Doggone It: Take a Walk!

Have you been eyeing the pooches at the pound? Here's something that might sway your decision: A four-legged friend may help you do more walking.

Dog owners may walk as much as 2 hours more a week than people without a furry friend. Makes sense. When Fido needs to get out and stretch his legs, he lets you know, and on go your walking shoes. Can't have a dog? Here's another way to get walking.

Staying Fit with Fido
Are you a dog lover? Find out how healthy your pooch is with the DogAge Test. Can't have a dog? Walk a friend's dog, or volunteer to walk dogs at the local animal shelter. The bonus: Furry friends are natural stress reducers. Read up on how animals can help people relax.

Contingency Plans
Of course, if you're not an animal lover, having a pet you don't like isn't a boon to your stress-less plans. But not to worry. There are plenty of other ways to motivate yourself to walk more:

1. Make a walking date with a friend (It's much harder to talk yourself out of it once you've committed to someone else.)
2. Splurge on a virtual trainer. They've now got wristwatch-sized GPS devices that do everything from measuring speed, distance, calories burned, and heart rate to letting you know when your pace has slacked off.
3. Register for a charity walk.
4. Remind yourself of the benefits. Here are five ways walking makes you healthier.

Relationships among dog ownership and leisure-time walking in Western Canadian adults. Brown, S. G., Rhodes, R. E., American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2006 Feb;30(2):131-136.