GPs urged to prescribe
walking with the dog

Walking with the dog is one of the healthiest pastimes for anyone.

Supported by Channel 4 GP Dr Christian Jessen, Dogs Trust has gathered together concrete proof that dogs are good for our health. The charity has compiled independent academic research from around the world to highlight the main nine areas in which owning or interacting with a dog can improve your health. The charter’s nine points are:

• Dog owners make fewer visits to their doctors
• Owning a dog can help reduce stress and anxiety
• Owning a dog can help reduce blood pressure
• Owners who walk their dogs are healthier than non-dog owners
• Dogs can help the development of children with autism and children with learning difficulties
• Owning a dog can boost your immune system
• Dog owners are likely to recover quicker from heart attacks
• Dogs can help safeguard against depression
• Trained dogs can detect a variety of health conditions including epileptic fits, cancerous tumours and hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose)

Clarissa Baldwin, Chief Executive of Dogs Trust, commented: “Dogs Trust has always promoted the benefits of owning a dog, but it is clear to see that there is also strong academic support to show that there are serious health benefits as well. Many dog owners are already aware of many of the benefits their dogs bring, but we want to take the message out further to the wider population."

GPs, counsellors and therapists and anyone working towards the improvement of health and wellbeing, have been contacted and given copies of the charter for them to explain or display to the public.

Channel 4’s Dr Christian Jessen commented: “As well as reducing loneliness and depression by providing companionship, dogs have been shown to assist in the recovery from certain medical conditions such as heart attacks, and in the development of children with learning and social difficulties. I would ask that all GPs be aware of the importance of animals in promoting human health and happiness and call on them to proactively inform their patients of the diverse ways in which dogs can improve our lives.”

In a survey of 1000 UK individuals, 80% of dog owners and 61% of non-dog owners agreed that a daily dose of dog interaction can help reduce stress or blood pressure and 96% of dog owners and 88% of non-dog owners believed that owning a dog increases the amount of exercise that you do.

The survey also showed that while non-dog owners are much less likely to be aware of how dogs can improve health and wellbeing generally, even dog owners were less aware of how dogs can assist with more complex medical conditions - just 57% of dog owners agreed that owning a dog can help boost your immune system and only 46% agreed that owning a dog would help you to recover faster from a heart attack.

With all this information available isn't it also time to think about dog ownership as a remedy also for all the obesity that the UK is at present experiencing? Just yet another advantage in dog ownership. How could we manage without one?