For people who enjoy keeping pets—especially dogs at home—there is good news: dogs can play a supportive role in maintaining and improving the health of elderly individuals.
According to a report published by the health information website Bold Sky, the World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes that older adults should engage in as much physical activity as possible after retirement. Those who keep pet dogs at home tend to have better health compared to those who do not.
A recent study found that individuals aged 65 and above who spend time with dogs at home engage in an additional 22 minutes of physical activity daily. As a result, they are more active, energetic, and healthier than their peers who do not own dogs.
The report explains that taking care of pet dogs keeps people physically active unconsciously, as it involves regular movement and exercise. For this study, 43 participants from three cities in the United Kingdom were selected for each group—one group included dog owners, while the other consisted of non-dog owners.
People who owned dogs walked approximately 10,030 steps per day, whereas those without dogs averaged 7,270 steps daily—a difference of 2,760 steps.
Dr. Vilia Dall, who supervised the research study, stated that elderly individuals who walk their dogs are able to meet the daily physical activity recommendations set by the World Health Organization. According to WHO guidelines, older adults should engage in at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week.
Lead researcher Nancy Gee added that keeping dogs encourages older adults to stay healthier. Dogs naturally motivate their owners to move more and remain physically active on a daily basis.