For many people, taking the dog out for a walk is one of the best aspects of pet ownership. Have you ever thought how much all this exercise adds up to over the lifetime of your canine companion? A recent survey has shown that dog owners walk an average of 23,739 miles with their pet. Phew! That’s a lot of miles. If keeping fit is your aim, the conclusion is that a dog is essential for a healthy lifestyle – think of all the exercise you wouldn’t get if you didn’t have a four-legged friend telling you to get up out of that armchair – ‘come on, it’s walkies time! Cats might have overtaken dogs in the recent popularity stakes but when it comes to well-being, dogs win paws down.