Fit as Fido

Just Walking The Dog

03.12.2010 // Fit As Fido // Dawn A. Marcus, M.D. // No Comments

Our snows are melting and new plants are beginning to peek out through the previously frozen ground, with brave daffodil and hosta heads defying Mother Nature to dump more snow. These are great days for dog walks with all the new signs of spring life to explore.

If you think you don’t have time to walk your dog — think again! Another research group just published a study in the journal Family & Community Health linking dog walking to improved physical fitness in dog owners. In their study, people who considered themselves to be “regular dog walkers” were more likely to get their recommended daily physical fitness. [General exercise recommendation for healthy adults: 150 minutes of moderate level exercise per week, taken in a number of shorter exercise sessions -- like dog walks!]

Here are the study highlights:

- People who routinely walked their dogs in the neighborhood walked an average of over 5 times each week for an average of almost 200 minutes per week.
- People who didn’t walk their dogs regularly walked the dog only about twice each week AND only got in about 45 minutes of weekly physical exercise.
- So 2 in every 3 regular dog walkers got their needed weekly exercise, compared with one in four dog owners not making walking a regular routine.

Interestingly, while over 80% of time minutes spent walking was with their dog for dog walkers, dog walking contributed to only about half of the physical activity regular dog walkers got. What this means is that dog walking can help you get in your needed physical activity AND make it more likely that you’ll choose other healthy activities that also boost your physical fitness.

So grab a leash, whistle for Fido, and start walking on your road to better health! And order your copy of Fit As Fido today for more tips on adding healthy lifestyle habits to your daily routine — using Fido as your canine personal trainer!