A study conducted by the University of Liverpool revealed that dog owners walk an average of 22 minutes more per day than people without dogs.

This extra walking time not only adds up to nearly 1.5 hours of additional daily movement per week, but it also significantly increases the likelihood of meeting recommended physical activity guidelines—boosting both cardiovascular health and overall well-being.

Lead researcher Carri Westgarth and her team found that dog owners were far more likely to engage in recreational walking and, crucially, that this walking didn’t replace other forms of exercise—instead, it served as a healthy addition.

This suggests that having a canine companion isn’t just a source of emotional comfort, but also a practical motivator for daily movement, demonstrating how the simple act of walking a dog can contribute meaningfully to public health goals.

Source: University of Liverpool

https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/3038193/1/s41598-019-41254-6.pdf