Dr Anne Fawcett reveals the benefits to dog walking are not just for the dog

THERE’S no doubt dogs love to be walked but there are many benefits to the humans who walk them, says Dr Anne Fawcett, and dog walkers have also proved to be good neighbourhood watchers.

Dog walkers at a park in Sydney’s north. Picture: Troy Snook

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IF you live with a dog, you’ll know that one of the highlights of his or her day is getting out for a walk.

Walking gives dogs the opportunity to exercise, but also provides critical mental stimulation.

For me, those reasons are good enough. But a recent study found dog walking also helps the critters at the other end of the leash: humans.

A man with a dog walks underneath a maple tree that gleams in a bright autumn red at the Buergerpark in Bremen, northern Germany, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016. (Ingo Wagner/dpa via AP)

In a study of US and Australian dog walkers, researchers found dog walkers were more likely to get the recommended 30 minutes a day of exercise than non-dog walkers.

The World Health Organisation recommends at least 150 minutes of exercise per week.

Another benefit of dog walking was that dog walkers functioned as a kind of mobile neighbourhood watch.

Steve DeVries, a combat Army medic veteran, walks off the field with Levi, a post traumatic stress service dog during a timeout of an NFL football game between the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016, in East Rutherford, N.J. Levi was presented as a surprise to DeVries, who served in Iraq. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Not only did dog walkers feel safer when walking with their dogs, but there was an improved sense of neighbourhood safety and a feeling of knowing the neighbourhood better. Responsible dog ownership is a win for everyone.

Not every dog is able to walk for 30 minutes a day, but they still benefit from exposure to the outdoors, as long as they are fully vaccinated. If you’re not sure, ask your veterinarian.

Dr Anne Fawcett is a lecturer in veterinary science at the University of Sydney and a veterinarian with Sydney Animal Hospitals Inner West.

Read her blog: smallanimaltalk.com

Watch this dog run through muddy puddles