulations (e.g., leash requirements or pet bans) in public parks reduce opportunities for dog walking. Japan’s dense cities offer far less green space per person than cities like Toronto or Melbourne. Dog amenities such as waste bins and water stations are also uncommon.
- Mobility-Related Features: Narrow, crowded sidewalks without separation from traffic discourage safe dog walking. High parking costs and restrictions on dogs in public transportation (only small breeds in crates are allowed) further limit mobility for dog owners.
Conclusion
While dog ownership and walking offer proven health benefits, Japan’s dense urban design creates multiple barriers. More empirical research is needed to inform design solutions that support dog-friendly living in high-density areas.
Miscellaneous
Data From Study:
–
Year of Publication:
2022
External Link:
Koohsari MJ, Yasunaga A, McCormack GR, Nakaya T, Nagai Y and Oka K (2022) The Design Challenges for Dog Ownership and Dog Walking in Dense Urban Areas: The Case of Japan. Front. Public Health 10:904122. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.904122