Dog Walking News and Research

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Getting a dog for the first time boosts walking and remote social ties

First-time dog owners in Japan showed significant increases in walking activity and non-face-to-face social contact over one year compared with non-dog owners. No significant changes were observed in vigorous activity or face-to-face social contact, highlighting specific behavioral associations rather than broad lifestyle shifts.

21 Dec 2025

Most Americans risk Lyme disease in their own backyards by skipping simple tick prevention

A large U.S. survey found that most adults and children frequently engage in outdoor activities that expose them to ticks, yet only a minority consistently use protective measures. Despite widespread awareness of Lyme disease, prevention behaviors remain inconsistent, especially during routine yard time.

26 Oct 2025

How pandemic puppies changed children’s mental health and family life

Getting a puppy during the pandemic had mixed effects on children's mental health, emphasizing the need for safety and caregiver support in families.

23 Sep 2025

Hand and wrist injuries among dog walkers cost the UK millions

The annual cost of hand and wrist injuries among dog walkers in the UK is estimated to top £23 million, with women and the over 65s most at risk as a result of being pulled along on the dog leash, finds a review of the available evidence, published online in the journal Injury Prevention.

25 Jun 2025

Family dog interaction boosts physical activity in children with developmental disabilities

By engaging regularly with their family dog and teaching it a series of tricks and commands, children with developmental disabilities experienced a significant increase in their daily physical activity, a new study from Oregon State University researchers found.

27 Mar 2024

The secret to a healthier lifestyle? Your dog, says recent study

The impact of the human-dog bond on physical activity, lifestyle, and health outcomes in dog owners.

6 Mar 2024

The mutual health benefits resulting from the relationship between owners and their dogs

The mutual health benefits for dogs and their owners.

15 Aug 2023

Health programs are at risk as debt ceiling cave-in looms

The partisan fight in Congress over how to raise the nation's debt ceiling to prevent a default has accelerated, as the U.S. Treasury predicted the borrowing limit could be reached as soon as June 1.

4 May 2023

$Leashed dog walking linked to increased risk of fractures and TBIs$

Leashed dog walking linked to increased risk of fractures and TBIs

Johns Hopkins University researchers have found that traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) were the second most common injury among adults treated in U.S. emergency rooms for injuries related to walking a leashed dog from 2001 to 2020.

25 Apr 2023

The importance of exercise for those with diabetes in the COVID era

A review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of physical activity in people with type 2 diabetes and COVID-19.

7 Nov 2021

Access to nature can support the overall health of people in cities

Your local city park may be improving your health, according to a new paper led by Stanford University researchers.

11 May 2021

Young children from dog-owning households have better social and emotional wellbeing

Young children from dog-owning households have better social and emotional wellbeing than children from households who do not own a dog, suggests research published in the journal Pediatric Research.

6 Jul 2020

Dog-walking intervention may reduce PTSD symptoms in military veterans

The United States is home to more than 21 million military veterans, many of whom have difficulty reintegrating into civilian life.

23 Jun 2020

15 percent of people in the US are physically inactive, CDC report says

The new year may have motivated people to jot down their fitness goals, but a new country-wide map of inactivity in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), may show that this might not be feasible unless people start to become more physically active.

17 Jan 2020

People over 55s must do more to keep up their physical activity levels

People in middle-age need to keep up their physical activity levels if they are to enjoy a fit and healthy retirement - according to a new report from the University of East Anglia.

12 Aug 2019

$Dog walking increases risk of bone fractures in older adults$

Dog walking increases risk of bone fractures in older adults

Older Americans who stay active by dog walking are more likely to fracture a bone than their peers, according to a new study by Penn Medicine researchers.

8 Mar 2019

Body size may have greater influence on women's lifespan than men

Body size-height and weight- may influence women's lifespan far more than it does men's, suggests research published online in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.

22 Jan 2019

Happiness motivates dog walking, not health or social benefits

It appears to be a case of 'do what makes you happy' for people who regularly walk their dogs. According to new University of Liverpool research, owners are motivated to go dog walking because it makes them feel happy, not because of other health and social benefits.

30 Aug 2017

Dog ownership provides many health benefits for seniors

According to a new study, pensioners and older adults over 65 who have dogs as pets tend to spend an extra 22 minutes a day walking. This can cut down the risk of their developing heart disease as well as type 2 diabetes. Some experts suggest that General Practitioners should encourage older adults to get themselves a dog to keep fit.

11 Jun 2017

Dog ownership and walking increase physical health among older adults

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that adults of all ages should engage in 150 or more minutes of moderate physical activity per week. Among adults 60 years of age or more, walking is the most common form of leisure-time physical activity because it is self-paced, low impact and does not require equipment.

21 Apr 2016