ABSTRACT
In terms of physical health, a lot of people believe that dog owners, irrespective of age, will be ‘fitter and healthier’ as they have to walk their dogs on a daily basis. However, a study published in 2010 by Christopher Owen as part of the Child Heart and Health Study in England did find some impact of dog ownership on physical activity. A great deal of research into the human-dog ownership bond and potential health benefits did focus on older adults as participants. Carri Westgarth and colleagues from the University of Liverpool in 2016 examined if there was an association between dog ownership and fitness in children. Roland Thorpe and a group of researchers in the United States who formed the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study Group examined something we have already looked at in childhood and adulthood: dog ownership and walking behaviour.
