Research suggests that walking your dog may bring more benefits than simply walking with other people:
Walk a Hound.
In 2008, [the Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction] sponsored the “Walk a Hound, Lose a Pound and Stay Fit for Seniors.” In the preliminary program, a group of older adults were matched with shelter dogs, while another group of older adults were partnered with a human walk buddy. For 12 weeks, participants were encouraged to walk on an outdoor trail for one hour, five times a week. At the end of the program, researchers measured how much the older adults’ activity levels improved.
“The older people who walked their dogs improved their walking capabilities by 28 percent,” Johnson said. “They had more confidence walking on the trail, and they increased their speed. The older people who walked with humans only had a 4 percent increase in their walking capabilities. The human walking buddies tended to discourage each other and used excuses such as the weather being too hot.”
[Via : A Pet In Your Life Keeps The Doctor Away.]
It’s very rare that a dog doesn’t want to go for a walk, and it’s very hard to turn down that pleading look.
I like that they matched the walkers with shelter dogs too. I’m sure those dogs appreciated the attention and one-on-one exercise, and I imagine the seniors would have felt pleased to be able to offer a useful service.
Walk a Hound, Lose a Pound
Walk a Hound Lose a Pound is working for good health — of both dogs and people:
Walk a Hound, Lose a Pound in Indiana, USA, is working to impact the growing rate of obesity by increasing physical activity through a creative and fun approach to physical fitness: dog walking. Walk a Hound, Lose a Pound is also working to address the plight of homeless animals and increase their adoptability through provision of exercise and socialization as well as increase community awareness of the issues related to animal welfare.
What a great idea!
Have you taken part in a programme like this? Tell us about it in the Comments.
