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Every day I read through dozens of medical research studies. When you read research studies, you’ll typically wonder why scientists do certain studies. in some cases really novel ideas are tested and other times, studies are done to test whether common sense knowledge is true. This is why you can read research showing you that all those things your mother’s guidance growing us is typically right—eating too numerous sweets is bad, you need to go to bed at a regular time each night, and having a good attitude is essential for your health. This week, I came across two studies with results that will probably come as no surprise to pet owners.
These studies explored why canine walking is an effective exercise that people will stick to when they typically quit other exercise programs. Is it because canine owners recognize the essential health benefits that they get from walking? Do canine owners sense the social benefits of daily neighborhood walks? Does walking with your canine activate a long-dormant genetic link with our wolf brothers and early caveman? Nope. Why is canine walking an effective exercise that people will do consistently? In a word—guilt.
Canadian researchers took 58 inactive canine owners and randomly assigned them to one of two groups. One group was educated about the health benefits to dogs from walking and told how much different breeds needed to walk each day to stay healthy. They were also given a walking log to make sure the canine was getting enough exercise. people weren’t educated about how walking would help them, but rather told how much dogs need to exercise and why walking is essential for dogs to be healthy. The other group did not receive this education. Both groups were given pedometers to use when walking themselves and their dogs and walking distance was compared after three months. people taught about canine health and walking walked considerably much more than those just walking for themselves. before people had been trained that their canine needed daily walking for its health, they walked their dogs an average of 42 minutes per week and walked an additional 15 minutes without their dogs. After learning why walking is essential for their dogs, they nearly tripled their canine walking to 112 minutes per week, with an additional 38 minutes walked without their dogs.
A second study conducted in Japan surveyed people about canine walking, exploring a variety of potential factors that might contribute to canine walking—feeling affection toward their dog, having access to good canine walking parks, seeing others walking their dogs. While you might think these factors would be important, the difference between people who frequently walked their dogs and those who did not walk their dogs was guilt—feeling an obligation to have to walk the dog. Those who didn’t feel they had an obligation to walk their canine thought about canine walking and planned to start canine walking, but never actually did it. It was only when they had a sense of guilt about not walking the canine that they actually did become regular canine walkers.
So to all you pups out there, start working on those pitiful looks, sad eyes, little whimpers, and total excitement when you hear the word “walk.” Don’t be ashamed to make your owner feel guilty about not walking you. use that guilt to get your owner on a regular walking schedule. It’s terrific for you both!
To help you get started with your
dog walking program, click here
for a canine walking calendar.
health benefits of Pets