Walking the dog reshapes owners' health outlook in just eight weeks
A new study finds that dog owners who commit to twice-weekly 2-kilometer walks report significant improvements in quality of life and body image, while their dogs lose measurable weight. The findings suggest the human-animal bond could be leveraged as a low-cost intervention to combat physical inactivity—a major cost driver for healthcare systems and pet care industries.
Originaltitel: A pilot study of a joint outdoor exercise program for dog owners and dogs
<p>Increasing levels of physical inactivity is a global burden for mankind and is also an emerging problem in companion dogs. In both humans and dogs, insufficient physical activity is associated with increased risk for noncommunicable diseases and impaired quality of life (QoL). The aim of the current pilot study was to evaluate effects of a joint outdoor exercise program for dog owners (n = 22) and dogs (n = 22) with focus on QoL and body measurements. Results indicate that an eight-week exercise intervention alone, with a target distance of at least 2 km twice a week, may be sufficient to significantly increase self-reported QoL and acceptance of bodily appearance in dog owners despite no reductions in body measurements. In dogs, a significantly reduced body condition score (BCS) was registered, despite no considerable changes in feeding. The increased owner motivation for continued joint exercise suggests potential for lifestyle changes, which could be investigated in future studies including control groups and long-term follow-ups. The importance of the human-animal bond as a success factor for increased mutual physical activity and health benefits in both dog owners and dogs is recommended to be studied in a more in-depth manner.</p>