This just in: your fitness levels might be looking “ruff” if you don’t have a canine companion at home.
Owning a pet can have a positive impact on our lives in countless ways. The emotional connection with an animal is precious and highly beneficial to our well-being. In fact, 74% of people surveyed say they experienced mental health improvements due to keeping an animal as a pet. Now, a new study reveals that having a dog as part of your family can also encourage you to take care of your physical health.
In fact, the results showed that dog owners are four times more likely to meet exercise guidelines than those individuals who don’t own pets. Not surprisingly, research showed that dog owners go for walks on a more frequent basis and for longer periods of time than people without animals. Of course, pups have to take care of their business, so for the 44% of American households that have a dog, this makes for an easy excuse to fit some exercise in. On average, dog owners walked for an average of 9.6 times per week for a total of 347 minutes. Those walks are typically not used as the only form of fitness for these owners, either; data revealed that most engaged in activities like cycling and jogging on top of walks with their dog.
In other words, nearly 90% of dog owners studied met the recommended target of 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week, while only 60% of non-owners did the same. Considering that 28% to 34% of adults ages 65 to 74 are considered physically active and the majority of Americans don’t reach recommended fitness levels at all, researchers maintain that dog ownership could be a way to encourage people to ditch their sedentary lifestyles and fit in more exercise.
Study leader Dr. Carri Westgarth went so far as to say, “Without dogs, it is likely population physical activity levels would be much lower… Our findings should be used to justify the provision of dog-supportive environments for walking and pet-friendly housing.”
It is important to keep in mind, however, that these findings come from the UK rather than the United States. Other U.S. studies have found that only 27% of dog owners walked their pets for at least 150 minutes per week — a much lower percentage than what was revealed in this recent study. Researchers suggest that this could be partially due to the more favorable climate in the U.S. and the tendency to keep pets outside in fenced-in yards (where they’re able to exercise themselves, rather than relying on frequent walks).
If Americans want to increase their commitment to physical fitness, the answer might not necessarily be found in a gym membership. By adopting Available Bernedoodle Puppies or looking for yorkie puppies for sale, you can bring a lot of love into your home — and get a good workout while you’re at it. If you ever need to leave your pet for work or travel, you may consider looking for a City Dog Country Boarding facility.
