Dogs help improve our physical and mental health as well as our social relationships

Photos by JP Talapian

We all know that working out with a partner has benefits. They are the ones that push us to get out of the couch, keep track of our progress, and even guide us on how to ace our workout. When we say partners, we don’t just mean fellow humans but also our canine friends—ones you can simply adopt from places like Pawssion Project.

Pawssion Project is an adoption center that rescues dogs from hazardous and abusive environments. Since its establishment in 2018, the nonprofit aims to bring these dogs closer to a warm and loving home. They do this by nurturing rescued dogs and providing a safer and more caring home. We at Multisport together with the rest of Hinge Inquirer paid a visit to the adoption center to spend time with the rescued dogs last Sept 27.

One of the rescued dogs of Pawssion Project

As soon as we made our way to the entrance of Pawssion Project, the rescued dogs ran to our welcoming arms right away. Being the team that almost always thinks about sports and fitness, we realized that these native dogs (often referred to as askals) are good company when it comes to running, walking, or even cycling. These are dogs that are always game for a run and try their best to follow your pace. Their energy is contagious and they will push you to keep yourself active.

Helping clean the Pawssion Project environment

The best part is that you’ll rarely hear them complain or have them cancel on you last minute. A study from the Journal of Physical Activity and Health reported that 34 percent of dog owners are more likely to reach their fitness goals compared with non-dog owners. The study also pointed out that owning a dog promotes health and fitness and increases physical activity by 69 percent.

Caring for dogs is good for mental health, too

Working out with your pupper

So what are some workouts you can try with your dogs? Walking them on a daily basis is a simple but nevertheless exciting workout. Some other exercises you can do with your canine buddy are dog yoga, stair running, kayaking, rollerblading, and even active fetch.

Further, having a dog doesn’t just improve physical fitness, it’s also been proven that they improve mental health and relationships. The best part about all this is that you get to adopt an animal in need and see improvements in your physical and mental health.