The most obvious benefit of getting a dog is the one you mentioned in your question. If you want a happy companion, dogs do require walking.
According to a 2019 study in Scientific Reports, dog owners are four times more likely than people who don’t own dogs to meet physical activity guidelines of 150 minutes per week. Echoing that research, a study out of Purdue University showed that, on average, dog owners walk 160 minutes and four times a week, respectively.
Of course, all of that walking can have a positive impact on your health. Research shows walking regularly can help you maintain a healthy weight; reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, cancer and type 2 diabetes, and improve endurance, muscle and bone strength, energy levels, mood, cognition, memory, sleep and immune function.
Physical activity aside, evidence on whether pet ownership alone can improve human health is too sparse to be conclusive, but research from the American Journal of Cardiology does show that owners of both dogs and cats have a decreased risk of hypertension.
You may also recall news reports from a few years ago stating that kids growing up in households with pets had reduced likelihood for allergies and asthma as they got older. That research sparked debate, but, early childhood pet ownership appears to be protective at best and neutral at worst regarding allergies.
However, for those who already have active allergies, keep in mind that pets can increase the risk of asthma.
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