DOG owners are fitter than other people, a study suggests.
They tend to walk longer and more often than non-owners and are four times more likely to meet exercise guidelines for a healthy life.
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And, typically, they go for walks on top of other exercise, such as cycling and jogging, rather than instead of it.
Researchers say their findings highlight the need for more dog-friendly homes, parks and paths.
Study leader Dr Carri Westgarth said: “Without dogs, it is likely population physical activity levels would be much lower.”
The results come from a University of Liverpool study, in which 191 dog owners and 455 non-owners were asked about their exercise habits.
Owners walked an average of 9.6 times a week for a total of 347 minutes, researchers found. Non-owners had 4.6 walks lasting a total of 159 minutes.
It meant nearly nine in ten dog owners met the recommended target of at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity a week, compared with about six in ten non-owners.
However, when factors such as age and gender were stripped out, figures revealed dog-owners were four times more likely to hit targets.
Dr Westgarth said walking a dog outside also boosted mental health and community spirit.
She added: “Our findings should be used to justify the provision of dog-supportive environments for walking and pet-friendly housing.”
