Obesity is everywhere. Whether it’s obesity in children or obesity in dogs, it seems an opportune time to remind people of the health benefits of exercising outdoors. And what better way to do this than with your very own four-legged personal trainer.

From helping to lower blood pressure to reducing stress, walking a dog is a great way to burn a few calories and encourage a positive mind set. What’s more dog walking can also boost your immune system. A number of recent studies have shown dogs have a wealth of therapeutic benefits for humans .

This summer, Dogs Trust has teamed up with fitness, diet and walking guru Joanna Hall to launch a unique ‘Active Family, Active Dog…’ campaign on how interacting with dogs can help fight the bulge. The exercise programme aims to show the health benefits of walking and exercising as a family as well as matching the right dog with the right family.

Joanna Hall explains: “Research shows that getting families to be more physically active as a whole improves group dynamics, increases family cohesion and significantly increases motivation. We’re now asking real families to ‘walk out’ with a dog and see how they too can get healthy and still have fun together.”

Flyers will be distributed at this year’s Summer Open Day at Dogs Trust Harefield on 8th June 2008, open from 11am to 4pm. Visitors should head to the ‘Active Family, Active Dog…’ stall for further information and application forms. Alternatively, to register your email activefamilyactivedog@walkactive.co.uk

Dogs Trust is looking for committed volunteers to sign up to a six-week family fitness and dog walking programme which will run from 7th September to 12th October (inclusive). Volunteers do not need to have a dog but must be happy to introduce a dog into their home for a six week period. Volunteers must also make themselves available for tests, health monitoring and practical active tasks throughout the six-week trial.

Each family will be allocated a specific rescue dog according to their lifestyle and will be responsible for looking after it for six consecutive weeks as well as bringing it to Harefield for weekly updates, tests and active tasks. Sunday morning sessions will take place at the rehoming centre between 9am – 12 noon.

Measurements of the benefits of walking your dog will be taken at the start and throughout the six-week regime. Simple physiological and psychological tests will be conducted to record changes in self-esteem, physical fitness and family cohesion.

All the dogs used in the six-week programme will be available for rehoming from Dogs Trust Harefield. If this innovative scheme is successful it could be rolled out nationwide across all 17 Dogs Trust Rehoming Centres. Photographers and TV may be present during the trial.

Dogs Trust cares for over 16,000 stray and abandoned dogs a year through a network of 17 rehoming centres throughout the UK. Whilst we would never place a dog in the hands of a persistent couch potato, we would certainly encourage one that wanted to change his/her ways.

For further information visit www.dogstrust.org.uk or to register your interest email activefamilyactivedog@walkactive.co.uk

  Dogs Trust Canine Charter for Human Health based on research carried out by following: Wilson 1991 & Allen et al 1991, Friedmann et al 1983, Anderson 1992, Siegel 1990, Raina 1999, Friedmann 1990, McNicholas et al 2004, Friedmann et al 1980 and Bolin 1987.