In the last post we took a look at how pets can be very beneficial to your mental health, so today I want to look at some ways that pets can help us on the physical side of healthy living.

Now, here's a little background before we get started. I have a 1 year old rottweiler who is the best darn dog in the world. (I'm not partial, I swear.) Any of you out there who have dogs know how much fun the puppy years are, especially when your puppy is 110 pounds. I get a cold wet nose in my ear every morning around 6:30, and it's all play from that point on.

For the first six months after I got Abby I lived in the city. As any of you city folk out there know, limited space and small apartments aren't the best for keeping your dog fit. So I, like many other devoted humans do, turned to the dog park in my neighborhood. That was probably the best decision I could have made. I soon found out that keeping her in shape was doing wonders for me too!

Dog parks offer two great benefits for the people that bring their dogs there, as well as a ton of benefits for the dog. The one I went to was a huge park on the side of the airport, with a wetland, trails, woods, and open fields. We would walk about a mile total through the trails, then meet in the main field to play with the other dogs. While Abby was off making new friends, I quickly learned that there is a HUGE community of people with common interests to get to know. The dog parks are amazing places for both people and dogs to socialize. You meet people with the same passion for dogs that you have, and get to talk about things from dog food and toys to legislation and politics. Every one says "Hi!", and you get to the point that people know you (usually as the guy with the rottie, but that's OK!) and stop and talk with you as they pass you on the trails.

The exercise alone that you get just from walking your dog can do wonders for your health. Walking for 20 min a day 4 or 5 times a week will make a huge difference, and it doesn't even feel like exercise! The added benefit is that you are getting out and talking to people in a positive and safe environment, and that is crucial in helping with your mental health. People suffering from depression, stress or anxiety issues have benefited immensely from these little steps towards stepping back into the world of socialization, and it's as easy as walking your dog... or them walking you!