According to a recent study, walking your dog definitely counts as exercise, meaning you now have a much more enjoyable way to clock in some cardio, sans treadmill.
If you ask me, nothing compares to the companionship between a dog and its owner, and taking your pup out for regular walks is an excellent way to keep that bond going strong. Plus, you know what they say about endorphins, right? See, the more active you are, the better you feel: That release of endorphins helps fight off the initial feelings of physical stress that your body associates with exercise. Combine that with the pure bliss that is palling around with a pup, and it’s no wonder walking a dog is an enjoyable form of exercise.
Interestingly enough, though, a lot of people who own dogs don’t take them out for walks, which is exactly why Katie Becofsky, a dog owner and professor of kinesiology at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, set out to explore if walking your dog counts as exercise. To begin, The New York Times reports Becofsky and her team invited 30 dog owners to join an “obedience class” that would train their pups to be well-behaved on a leash. The participants were told to log their walks, wear an activity monitor, and note any additional activity six weeks after the program. Unfortunately, weather proved to be an issue, so while participants did stick to the scheduled walks of the course, there wasn’t a whole lot of extra walking going on.
To explore Becofsky’s hypothesis a bit further, researchers at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina, created a physical education course for college students that allowed them to volunteer at an animal shelter for class credit. Students would visit the shelter twice a week for 50 minutes and take a dog for a walk in a nearby park. As a result, the study participants ended up walking roughly 4,500 steps per session, and they noted that the time completely flew by, not only because they were having fun, but because the dog was, too. Melanie Sartore-Baldwin, a professor at East Carolina University who led the study, told The New York Times,
There are lots of proven health benefits associated with owning a dog, and many of these can be put down to the exercise encouraged by dog ownership. Dog owners have been found to have a greater likelihood of surviving a heart attack, have lower cholesterol levels, and have lower blood pressure. Dog owners even visit their doctor less often than non-dog owners!
One study showed that dog walkers are also 69% more likely to undertake physical activity in their leisure time. This means that, even after the pooch has been walked, dog owners are more likely to do other exercise activities, whether that’s cycling, a gym class or a game of tennis. This means, as a whole, the dog-walking group are twice as likely to meet the physical exercise targets.
A gentle walk, with time to sniff and smell, is also important for our dog’s mental wellbeing. These behaviours are essential to being a dog, and it’s important to allow your dog to experience them. Dogs that go to the park, play ball and go home again are often missing out on this important part of their natural behaviour.
So the bottom line is that more people should be encouraged to exercise with their pets. It’s better for their health and for their dog’s health. A daily walk really is enough, but if walking isn’t for you there are other things you can do together. If you have a young, fit dog a jog or a cycle ride might be more appropriate. A swim can be perfect, too, and especially good for older dogs or humans with sore joints.
With over 50% of dogs in the UK classified as overweight or obese, a daily walk is also essential exercise for your dog. Just like us, when are dogs are overweight it leads to an increased risk of arthritis, certain cancers, and changes in heart function. A regular exercise regime that includes a brisk daily walk is one of the best ways to ensure your dog stays fit and at a healthy weight.
How Many Calories Can You Burn Dog Walking?
While it ultimately depends on the pace and general temperament of the dog, a person of average weight can burn around 205 calories per hour of walking a dog at a leisurely pace of 2-mph, including potty and idle sniffing breaks. However, if the dog likes to walk fast and pull their leash, dog walkers actually burn more calories trying to keep up with them and pulling back on their leash trying to keep them in line.
While 205 calories may sound like a negligible amount, it adds up over time. If you walk a dog for an hour each day of the week, you have burned 1,435 calories during that time you could have spent sitting behind a desk and not burning anything. It only takes 3,500 burned calories to lose one pound, so after a week, dog walkers are nearly half way there.
However, it is also worth noting that heavier people will be burning more calories and there are ways to increase the calories burned such as walking uphill or moving at a faster pace. Unfortunately, you have to make sure that this pace and the length of the walk is also appropriate for the breed of dog. Active breeds like Labradors, German Shepherds, and Golden Retrievers will always be up for long, fast walks until they get to an advanced age.
However, less active breeds like Pugs with their squished noses that makes it harder to breathe, Basset Hounds and Dachshunds with their short legs, and dogs with a lazy temperament will not want to go for overly long or fast walks. They will get tired eventually, start to slow down, and even whine when they want to go home. With these dogs, it is best to do shorter walks at more intervals instead of one long walk per day.
Does Walking Count As Cardio?
According to a recent study, walking your dog definitely counts as exercise, meaning you now have a much more enjoyable way to clock in some cardio, sans treadmill. … Combine that with the pure bliss that is palling around with a pup, and it’s no wonder walking a dog is an enjoyable form of exercise.
Walking is great exercise for both you and your dog, and can easily fit into any fitness routine. Walking burns calories and increases your cardiovascular/respitory system. A complete fitness routine involves a resistance training routine and a cardio routine.