Karen K. Ho of Richmond Hill, Ontario adopted Max the cockapoo in 2021 because his previous owner couldn’t get him enough exercise.
He was kept in a crate for up to eight hours, which is not good for his energetic breed, he said. Ho also thought that owning a dog would be a good way to increase his own activity levels.
“I had wanted something that would help me establish a routine for walking, for eating, and also a companion to help me with my fitness as well as my anxiety.”
Ho and her mother, who is in her 70s, would walk Max for about 90 minutes a day: once in the morning and a longer walk in the evening. Ho was amazed at how this benefited his mother.
“One really embarrassing thing is that my mom is fitter than I am,” she said. “I remember when we went to Banff and Jasper [in Alberta] together She was fitter than I was to hike certain places. I struggled to keep up with her.”
Leigh Vanderloo is the scientific director of ParticipAction, a non-profit organization that tracks the physical activity efforts of Canadians.
Vanderloo looked at international and Canadian studies and said people with dogs walk about four times a day and get an average of 160 minutes of exercise a week, which is 10 minutes more than the recommended minimum.
Leigh Vanderloo, ParticipAction’s chief scientific officer, says research indicates that people with dogs walk about four times a day and get an average of 160 minutes of exercise a week. (Janis Lempera)
“People who have pets are more active … and because of that increased activity, they’re less likely to have problems related to diabetes, hypertension, even metabolic syndrome,” he said.
According to a study published in 2016 in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, “walking dogs has been shown to promote participation in and adherence to regular physical activity.”
This research was released before the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. Some Canadians say owning a dog has been especially important over the past two years, helping them stay active while working from home.
Stay active while working from home
This was the case for Andrew Holland of Fredericton, NB. He has been working remotely since March 2020 and his golden retriever Gus has given him a reason to go for daily walks.
“Instead of driving to a physical office, we have our mock commute in the morning, which is patrolling the subdivision. So it’s a 35-40 minute ride,” he said.
Andrew Holland poses for a selfie with his dog, Gus. Holland has been working remotely since March 2020, when the pandemic began, and says her golden retriever has given her a reason to go out for daily walks. (Submitted by Andrew Holland)
Having Gus has helped replace some of the activity I would normally do at work.
“When you’re in an office, you’re going to meetings, you’re walking, warming up lunch in the microwave or stretching your legs, or making tea or coffee. Here at home it’s hard to do that. , to get your steps, so I usually try to get it out and around,” Holland said.
Vanderloo said that this “incidental” movement we get from leaving the house and going to the office is a big part of what has been missing in many people’s lives.
Having a dog to walk connects “your motivation to get active with something non-negotiable,” she said.
Pets are a powerful motivator
With the pandemic boom in puppies, Dr. Philipp Schott, a veterinarian in Winnipeg, has also noticed an increase in people walking dogs.
She said pet owners have felt they’re a good excuse to get out and explore the neighborhood, especially since travel has been difficult.
Schott echoed Vanderloo’s comments that dogs are an incentive to get outside and get active.
Dr. Philipp Schott, a Winnipeg veterinarian, says having a dog look at you can be a “strong motivator” to get up and go for a walk. (Marlon Evans)
“Having that dog look at you…people feel a very strong sense of responsibility and guilt towards their pets. More than getting their spouses or kids to exercise, exercising the dog…that’s a great motivator to to the people,” he said.
Dogs typically need half an hour to an hour of exercise a day, and you don’t need to worry about going overboard if you want to do more.
“Most dogs are better athletes than most humans. It’s the rare person who can outdo their dog,” Schott said.
It’s hard to resist those eyes. Holland’s dog, Gus, looks at him and wants a treat. Holland says Gus has helped replace some of the activity he would normally do at work. (Submitted by Andrew Holland)
For Holland, Gus has been her “four-legged exercise machine” throughout the pandemic.
“We suspended our gym membership during COVID. We bought a spin bike and I haven’t been as disciplined about using it as my wife has been, and that’s on me. But I still walk … with him”.
This has also been the case for Ho with her dog Max.
“I think it’s a bit like when people really get into a sport. You have people who do it too, you dress differently, your lifestyle changes, like how you sleep and how you eat,” he said.
“I think that’s very similar in terms of when we talk about the health benefits of adopting a dog, especially one that’s as active as mine.”
Max takes a break after playing with his ball in the park. (Submitted by Karen K. Ho)
LISTEN | How dog ownership has helped Canadians stay fit during the pandemic:
The Morning Edition – K-W7:17 Fit Pet, Healthy Human: How dog ownership has helped Canadians stay fit during the pandemic
While some people packed on the pounds from the pandemic, others found their dog put a spring in their step and their furry friend gave them exercise. CBC producer Antonia Reed looks at why every walk with your dog counts.