A novel study involving people and their dogs found that buddying with Buddy may increase your chance of losing weight. Sponsored by Hill’s Pet Nutrition, the People and Pets Exercising Together (P-PET) study observed humans and their canine companions over a 12-month period.

People who exercised with their dogs while limiting caloric intake fared better—and had more fun—than people who worked out and dieted alone. But the contest clearly went to the dogs, who lost an average of 15% of their initial weight (one dog dropped a whopping 35 pounds!).