Dog owners may be less prone to depression

Host - Now, you mentioned walking a little while ago - "walking Fido". My own dog is a mad beagle, Sole we call him, and I take him regularly for walks across the golf course first thing in the morning, on a glorious day like today you come back and you feel wonderful, your whole mind is alive and you're wanting to do things, it makes you feel better.

Nina - Yes, absolutely, and in many ways you've actually captured some of the benefits of this whole survey. This research was carried out through Portsmouth University. We've always known that our four-legged friends benefit from regular exercise, of course, but what this also highlights is the benefits to us human beings as the dog owner or the dog walker, and people who have the benefit of being able to walk their dogs on a regular basis are also less prone to depression and loneliness, because you're more likely to meet like-minded people when you're out walking so there's also that social element and the social contact, which as we already know promotes contentment, well-being, happiness.

Nina - But what it also reminds us of is that this regular physical activity helps to promote our general fitness, and helps to prevent obesity, heart disease, diabetes, cancer. The other interesting thing that comes out of this research, which is something that you mentioned a moment ago, is the whole environment thing and our need to get closer to nature. So some of the findings from this particular survey show that patients recover more quickly when they are able to get closer to nature, the regular walking and such like, and also children with attention disorders improve just by being outside, as is true for any of us. So even when you don't necessarily feel that you want to take your dog for a walk, dog owners tend to put their dogs' needs before themselves sometimes, and of course as soon as you get outside you feel so much better.

Host - They always say ramblers have a very positive outlook on life, don't they, as well?

Nina - Yes, yes.