Dedicated dog owners log more exercise time than their urban neighbors without pet dogs, according to a study in the February issue of American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
"There's this extra dog obligation that helps get people up and out for their exercise," said author Shane Brown, a physical education instructor and researcher at the University of Victoria in British Columbia.
Brown and co-author Ryan Rhodes surveyed 177 men and 174 women between age 20 and 80 in Greater Victoria and found that the 70 dog owners walked an average of 300 minutes a week compared to 168 minutes a week for the others.
However, other than walking, dog owners exercised less than non-owners, suggesting that when dog lovers go on walks, they do it partly because they choose to be active with their pets. “A feeling of obligation to the dog explained 11 percent of the variance of getting out there and actually doing the behavior,” Brown said.
Women and men spent an equal amount of time walking their dogs. Time spent on strenuous physical activity, either walking or other forms of exercise, was similar for owner and non-owners.
One of the reasons I got my first dog, after I graduated from college, was to stay in shape. I knew that if I had a dog, and I committed to walking a mile a day for 10 years, I would stay in shape… and it worked!
"There's this extra dog obligation that helps get people up and out for their exercise," said author Shane Brown, a physical education instructor and researcher at the University of Victoria in British Columbia.
Brown and co-author Ryan Rhodes surveyed 177 men and 174 women between age 20 and 80 in Greater Victoria and found that the 70 dog owners walked an average of 300 minutes a week compared to 168 minutes a week for the others.
However, other than walking, dog owners exercised less than non-owners, suggesting that when dog lovers go on walks, they do it partly because they choose to be active with their pets. “A feeling of obligation to the dog explained 11 percent of the variance of getting out there and actually doing the behavior,” Brown said.
Women and men spent an equal amount of time walking their dogs. Time spent on strenuous physical activity, either walking or other forms of exercise, was similar for owner and non-owners.
One of the reasons I got my first dog, after I graduated from college, was to stay in shape. I knew that if I had a dog, and I committed to walking a mile a day for 10 years, I would stay in shape… and it worked!
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