It may be the age of the professional dog walker, but the health and social benefits of taking your pooch for a walk should not be under-estimated.

Dogs need to be walked at least once a day and very active dogs will usually require more.

Yet in 2010, The Kennel Club, which works to protect and promote the health and welfare of dogs in the UK, found in a survey of 1,000 dog owners that one in five did not walk them on a daily basis.

But it’s not just in the best interests of your pooch. Dog walking provides a number of benefits for owners - who are increasingly turning to professional dog walkers and runners in the frenzy of modern life.

Jane McBrien is a volunteer at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home and takes the dogs at its centre out for walks. She also has a dog of her own which she regularly walks.

She says: "I’m not somebody who goes to the gym but going walking with your dog is very healthy and a great form of exercise. It’s a reason to get up in the morning and it’s beneficial if you sit in an office all day.

"It’s also very therapeutic and gives you the chance to wind down."

Jane says dogs don’t want to be shut up in house all day and need regular exercise.

"Dogs need a way of getting rid of any excess energy. In the country it’s more natural to take your dog out for long periods. It’s possible that in the city people might think that a short walk is enough.

"I would encourage people to do more than half an hour a day," she says.

A study conducted by Michigan State University showed the people who walk their dogs are 34 per cent more likely to meet expected levels of exercise, with 150 minutes of moderate exercise, such as dog walking, recommended per week.

Regular dog walking can also lower cholesterol and blood pressure, lower stress levels, boost your immune system, and is good for mental health.

An interesting area of research, on how having a dog can contribute to good health, has even looked at whether dogs can sniff out cancer.

Jane says the social and companionship benefits for walkers and dogs alike are just as important.

After all, many a love story is said to have flourished after owners met while walking their dogs in the park - in addition to the relationship between people and their pets.

She says: "It’s all about building a relationship with the dog. I want to give my dog the best life I can and forming a bond with it is part of that.

"A professional dog walker could have a stronger bond with the dog than yourself if they walk it.

"It’s a wonderful way of meeting other people with similar interests and different dogs and to find out about which dog events are going on locally."