For your dogs to live healthy and long lives, they need regular exercise and walks.

But, do you think that these walks don’t also benefit you? Think again.

Here’s are four ways in which walking your dog is benefiting you.

1. Good Mental Health

Psychologists have derived that dogs are amazing service animals for PTSD patients or veterans because they can reduce the chances of anxiety and depression and put you in a better mood. It has also been discovered that being around dogs lowers the chances of developing stress.

Walking with dogs also drives away the feeling of loneliness as they offer companionship by being walking buddies. People report having entire conversations with their dogs and the owners of other dogs when on a walk, which helps them stay socially connected.

2. Better Physical Fitness 

Walking is an incredible exercise, with a low impact, that can be done just about anywhere. If done regularly, it will eventually start to help strengthen your bones, muscles, and joints. After doing it for a while, you may even start to notice that your usual route is too short and easy, so you’ll find yourself staying out for longer and walking up the extra hill.

3. Improves Your Sleep

It is normal for people to notice their dogs passing out on their dog beds after returning home from the park or a long playing session. That is basically because this activity is tiring. It’s unnecessary for you to need a nap the second you’re back home like your dog does, but it has been proven through studies that regular exercise of the body helps improve the quality and amount of sleep.

4. Lowers the Chances of Cardiovascular Disease

Daily exercise keeps your muscular and skeletal systems in the best working condition, but what a lot of people might not know is that it also helps in maintaining the health of your cardiovascular system.

The cardiovascular system in your body consists of the heart, arteries, veins, and blood. Regular activity results in lowering your blood pressure and resting heart rate while also lessening cardiovascular disease chances.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has suggested that an adult get 150 minutes of modest exercise of the body in a week. When divided, it only turns out to be 20 minutes a day. This should be a simple benchmark to hit if you have your dog by your side.