New Study Shows Dog Owners More Likely To Live A Healthier Lifestyle

Bella Breakdown

Your furry, four-legged pet may be your favorite cuddle partner, but a new study shows that your dog is doing much more than that. According to research found by the University of Liverpool, dog owners are four times more likely to meet exercise guidelines for a healthy life than non-owners.

Without dogs, it is likely population physical activity levels would be much lower,” Dr. Carri Westgarth said. On top of the regular exercise activities dog owners do, they also include long walks with their pooch to their fitness regime instead of as a physical alternative.

The study included over 100 dog owners and over 400 non-owners to determine the different exercise habits. Results showed that dog owners walked an average of 9.6 times a week for a total of 347 minutes compared to non-owners who walked 4.6 times a week for a total of 159 minutes.

Meaning 9 out 10 dog owners met the recommended target of at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity a week compared to the 6 out of 10 non-owners. The study did not include factors like age and gender, but it did show that walking your dog improves mental health and community spirit.

Our findings should be used to justify the provision of dog-supportive environments for walking and pet-friendly housing,” said Dr. Westgarth.

Check out more of Dr. Westgarth’s study results in the video above.