Dogs: Man's Best Fitness Friend
![170537_dogs_view [].jpg](http://www.diet-blog.com/archives/170537_dogs_view%20%5B%5D.jpg)
You can look far and wide, but you won't find a more enthusiastic walking buddy than man's best friend: your dog. In our house, it's not even smart to say the word "walk" before you've laced up your shoes.
A handful of studies have tried to measure what dog lovers have known all along -- dogs like to walk, and people who have dogs like to make their dogs happy:
- A 2006 study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that dog owners walk almost twice as much as people without canine companions.
- Researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia discovered that dog owners walk farther and more frequently, but not for their own health mind you, for their dog's.
- Finally, a 2006 study published in Obesity reported that people and dogs can lose weight together. Essentially, the person-pet bond becomes a sort of support system that encourages exercise and weight loss.
My lab mix, JoJo, found me on my birthday nine years ago. She wandered up to me at work one day, and after a week unclaimed in the shelter, we brought her home. Afraid of doorways, stairs, and basically anything that moved, the only thing that seemed to calm her down was walking. And so walk we did.
Now elderly and arthritic, two miles is her limit, and then only if it's not a hot day. But, we enjoyed a three-mile route for years. We even tried running together once (I am not a runner), and when she stopped by some interesting smell I hollered at her, not wanting my own stride to be interrupted and said, "Get up, Josie! This is not a pleasure run!" Two garbage men across the street guffawed - one look at my sweaty, wheezing, lurching self and anyone could see that was an understatement.
But, my dog has never cared if I looked pretty, had perfect form, or if I kept up my end of the conversation. All she cares about is that I'm consistent in picking up that leash every day and taking her out for her walk. And when it comes to exercise, isn't consistency one of the most important things?
Have you found your dog helps to maintain a consistent exercise routine?
(If you'd like to try exercising with your pet, keep these tips this mind, especially in the hot summer weather.)
24 Comments
Add Your Comment
ADVERTISING
New
- FROM DIET BLOG
- On-Off Fasting: Does It Work?
- 400 Calorie Fix
- 5 Factor World Diet
- Quick Giveaway: Powerhouse Weight Loss Game
- FORUM
- Low Carb Atkins Diet- Tips to Cut the Carbs.
- How Can I Gain a Healthy Weight and Keep it?
- How Do I Eat Healthy at University?
- Starving Myself and Exercising, But Not Losing an Ounce?
Categories
| Body Image Celebrities Diet Pills Diets Exercise |
Fast Food Funny Stuff Success Stories Teens and Kids Tips and Tools |
RSS Feed
Follow @DietBlog on Twitter
My lab mix loved to walk w/me as well; as soon as he saw me putting on my sneakers he began pacing the house and jumping around! Unfortunately he has been gone for 5 years now and I have chosen not to have a dog at this time in my life. He was the best walking companion, though, and I do miss him!
ReplyMy akita, Ronin, loves to walk and run. I often take him to a local state park to let him run loose, be free like a dog should be. Leash walking is fine around the neighborhood, too. We definitely walk more now that we have a dog, and I would recommend to anyone thinking about getting some extra physical activity to get a dog!
ReplyHello
ReplyI am an avid dog lover and a nurse. Dog walking is a fitness sport no doubt and can lower weight and blood pressure. I stole an excerpt from my article "Walk the Dog: A Prescription for Health" from my web site HEALTH e MATTERS which I have placed below. I have a lovely Labradoodle which I rescued and we walk at least twice a day; such a stress release.
Excerpt:
Rebecca Johnson, a nurse and director of the center on Human Animal Interactions at the University of Missouri’s Veterinary School took 13 overweight, inactive people who did not own dogs. She partnered them with volunteer therapy dogs and started them on a graduated walking program. Over the course of 50 weeks, the walkers were averaging 20 minutes five times a week. They lost an average of 14 pounds. The benefits continued after the study. Four of the walkers went on to adopt a dog for their own and continued the behavior.
Good for everyone!
Sincerely
Cheryl Williams MS RN
Health e Matters
14 lbs in 50 weeks? It's better than nothing, I guess.
ReplyI don't have animals due to renting & not allowed but I have heard this. We had tons of pets when I was a kid. This all makes sense though.
ReplyExcellent advise! Just another great opportunity to get up and exercise - for both you and your dog.
ReplyCats can be great exercise too. My cat will chase a toy that you throw across the room, but she won't bring it back, so you have to run over there after it too and throw it back to the other side ... and then run after it again.
ReplyWhat a great article! I just love dogs and have 2 of my own. A 10 year old pug cross and 1 year old frenchie. They absolutely love walks even though the older one has a hard time keeping up with the baby! Dogs are a great fitness companion and also so beneficial for our soul!
ReplyAnd remember, dogs are low in calories!
ReplyI completely agree and have thought the same for a long time! In fact, we're finally not renting, and looking for a dog now!
ReplyI wished my husband would allowed me to have a dog. Unfortunately,he has fur allergy. Too bad for me.
ReplyOur Jack Russell/Rat Terrior mix dog has been a great exercise companion for me. We do a 3-mile walk/run (intervals) most mornings, and we both love it. It has helped me lose and keep 30 pounds off, and it helps him work off that boundless energy that he'd otherwise spend constantly nagging us to play, play, play. (Not that we can't be enticed to play, too. It's all good exercise and great fun.)
ReplyI do not envy people walking their dogs who have to stop and pick up dog poo. You get fined in Australia for leaving dog poo on the ground. That is the yucky part of going for a walk with a dog.
ReplyDogs crave too much attention. Gota love the independence of cats!
ReplyI'm on your side on this one
ReplyI agree...plus they smell, and I'm going to be a vet in a couple years...just not one that works with dogs :) Kitties forever!
ReplyI'd have to kindly disagree with this sentiment. Dogs that aren't healthy will smell bad, just like people - only dogs don't have the luxury of deodorant or perfume to mask their odor.
Most dogs I've encountered aren't healthy because they are fed unnatural food, lack exercise and mental stimulation, are over-medicated, and live in a toxic environment, among other things.
If you take good care of your dog, there will be little, if any odor. Unless, of course, you feed them a lot of garlic :) That's a whole other story!
ReplySome dogs are more independent than others - generally the ones that haven't been overbred. I have an akita, which is a breed that is often described as "cat-like." He is very independent, and only vies for attention when I offer it. He's definitely not dropping a ball in my lap every 5 minutes like my parents laborador retriever used to.
We have a cat, too, who ironically seems to want more attention than the dog... He's very vocal :)
Replyhah, you can just disagree, no need to be kind about it.
Akita huh? That may just float my boat. I DO see the appeal of taking your dog out running with you. But then I also see the appeal of calling a pretty lady and making HER run with you instead.
Maybe this breed is something I'll check into. Appreciate the info.
ReplyI've got the best of both worlds, a beautiful wife and a wild dog to run with. hahaha
Seriously though, most northern breeds are a little more wild, more primitive, less bred. The akita is one example, but some others you might be interested in would be Alaskan malamute's and huskies - but there are others still. A lot of it depends on the breeder, too, and on the individual litter of puppies. Some pups are just more independent than others, but breed definitely plays a major part.
Also, don't take anything you read about akitas at face value. The research I did online did not line up with the actual dogs I met at all. Meet some dogs if you're truly interested in getting one - they're certainly not for the average dog owner. They can be a handful if you're not careful.
cheers!
ReplyI share my landlord's dog, as he is home about every other night (she has a dog door, but is lonely). I have lived here about 3 years, but known her all her life. We used to go for 6-7 mile hikes, then we cut down to 3 or 4 miles, now we're at 3-4 blocks, maybe to the local cafe. She's 15.5, horribly thin, and gets tired. She no longer likes dog food, so I fed her whatever I eat, and the landlord feeds her chicken. Anything to get calories in her. I loved walking with the dog, don't want my own, need a new doggy friend. I'll consider fostering, but the cat hates them, and I'm afraid they'll pee, but really I need a neighbor, or even better, someone who'll pay me, to take their dog for a 3-4 hour hike once a week or so.
ReplyGetting paid to walk a dog is a great idea. Maybe a bonus fee for each poo pickup?
ReplyI got my lab/Rottie mix, Scout, when I was a junior in high school. When I got her, she was about 9 months old and hyper as all get-out. I HAD to walk her every day just to tire her out enough so that she'd listen to me. At the time, I didn't really like working out but I figured I could handle walking a dog. When she was a little bit older and I decided to start getting healthier, I started walking her longer and doing running intervals as well. She LOVED it and became my "running buddy" for quite some time. She would go 3-4 miles at a time easily until she got to be around 7 years old. One day I ran with her and after about a mile of running, she just plain refused to go any more. She just kind of stopped dead in her tracks and didn't want to run anymore. I tried to get her to walk and she did that, but no more running for her. Now I just walk with her, since she's getting pretty old and her hips have a bit of arthritis. Still, I'd definitely recommend getting a dog to anyone that wants to start a fitness program. They ALWAYS want to go for a walk and if you don't want dog poo in the house, you'll be motivated to walk him!
ReplyDid you guys know Nikken sells natural food for dogs?
nikken.com/healthtoday
Reply