Body Dog: Learn About the First Gym for Dogs

How many times have you realized your dog is overweight, but don’t know what to do because you don’t have the time to take it on long walks? Well, a solution has popped up in Bogotá, Colombia. That solution is Body Dog, the first gym for dogs. Want to learn more about it and what they do? Keep reading!

Body dog: the first gym for dogs

Is it only for overweight pets?

If your dog is a bit on the heavy side, there are all kinds of reasons for that. One of those is that it isn’t exercising enough. Animals need to work out their bodies too! Food isn’t the only thing that matters when it comes to keeping it at an ideal weight.

You also need to make sure it does healthy activities that will prevent it from becoming overweight. 

A group of trainers in Bogotá, Colombia founded the first gym for dogs, Body Dog, to help owners keep their pets healthy and lose weight if they need to. They also give dogs the kind of exercise they don’t always get with their owners. This is because the owners are either too busy or can’t, or don’t like to, be physically active.

But it’s more than just a weight loss school. The trainers also have programs for physical fitness, muscle strengthening, and rehabilitation for dogs that have had an accident or a serious illness.

The gym has machines and other exercise equipment like stairs, obstacles to jump over, balls of many sizes, treadmills, tunnels, etc…They give dogs an exercise routine, along with rewards, brushing, hydro massages, and teach them relaxation techniques. Body Dog also offers a training service for puppies. 

Exercising with a dog?

This Colombian dog gym is designed completely for dogs. The owners “aren’t invited” (they can watch, but can’t join in). But we know that most of our readers don’t live in Bogotá, so is there anything you can do if you can’t send your dog to this gym? The simple answer is: you can train with it yourself! Here are some of our favorite ideas:

Jogging and running

Start out walking, and pick up speed as you go. Make sure you use a leash so your little furry friend stays with you. In some cases, the owners are the ones who have to get into shape to keep up with their dogs (especially if it’s a puppy).

Swimming

If you have one of those breeds that love the water (like Golden Retrievers), you can use that to your advantage. Take it to the beach or buy it a special pool (like a kiddie pool). Throw some toys into the water and let it chase after them.

Games

Throwing a ball or a stick is a perfect way to get your dog to exercise. Show it that it needs to go chasing after whatever you throw and then bring it back to you. Remember: it’s not true that old dogs can’t learn new tricks. Whether your dog is a puppy or an adult, you can always teach it to play fetch. 

Depending on the breed, it might like some games more than others. Here’s a very simple run-down of what breeds tend to like certain kinds of games:

• Fetch: Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Cocker Spaniels, Beagles, Mastiffs, and Newfoundlands.
• Tug of war with their teeth: Fox Terriers, Yorkshire Terriers, Bull Terriers, Scottish Terriers, Jack Russell Terriers, West Highland White Terriers, and Pitbull Terriers.
• Soccer: Border Collies, Corgis, German Shepherds, Belgian Shepherds, Pointers, and Spanish water dogs.

Figure out what your dog likes best and try to make it part of your weekly routine. The best part is that, besides helping keep it healthy and making sure it’s not overweight, the exercise will be great for you too. You’ll be out in the fresh air, you’ll run, you’ll have fun, and you’ll share some great times with your best friend. What could be better?

Image source: Body Dog’s Facebook.