Pet Ownership And Exercise: An AARP Bulletin Poll
The results of this American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) survey show a positive relationship between having companion animals and exercise among pet owners. Approximately three out of ten dog owners report getting more exercise now that they have a dog, versus previously. A desire for companionship is the primary reason for getting a pet.
Dog ownership is more common among U.S. adults aged 50 and older. Nearly four in ten respondents have a dog, while one fourth of respondents say they have a cat. Fewer than 10% have a bird, reptile, or other unspecified type of pet. Nearly half do not have a pet at all.
More than six out of ten pet owners say that they chose to get a pet for companionship reasons, while one in nine got it as a playmate for his or her child. One in eleven got a pet for security reasons, while 2% of pet owners obtained a pet for breeding or other profit-making reasons. About 30% of pet owners said they got a pet for some other reason.
More than half of dog owners walk their dogs as a form of pet exercise. Other types of play include catch, ball or Frisbee (40%), while nearly 20% said they jog, run or wrestle with their dog for exercise. About three in ten dog owners exercise with their dog once a day, while a quarter do so more frequently. One in six dog owners exercise their dogs two to three times per week, while one in thirteen does so several times a month, and one in twenty do so every day. About a fifth of dog owners say they never exercise with their dog.
Six in ten dog owners say they get about the same amount of exercise now as they did before they got their dog, although three out of ten said they get more exercise now. A much smaller proportion of respondents (6%) said they get less exercise now than before they got their dog.