Your best friend, when it is your pet dog, can also make sure that you stay fit and fine!  Dogs who have long been trusted as man’s best friend can also lead one to a healthier and physically active life.  According to a study conducted by the Michigan State University, people who walked their dogs are 34% more likely to become fitter and reach exercise targets.

In the study 5,902 responses from the Michigan Behavioral Risk Factor survey conducted in 2005 were examined. It was found that 41% of the responders were dog owners and on an average, a dog owner walked a dog 5 days a week. It was found that 61% of the dog owners walked their dog for at least 10 minutes at a time, while 27% walked their dogs for at least 150 minutes a week - a number recommended by the public health departments.

Epidemiologist Mathew Reeves explained the reason behind the study. “Walking is the most accessible form of physical activity available to people,” he said. “What we wanted to know was, if dog owners who walked their dogs were getting more physical activity or if the dog-walking was simply a substitute for other forms of activity." As it turned out, the answer is an affirmative. From the responses it was concluded that the dog owners who walked their own dogs got an hour more to exercise each week as compared to non dog-owners or owners who paid others to walk their dogs.

It was also revealed that the younger generation was more likely to benefit from walking their dogs than middle-aged people. A probable reason is that people who already have higher levels of moderate or vigorous physical activities have better chances of reaping the benefits of walking their dogs. Reeves pointed out, “Obviously you would expect dog walkers to walk more, but we found people who walked their dog also had higher overall levels of both moderate and vigorous physical activities. There appears to be a strong link between owning and walking a dog and achieving higher levels of physical activity, even after accounting for the actual dog walking.”

The findings of the study, to be published in the March issue of the Journal of Physical Activity & Health, can encourage people to get dogs and more importantly walk their dogs. American citizens have a high obesity rate and only 1/3^rd of the non dog owners meet the criteria of 30 minutes of exercise for 5 days a week, a target easily achieved by dog-walkers. Also, another study conducted last year had revealed that 45% of pet dogs treated by veterinarians were found to be obese. Naturally, walking your dog could very well be a solution to keep obesity problems at bay for you as well as for your dog.