Dog owners are healthier, more active than their pooch-free pals

Pooches and parks are a perfect match, with health benefits flowing on to dog owners as well, a study has found. This is why owning a dog is good for the health of every member in your family.

Pooches and parks are a perfect match, but more needs to be done to ensure owners are as active as their dogs, a study has found.

A Deakin University analysis of two Melbourne parks found dog owners are likely to visit parks more often than those without dogs.

The study, which involved 1187 adults and 755 children, found 72 per cent of adults and 56 per cent of children with dogs, who go to the park, visit at least once a week.

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This compares to 49 per cent   of   those   without   a  dog.

“Visiting the park with a dog is a potentially important source of daily physical activity,” lead author Dr Jenny Veitch said.

“Those who visit the park with a dog may be more likely to maintain their park visits across the year and gain longer-term benefits to their physical and mental health.

“Children and adults who visit the park with a dog may accrue physical activity by walking to and from the park and from more frequent park visits than children who visit without a dog.”

But it’s not all good news.

Saskia, 10, Tahlia, 8, enjoy time at the park with their dog Eddie. Picture: Josie Hayden

— For tips on being active, visit activeapril.vic.gov.au

Adults with a dog are more likely than non-dog adults to stay at a park for less time, although they are more likely to engage in moderate-intensity exercise rather than sit around.

Kids who visit the park with a dog spend about nine minutes less being active than those who visit without a dog.

“Children who visit parks without a dog may be engaged in more vigorous activities such as running games with other children or using playground equipment, and these activities may be less likely when visiting with a dog,” said Dr Veitch, of the Institute for Physical ­Activity and Nutrition.

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She said she hoped the data would inform the need for dog-supportive infrastructure when planning and redesigning parks.

“Future interventions could consider how to increase activity among children who visit the park with their dog,” Dr Veitch said. Dog owners “are regular users of local parks and thus it is important that new park developments and park redevelopments ensure park access, design and amenity supports and encourage dog walkers of different ages to walk to the park”, she added.

A previous study by Dr Veitch found a dramatic increase in physical activity and park visits when a dog off-leash area was installed.

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