November 29th

By Mutt Mulligan

Study: Want to get fit? Get a dog!

A new study shows yet another benefit for owning a dog (besides unconditional love, of course!). Dog owners get more exercise than those without a pup.

The study was published in the journal of MBC Public Health. It showed that dog owners walk on average about 22 minutes more per day than those who don’t have a furry friend.

Another interesting fact? These walks are at a moderate pace – about 3 miles per hour. That’s a cadence considered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to be “moderate intensity.” And moderate intensity can be just as effective as running at lowering high blood pressure and cholesterol.

Additionally, dog owners were found to sit less than the average person.

To research this topic, scientists studied 43 pairs of dog owners and non-dog owners, matched on a range of demographic variables. They wore activity monitors for a total of three, one-week data collection periods over the course of a year. The participants also provided diary information about their walking times and the time spent walking, standing and sitting.

Our parks and community green spaces are great for walking with your dog! And walking the dog can be a fun family activity that involves everyone – including your kids. To learn more about the other benefits of our living landscapes, go to SaveLivingLandscapes.com.