Dogs encourage you to move

Dogs help general health and well-being

A of studies published between 1950 and 2019 shows that dog parents Dogs encourage (and anyone who lives with a dog) have better responses to , and longer lifespan. Dog ownership is also linked to a lower incidence of , as well as helping people.

Dogs can help your heart

Dog owners have lower , and blood pressure than those without dogs, according to . These health benefits suggest that spending quality time with a dog may help improve overall heart health.

Dog owners get more physical activity

“Dogs are the ultimate exercise buddy! Even if your dog only needs a couple of short walks a day, they can still encourage you to be more physically active,” says , an integrative veterinarian and bestselling author, also known as Dr. Marty who has been an expert guest on Oprah, Martha Stewart, and Good Morning America.

The health benefits of dog walking to you and your dog

Dog owners enjoy numerous health and social benefits by walking their dog a few times a week. Benefits include improved cardiovascular fitness, lower blood pressure, stronger muscles and bones (built up by walking regularly), and decreased stress.

A regular walk is vitally important for your pet’s health too. Obesity in pets is associated with a number of medical complaints including osteoarthritis, cardiovascular disease, liver disease and insulin resistance.

Most dogs need to be walked at least once each day, though some dogs, particularly very active dogs, may require more. The breed of dog you have, as well as its level of fitness and age, will also determine how long and how vigorous your walk should be.

A walk can make a dog very happy. They love to check out the sights and smells and will really look forward to spending time with you. A dog that doesn’t receive sufficient exercise can easily become bored or destructive.

Methods

Data was collected from 629 dog owners participating in the RESIDE cross-sectional survey in Perth, Western Australia. Multivariable logistic regression analyses of factors associated with two separate outcome survey items ‘Dog encouragement to walk’ (how often dog encouraged me to go walking in last month) and ‘Dog motivation to walk’ (Having a dog makes me walk more).

Results

Owning a larger dog; having an increased level of attachment to dog; knowing dog enjoys going for a walk; believing walking keeps dog healthy; and having high social support from family to go walking, were positively associated with both outcomes ‘dog encouragement to walk’ and ‘dog motivation to walk’. Conversely, reporting the presence of children at home; that the child is the main person who walks with the dog; and perceiving dog-specific barriers to walking with dog daily; were negatively associated with both outcomes. In addition, ‘Dog motivation to walk’ only was positively associated with a belief walking reduces barking, and negatively with owning a dog that is overweight or a dog that is too old/sick. Reporting that the spouse/partner is main person who walks with the dog was also negatively associated with ‘dog motivation to walk’, as was increased perceived access to public open spaces with dog-supportive features.

Conclusions

There are both dog and owner factors that are associated with an owner’s sense of encouragement, and motivation to walk the dog, which in turn has been found to be associated with dog waking behavior. These factors may be targeted in future interventions to increase and maintain physical activity levels of both people and pets . A of studies published between 1950 and 2019 shows that dog parents Dogs encourage.

Dogs make us feel less alone

Dogs can be there for you even when people can’t. They offer unconditional love, emotional support, and constant cuddles that help stave off social isolation. A small discovered that dog ownership reduces loneliness.

A national of pet owners and non-pet owners by the Human Animal Bond Research Institute found that 85 percent of respondents believe that interaction with pets reduces loneliness. Most agree that human-pet interactions can help address social isolation.

Dogs encourage you to move