Better Together: Nourish, Move, Connect for Healthier Lives With Your Dog

Last Updated: October 28, 2026

Dogs and their people get healthier the same way: better food, more movement and more time together. Research links dog ownership with longer human lives, and links social connection with healthier dogs. The habits that help one of you tend to help both. We call it Better Together, and it comes down to three everyday habits: Nourish, Move and Connect.

Are you and your dog both slowing down a little? This one is for you: small daily habits that help you both, at whatever pace suits your house.

In This Article

1. Health goes both ways
2. Nourish together
3. Move together
4. Connect together
5. A one-week Better Together starter plan
6. FAQ

Health Goes Both Ways

We spend a lot of energy caring for our dogs. It turns out they're quietly returning the favor.

• Dogs and human longevity: A 2019 systematic review in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes pooled data on more than 3.8 million people. Dog owners had a 24% lower risk of death from any cause, and a 31% lower risk of cardiovascular death. A companion Swedish study found heart attack survivors who lived alone with a dog had a 33% lower risk of death than those without one. Both studies are observational, so they can't prove the dog is the reason. Walking, routine and companionship are the likely candidates.
• Connection and dog health: In the Dog Aging Project's study of more than 25,000 dogs, published in 2023, social support (living with other dogs, for example) was linked with better health. That link was about five times stronger than the link with financial factors.

This is the thinking behind our Aging on Paws docuseries with Dan Buettner. The Blue Zones research found the longest-lived people don't follow extreme routines. They eat well, move naturally all day, and stay connected. Dogs fit right into that picture.

Nourish Together

Good health starts from within, and for both of you, "within" means the gut. In people, about 70% of the body's antibody-producing cells live in the gut (Sender et al., PNAS, 2023). Canine research shows the same close link between the gut microbiome and health (Pilla & Suchodolski, 2020).

Simple ways to nourish together:

• Make the bowl count. Choose food for what it does, not just its format. Look for digestible protein, named fiber and specific gut support. Get Joy Freeze Dried Raw Meals have Belly Biotics™ (prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics) built into every scoop.
• Eat whole foods on your side, too. Fiber-rich plants feed your microbiome the way pumpkin and inulin feed your dog's.
• Share the routine, not the plate. Feed at the same times each day, and keep table scraps off the menu. Many human foods are rich or unsafe for dogs.
• Make treats work harder. Single-ingredient options like Superfood Organ Treats pack nutrition into a reward. Keep treats to under 10% of the daily diet.

Move Together

The longest-lived people don't run marathons. They walk, garden and stay in motion all day. Dogs are the same: consistent, everyday movement does more for healthy aging than the occasional big hike. (More in Dog Exercise Tips for Longevity.)

Simple ways to move together:

• Add one walk. Even ten minutes after dinner helps digestion for both of you.
• Take a sniff walk. Let your dog lead with their nose for part of the route. It's mental exercise for them and a slower pace for you.
• Play like you mean it. Fetch, tug and hide-and-seek count as movement.
• Scale to the dog in front of you. Puppies need short bursts, seniors need gentle consistency, and joints of any age appreciate soft surfaces. Mobility Chews can support easy movement as dogs age.

Connect Together

Companionship is a health habit, not just a nice-to-have. The Dog Aging Project findings suggest social connection matters for dogs. For people, time with a dog builds routine, gets you outside, and is often how you meet the neighbors.

Simple ways to connect together:

• Ten phone-free minutes a day: brushing, belly rubs or a training game.
• Make friends: a regular walking buddy, a playdate with a dog your pup likes, or a training class.
• Learn something new together, like a trick, a scent game or a new trail.
• Notice their calm. If everyday stress (storms, visitors, time alone) gets to your dog, routine and closeness help. Calming Chews can support calm on the harder days.

A One-Week Better Together Starter Plan

Day	Nourish	Move	Connect
1	Set consistent meal times	10-minute after-dinner walk	10 phone-free minutes
2	Swap one processed treat for a single-ingredient one	Sniff walk: let them lead for 5 minutes	Teach a new cue
3	Check the label: what does "gut support" mean in your dog's food?	Play session: fetch or tug	Brushing session
4	Add a fiber-rich food to your own plate	Try a new route	Invite a walking buddy
5	Measure portions (no eyeballing)	Two shorter walks instead of one	Hide-and-seek with a favorite toy
6	Fresh water bowls, twice a day	Weekend adventure: park, trail or beach	Dog-friendly patio hangout
7	Notice the poop report: consistency is a win	Easy recovery stroll	Reflect: which habit stuck?

Keep the habits that stuck and swap the ones that didn't. Better Together is about small things you'll actually repeat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do dog owners live longer?

Studies suggest they may. A 2019 review of studies covering more than 3.8 million people found dog owners had a 24% lower risk of death from any cause. The research is observational, so it shows an association rather than proof. More walking, routine and companionship are likely parts of the picture.

How do dogs improve human health?

Dogs get people walking, add structure to the day, and provide companionship. Research has linked dog ownership with lower cardiovascular risk and better survival after heart attack and stroke.

How can I help my dog live a longer, healthier life?

Focus on three everyday habits: nourish with complete, gut-healthy food and a lean body weight; move with consistent daily activity suited to your dog's age; and connect through companionship, play and social time. Regular vet checkups round it out.

What is Get Joy's Better Together initiative?

Better Together is Get Joy's community wellness program for dogs and their people, built around three habits: Nourish, Move and Connect. It builds on our Aging on Paws docuseries with Dan Buettner and launches January 1, 2027, with educational content, wellness tips and community experiences.

What are easy ways to stay active with an older dog?

Shorter, more frequent walks on softer ground, sniff walks that let them set the pace, gentle hills, and a few minutes of play or training at home all count. Watch for stiffness the next day and adjust, and keep your dog lean, since extra weight makes every activity harder on the joints.

Sources: Kramer C.K. et al. (2019) and Mubanga M. et al. (2019), Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes. McCoy B.M. et al. (2023), Social determinants of health and disease in companion dogs: a cohort study from the Dog Aging Project, Evolution, Medicine & Public Health. Sender R. et al. (2023), PNAS. Pilla R., Suchodolski J.S. (2020), Frontiers in Veterinary Science. American Heart Association, "Do Dog Owners Live Longer?"