There are endless articles, podcasts and programmes telling us about the many health benefits of exercise in reducing blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and improving mental health, and bone and muscle strength.

The most immediate and obvious benefit to regular exercise for our pets is the mental stimulation that reduces undesirable behavioural traits. Boredom behaviours, such as barking and destructive chewing or digging, are common in young active dogs that seek the stimulation they lack when left alone at home.

Despite numerous exercise studies performed in humans, very few detailed studies have been done in pets. However, those that have been performed have shown similar physiological changes in dogs; exercise-induced changes to cortisol (stress hormone), muscle enzymes, blood parameters and blood pressure measure-ments have all been recorded. It is reasonable then to assume that dogs and cats will obtain similar multi-system health benefits with regular exercise and stimulation.

Older pets can be less enthusiastic

Most dogs are better at showing enthusiasm to exercise than us, so it’s not hard to encourage them to run around, as long as we pet owners give them the daily opportunity to do so. Older pets and some dog breeds and cats can be less overtly enthusiastic and may need more encouragement! It’s important not to allow the older pet or lazy Labrador to avoid a daily trot.

Perhaps the most significant health benefit of regular activity is seen in dog owners! Not only do we benefit mentally from pet ownership, but remember every dog walk you go on does you just as much good as your four-legged friend.