A dog may be man’s best friend, but this furry family member can be mom’s best workout buddy. “Dogs are great exercise partners and stress relievers,” says Dawn A. Marcus, MD, author of Fit as Fido: Follow Your Dog to Better Health. Research suggests that owning a canine can improve cardiovascular health and help reduce blood pressure, stress level and loneliness. Dr. Marcus offers these pooch-proven tips: Make your pup your walking partner. Just three ten-minute walks a day can go a long way toward improving your overall health—and it will boost your dog’s health, too. Show him the love. Petting a pooch can decrease your physiological response to stress. All it takes is a little downtime cuddling with your pup to help calm your nervous system. Sleep like a dog. Canines are champion nappers, while many people come up short in the snooze department. Since sleep deprivation is linked to a host of health problems such as obesity, high blood pressure and colds, take a cue from your canine pal and grab a midday siesta when you can.