If you’re looking to get more exercise, adopting a canine walking companion may be a better option than getting a gym membership. Research has shown that people who walk their dogs are more likely to get the exercise they need.
The study found that among dog owners who took their pets for regular walks, 60 percent met federal criteria for regular moderate or vigorous exercise. Nearly half of dog walkers exercised an average of 30 minutes a day, five days a week, compared to just a third of people without dogs.
Global Animal reports:
“But owning a dog didn’t guarantee physical activity. Some owners in the study did not walk their dogs, and they posted far less overall exercise than dog walkers or people who didn’t have a dog ... And the question remains whether owning a dog encourages regular activity or whether active, healthy people are simply more likely to acquire dogs as walking companions.”