Walking dog 'the best way to stay fit'

Researchers for British pet healthcare experts Bob Martin have carried out the study and found that walking the dog twice everyday can give one up to one eight hours of exercise a week.

"A couple of short walks a day soon adds up and this research shows that it amounts to more time than people spend in the gym," a spokesman for Bob Martin was quoted by the 'Daily Mail' as saying.

The study, based on a survey of 5,000 Britons, including 3,000 dog owners, revealed that 57 per cent see walking the dog as their main form of exercise. More than three quarters say they would rather take their pooch for a hike than go to the gym.

Some 86 per cent say they enjoy taking their pet out each day, with just 22 per cent saying they ever see it as a chore. But only 16 per cent say they enjoy exercising in the gym, with almost 70 per cent considering it a chore they have to do rather than something they would like to do.

The survey showed that having a dog to walk actually encourages regular exercise with 60 per cent of pet owners saying they always go for a walk with their dog -- even when time is precious.

But 46 per cent of gym-goers admit they often find other things to do to get out of doing exercise. More than half of dog owners think walking their pet is a great way to meet new people.

"Owning a dog makes us more healthy. The Government recommends 30 minutes of moderate cardiovascular exercise 3-5 times per week and it's encouraging to see that dog walkers are exceeding this target and enjoying it at the same time," the spokesman said.