Is your trainer a real dog? No, literally, is he or she a dog? Well, researchers from the University of Victoria found that having a canine as a pet helps whip many people into shape.

The research suggests that people who own dogs walk almost twice as much per day as people who don't. Dogs, particularly those who spend most of their time indoors, require a considerable physical commitment from their owners. From play time to pee time, let's face it, sometimes it's hard to tell who has who on the leash.

But, as the research reveals, the burdensome task of taking your dog for a walk during your favorite TV show or just about any other inopportune time of the day is actually benefiting you just as much. Think of it as hiring a full-time personal trainer, only this one poops in public and may occasionally get fleas (then again, I wouldn't put these traits past a few human personal trainers I've come across over the years).