Walking a dog won’t make your child fitter, but it can give them a healthier start

Medical X-Press – Staff Writer

Dogs have been domesticated for more than 10,000 years. But it is only in the last 30 years of contemporary, convenience society that man’s best friend has taken on a new role – helping convert couch potatoes into active folk. There has been a significant amount of curiosity from scientists on the relationship between dog ownership, physical activity and health. Studies have reported that dog owners have a 34% higher chance of meeting the 150 minutes exercise per week guideline set by the World Health Organisation, and that they are 69% more likely to do any physical activity than non-owners. (more)