Max Pixel

You could attribute many of a dog’s characteristics to why they’re known as “man’s best friend.”

They’re loyal, entertaining, trustworthy — they won’t tell a soul how long you binge-watched Netflix last weekend — and of course, they’re adorable. But when you’re not cuddled up together streaming shows, dogs can give their owners one of the greatest gifts of all: improved health.

科学家们研究了狗主人的影响ship on physical activity many times, and almost every study has found the same to be true: Owning a dog will cause a person’s activity level to increase and be higher in comparison to those who don’t have a dog.

The average dog owner walks more than non-owners

Glasgow Caledonian University researchers found dog owners in this age range spent 22 minutes more walking and took around 2,760 extra steps every day.

This one might seem obvious, but having a dog essentially forces owners to exercise more than they might have without a pet. This statistic appears to hold true, especially regarding owners ages 65 and up. Aspopulations around the world继续年龄，保持老年人的积极活动可能是国家持续的经济增长和社会日常运作的必要性。

Glasgow Caledonian University researchersfound dog owners in this age range spent 22 minutes more walking and took around 2,760 extra steps every day.

In addition to spending more of their time walking, the study found dog owners had less frequent sedentary periods than non-dog owners. Though the amount of time spent sitting down was the same among the two groups, simply getting up and moving more frequently is enough to boost your physical and mental health.

要收集此数据，研究人员使用了一种案例控制设计，其中使用一系列人口变量匹配研究参与者。参与者在当地社区团体，兽医办公室和当地广播和新闻网点上使用广告招聘。

The final sample size included 40 adults aged 65 and older, who resided at private residences and had no scheduled health interventions that could bias their physical activity during the study.

Dogs encourage people with medical conditions to get outside

For individuals who have medical conditions that could act up at any time, simply going outside for a walk could be nerve-wracking. If this is you, consider choosing a service dog as your pet. These animals not only provide the same benefits as an ordinary pet, but they also give their owners feelings of independence, courage and peace.

Service dogs could be helpful for people with autism, diabetes, vision impairments, deafness and more. There are even dogstrained to help peoplewho suffer from seizures. Individuals who suffer from emotional problems such as panic attacks, separation anxiety, depression or dyslexia could find that service dogs can improve their quality of life too.

The bottom line: dogs motivate owners to exercise

如果你一直感觉到你需要一个有理由起床和移动 - 你可能有点孤独 - 让一只狗对你有益。当然，你应该始终考虑你是否有一个位置appropriately carefor a potential pet’s needs.

Along with the unconditional love and new adventures your new four-legged friend will bring into your life, you’ll most likely be exercising more frequently and improving both of your well-beings. Now, that’s love.