As all dog owners know, there’s no escaping the daily duty of The Walk… even when you’re snowed under at work. Or expecting an Amazon delivery. Or you need to get tea on. Or the weather is cold and wet… and the skies are dark. Not only does it give our pets a necessary leg and hip workout and a good run around, it does exactly the same for their human counterparts. As Unforgotten star Nicola Walker told The Times about her labrador Dora: ‘I walk her until she begs me to stop and go home.’

Walking is a highly effective workout for improving fitness - and for dog-owners, the added benefit is consistency... providing, that is, you have a breed that requires a good, long outing (our border collie-retriever cross is more lazy retriever than fell-running collie, though still needs an hour a day).

But there's more. Decades of research has shown that people who own dogs tend to be healthier than people who don’t for a long list of reasons — mental and physical. From lower heart rates and blood pressure to stronger immunity, the list of healthy dog-owning side effects is long and evidence-backed.

It helps heart health: Lower blood pressure, a healthier diet and a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease are all side-effects of dog ownership, according to a study from the University of Catania. And it’s particularly beneficial as we age – a landmark study by researchers at the University of East Anglia and the University of Cambridge found that older adults with dogs are physically active for an extra 30 minutes each day and don’t suffer from the usual seasonal fitness decline.

It supports immunity: petting a dog for just 18 minutes can significantly increase levels of salivary immunoglobulin A (sIgA), an antibody that acts as a first line of defence against respiratory and digestive infections, according to research from Wilkes University in Pennsylvania.

It boosts brain health: a 2024 study in the journal PLOS One confirmed that spending quality time with dogs reduces mental fatigue and stress, while stimulating brain waves associated with relaxation and focus.

It improves your social life: Another PLOS One study reported that dog owners were 60% more likely than non-pet owners to get to know neighbours they hadn’t known before. Widening your social circle is known to lower the risk of serious health problems, improve mental health and prevent early death, according to the World Health Organisation.