Petting my dog is adding steps

[Hellan2Hell]

Hi all. I've recently bought the charge 5, and have found that stroking my dog is adding a vast number of steps to my daily count, (She's a very fuss orienated dog 🤣). I wear the watch on my dominant hand, as that is where it's comfortable, so can't make it less sensitive by swapping wrists. Is there anything I can do to make my step count more accurate? 

[N8teGee · Accepted solution]

Hi @Hellan2Hell.

Besides wearing it on the other wrist, the only thing you can really do is remove the additional steps accumulated during this period (although it's quite a hassle). You will need to take note of the time and duration of the period you want to remove. 

These are steps -

• Tap the Today tab .
• On the Exercise tile , tap the + icon then Log or Log Previous.
• Choose Driving as the exercise type. Make sure the exercise details overlap with the time period your device logged the unwanted steps or floors.
• Tap Add or Log it. Your steps, floors, and calories burned will decrease for the time period you specifi ed.

[Hellan2Hell]

Thankyou for your reply @N8teGee , you're right it is a bit of a hassle, I guess I could try determine a rough amount of time in a day I spend playing with her and take it off at the end of the day.. Its probably quite alot! 🤣. I don't remember my other Fitbit being so dramatic 🥴.. perhaps they should have stroking the dog as an activity!! 🤣

Thanks again

[azwxguy]

I get steps for washing dishes. Not many though, so I just leave them in there.

[SunsetRunner]

I’ve read that over the course of a week the steps counted tend to balance out (being on par with other trackers). Yet, this does bother me as well. However, the solution could be following a metric that is harder to influence  (and scientifically endorsed) instead.  The active zone minutes (AZM) metric requires more intentional actions in ordered to be logged as it takes in your heart rate and movement information in account. 

More info regarding health and activity:

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/staying-active/

[Nschickle]

Funny enough things like shoveling or stairs won't be picked up. The noreaster had me shoveling for hours and it didn't recognize a second of it. Drumming my fingers on my works desk is a workout though.....

[SunsetRunner]

Curious did your active zone minutes (AZM) go up while shoveling snow? Re: drumming fingers, rocking in a chair, driving, etc is why I stopped following steps and just focused on AZM; as it needs increased heart rate coupled with body movements over time to qualify.

[Hellan2Hell]

My active zone minutes to up while I'm sleeping! God knows what I'm dreaming about! 😂😂