Plus, exercising with your dog, even if it doesn't feel like exercise, can be beneficial to your health. A study from the University of Missouri-Columbia found that having a pet can encourage owners to be more active. Research participants walked with a dog on a regular, graduated schedule for a year until they were up to walking 20 minutes a day, five days a week. By the end, the weight loss was nothing to bark at — a solid average of 14 pounds per person.
Puppy love
Don't forget, Fido needs to stay fit too. According to Grisha Stewart, a Certified Pet Dog Trainer who was voted Seattle's Top Dog Trainer in 2006 by readers of
CityDog magazine, dogs need about 45 minutes to an hour-and-a-half of exercise each day, depending on the breed. "It's much better for the dog to be jogging along or walking along than just fetching. Running can calm them down more," Stewart says. And those exercise benefits don't just extend to your pup. "If you're walking along briskly, it definitely can help you stay in shape," Stewart adds.
The idea of a fit dog leading to a fit owner has been supported by research. A study from Northwestern Memorial Hospital's Wellness Institute found that obese people who tried losing weight with their overweight dogs lost an average of 11 pounds in one year, while the dogs lost about 16 percent of their body weight. The study cited the companionship, motivation and social support dogs provide as key in helping owners slim down.
"Dogs need to be exercised, and so you make a commitment to that dog, which also creates a commitment to yourself," says Nancy Clark, a Certified Pet Dog Trainer and member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. "It's a have-to. You have to get out and exercise that dog; therefore, you get the exercise yourself."
Rover gets to rove, you burn calories
So if your workout needs a little pick-me-up, consider picking up a dog. Need some suggestions? Almost any dog will be a good walking companion, but if you're looking to spice things up a little, here are a few different activities to try, along with recommendations of some good breeds to take with you. And don't worry if you don't have a pooch of your own — loaner dogs can be found in places ranging from Maui, Hawaii, to Beaver Creek, Colorado. Check with your local animal shelter to see if they offer a "borrowing" program for the day — a win-win for you and the lucky dog.