Anyone with a pet knows how much love and affection can be derived from that relationship. The psychological benefits of pet ownership can be profound. But the physical benefits of owning a pet can be significant as well. A new research study found that dog owners are more likely to achieve the activity levels recommended for seniors by the World Health Organization (WHO) than non-dog owners. On average, dog owners were found to walk an extra 22 minutes a day (or for those of you counting steps, 2760 steps a day) as compared to non-dog owners, and they also had fewer continuous periods of sitting compared to non-dog owners. In essence, walking the dog helps you achieve the amount of physical activity recommended to help you age in a healthier way. No surprise to those of us who have dogs- and for those who don’t, perhaps this will tip the scales in favor of a visit to the rescue shelter where so many senior dogs await new homes. So grab a leash, and read about this study Here.