Figure this one out: doggy walking partners not only keep us fit; they keep us honest. Tara Parker-Pope reports in the Well column on research conducted at the University of Missouri that looked at the fitness of three groups of participants. One group walked with a friend, one with a dog, and one did not walk. After 12 weeks, Parker-Pope reports, the dog walkers showed a big improvement in fitness, while the human walkers began making excuses to skip the workout. Walking speed among the dog walkers increased by 28 percent, compared with just a 4 percent increase among the human walkers.
Wait, there's more: the Los Angeles Times reports on a study that examined 5,902 responses from the 2005 Michigan Behavioral Risk Factor Survey. Of the 41 percent who were dog owners, 61 percent of respondents said they walked their dogs at least 10 minutes at a time and 27 percent said they walked their dogs at least 150 minutes a week.
Tell you what, she’s just a mutt, but our dog is always ready to go at 5:30 AM. She’s standing at the door with her leash.
Dogs are for families with kids or for people who can’t get humans to love them and give them attention. So sad for the latter.
Aren’t you fun.
Someone gave our family a labrador puppy six years ago. I thought it was a thoughtless act, no way did I have time for a dog. Since then I have lost 40 pounds, completely changed body composition and am stronger at 51 than at 35. That’s not all from walking the dog, but that’s where it started.
My dog keeps me walking. I have Post Polio Syndrome, but I have enough muscles left in my legs that I can walk. If I didn’t walk regularly, I would end up in an electric wheel chair. As it is, I can walk longer in the hills than many healthy persons.
That is so wonderful i hope u get to keep walking with ur dog. I am out of shape and have 3 dogs so i started walking this week i know if i didnt have the dogs i wouldnt walk at all i hate walking.
What a ridiculous thing to say. I have a dog, don’t have kids and receive plenty of love and attention from my friends and spouse.
With an attitude like that, maybe you should start looking at purchasing a dog yourself.