Do Dog Owners Really Get More Exercise?

Yes, on average dog owners do walk more than people without dogs, and several studies link owning a dog to better odds of reaching the recommended 150 minutes of weekly activity. The catch is that the benefit comes from actually walking the dog, and not every owner does.

How much more do dog owners actually move?

In most studies, a fair amount more: dog owners walk more and are more likely to meet activity guidelines. How big the gap is depends on who was studied and how activity was measured.

A few of the clearest findings:

• A UK household survey. Researchers in West Cheshire surveyed 191 dog-owning adults, 455 adults without dogs and 46 children in 385 households. The odds of dog owners meeting the guideline of 150 minutes of activity a week were about four times higher than for non-owners. Dog owners were also far more likely to walk for recreation, and they did no less of other kinds of exercise than non-owners.
• Older adults wearing activity monitors. A study of 43 dog owners aged 65 and over, each matched with a similar non-owner, wore activity monitors for three week-long periods over a year. The dog owners walked an average of 22 minutes more per day and took about 2,760 more steps, mostly at a moderate pace.
• A review of 29 studies. A 2013 review of research from 1990 to 2010 found that dog owners walk more and are more physically active than non-owners, but the effects were small to moderate. About 60% of owners walked their dog, with a median of 160 minutes a week.

The American Heart Association reviewed this evidence in a 2013 scientific statement on pet ownership and heart health. Physical activity is one of the main reasons it gives for a possible link between dogs and lower cardiovascular risk.

Does getting a dog make people walk more, or do active people get dogs?

Probably some of both, and most studies can't fully separate the two. Much of the research is cross-sectional, a snapshot at one point in time, so it shows a link rather than cause and effect.

The best clue comes from studies that follow people over time. In a study in Perth, Australia, researchers tracked people who didn't own a dog at the start. Over the next year, those who got one increased their recreational walking in the neighbourhood by about 48 minutes a week, against 12 minutes for those who stayed dog-free. That difference shrank once the researchers accounted for how much people already intended to walk. Wanting to walk, and having a companion who needs it, seem to go together.

The 2013 review called for more long-term and intervention studies before drawing firm conclusions about cause and effect.

Do all dog owners walk their dogs?

No, and this is the part that's easy to miss. Owning a dog doesn't add any activity if the dog spends its life in the garden.

A Michigan survey of 5,902 adults found that 41% owned a dog. Of those owners, 61% walked their dog for at least 10 minutes at a time, but only 27% walked it for 150 minutes or more a week. Even so, dog walkers had 34% higher odds than non-owners of getting at least 150 minutes of walking a week.

What separates regular walkers from occasional ones? Researchers point to habit and to the sense that the walk is good for the dog, not only for the owner. A 2018 paper on encouraging dog walking suggests building it into a daily routine, walking as a family, and pushing for dog-friendly parks and paths.

Why might a dog get you moving when willpower doesn't?

A dog turns exercise into a responsibility to someone you love. Researchers who study dog walking describe it as a mix of motivation, routine and social contact.

A few reasons owners keep going:

• The dog asks. A dog that waits by the door at the same time every day is a strong reminder.
• It's not "exercise". Many people who would never join a gym will happily walk for half an hour if the dog needs it.
• Bad weather doesn't cancel it. The dog still needs to go out when it's cold or wet, and so do you.
• You meet people. Regular walkers get to know other dog owners, which is part of why dogs come up in research on pets and loneliness.

Regular walking also ties into other possible benefits of pets, including those covered in our look at whether pets lower blood pressure.

Are there any risks to dog walking?

Yes, mainly falls, especially for older adults and especially with a dog that pulls. A US analysis of emergency department data estimated that fractures among people aged 65 and over linked to walking a leashed dog rose from about 1,700 in 2004 to nearly 4,400 in 2017.

Women accounted for 78.6% of those fractures, and the hip was the most common single fracture site. The authors weren't telling older people to stop walking dogs. Their point was that fall risk should be part of the conversation. Practical steps include leash training, choosing a dog whose size and energy suit you, and asking a vet or trainer about harnesses for dogs that pull.

Is a dog the right way to get more exercise?

Only if you want a dog for its own sake. A dog needs years of daily care, and the walking benefit only shows up for people who walk it.

If you're weighing the commitment, our guide to choosing between a dog and a cat covers the time, space and energy each one needs. A cat won't take you for a walk, but many people find a dog's routine gets them outside more than any fitness plan did.

If you already have a dog, the research suggests the simplest change is also the most effective: make the walk a fixed part of the day, for both of you.