News Article: Families with Dogs Have More Active Kids

A study of children from 78 primary schools in England showed that children in homes with dogs tended to be more physically active than those without dogs.

Granted, one of the researchers, Christopher Owen, admits, “It’s a bit of a chicken and egg question.” This is because the researchers are unsure whether or not this is a result of more active families simply being more likely to own dogs rather than dogs causing families and children to become more active.

The results of the study, however, are certainly worth paying attention to. Children who lived in households with dogs consistently showed higher levels of physical activity than those who did not own dogs.

“Long-term studies are needed to answer it, but it may be a bit of both (dogs causing children to become more active and families who tend to be more active being more likely to own dogs),” Owen said.