Meet Your New Workout Partner: Fido

Sick of the treadmill? Can’t bear the smell of chlorine in your hair?

Maybe you don’t have to go to the gym to get your workout.

Walking Fido might just do the trick.

Of course it depends on how long you walk your dog, how often and how fast. But researchers from Michigan State University have found that people who own and walk their dogs are 34 percent more likely to meet national guidelines for physical exercise.

How much exercise is that?

According to the federal government, adults should do at least 2 hours and 30 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (walking briskly, ballroom dancing or general gardening) or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity a week (jogging, aerobic dancing or hiking uphill).

Ideally, you should perform some type of aerobic exercise for more than 10 minutes each time and not just in one workout but spread throughout the week.

Fido will probably appreciate that, too.

Of course, this tail-wagging approach also depends on the canine. Older, overweight dogs are going to walk a little slower and tire faster than younger pups.

Source: Michigan State University

Alice Warchol is a fitness instructor and freelance health writer.

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