CHILDREN in households with dogs are more likely to get enough
exercise compared to those without dogs, according to new
research from the University of Western Australia. The study,
from the university's Centre for the Built Environment and
Health at the school of population health, found ''children who
had a dog were 49 per cent more likely to be sufficiently active
[60 minutes of physical activity each day] compared with non dog
owners.'' The take-home message is not, however, to rush out and
get a hound if you don't already have one, says assistant
professor Hayley Christian, who will be presenting the findings
at Sports Medicine Australia's Be Active conference, in Sydney
from October 31. ''The message is that if you have a dog and you
walk it, it can make a great contribution to your overall
physical activity and health and wellbeing,'' she says. While up
to 40 per cent of Australian households has a dog, only about
half walk it regularly, so having a hound in the home is no
guarantee of a more active l