A “mobile dog gym” is the latest addition to the pet business space, which has been steadily growing over the last 10 years. Many may perceive a portable gym that comes to your home and exercises your dog as a luxury service that only rich or lazy people would use, but nothing is further from the truth. Many dog owners are waking up to the fact that dogs need exercise that is beyond the levels that we can provide for them, and they are turning to mobile dog gyms to provide that exercise. Just like if you were to have told someone ten years ago that you were going to have fresh dog food delivered to your home, they would have thought you were crazy. People have begun to realize that animals thrive better when provided with proper nutrition and exercise, and that can of Alpo isn’t helping them thrive. Yes, they will stay alive, but they will not do as well as if they had better nutrition. The same is true for exercise, walking will help your dog to stay alive, but it is the bare minimum and not going to help your dog live a better life.
A mobile dog gym uses equipment that is specific for cdertain types of exercise, which is then transported to your home or business to use. Generally, the vans are outfitted with machines called “slatmills” which are non-motorized treadmills built specifically for dogs. Slatmills provide two types of exercise for dogs, aerobic or a combination of aerobic and muscle-building. This is dictated by the intensity of the resisitance that the slatmill itself provides. Because a non-motorized machine does not push the belt itself, we must take into consideration that the dog must exert itself more than a typical walk around the block. It is more comparible to a walk if you were pulling a cart, or carrying a bag of bricks. The more resistance there is on the slatmill, the more heavily the dog must work to make the belt move. This is exactly the same thing as lifting heavier weights for a human in the gym. You are not building additional muscle if you only walk around your house, and the more strength will be built the more weight you can lift regularly in the gym. A dog gym is tasked with not only tiring your dog our so they can sleep better, but providing a plan to build that dog’s muscle over time. At least a good dog gym does that.
Mobile dog gyms have several purposes that are quite diverse. Some people are simply looking at the gym as a way to safely walk a dog when they cannot personally do it. People with busy schedules, disabled people who cannot walk with their dog, or dogs that cannot go to dog parks are all candidates for this type of service. People who are interested in building up their dog’s body the same way people use gyms for themselves are candidates for this type of service. In hot areas like Las Vegas (where we are located) there are numerous months each year where it is legitimately unsafe to walk or exercise your dog outside. When temperatures are over 90 degrees, it is no longer safe to walk your dog outside because of heat stroke risks. When temperatures are over 100 degrees, their paws can blister and cause severe burns. In areas like this, a climate-controlled and indoor method of providing exercise makes sense.
The effectiveness of the exercise sessions in a dog gym will rely on numerous factors. The quality of the equipment and air conditioning system in the van will impact the experience of the dog, and impact the intensity of the exercise they get. The coach’s ability to understand their role in the exercise progression of the dog, as well as their ability to recognize the signs of overheating or overwork is critical to keeping your dog safe. The ability of the coach to understand the nuances necessary to provide good motivation will determine how well the dog performs. Just because one mobile dog gym only got your dog to leisurely walk does not mean a different one might not be albe to get a better performance, this is literally a series of individual factors that impacts the dog negatively or positively.
When you are ready to try taking your dog’s fitness to the next level, call us if you are in Las Vegas. If you aren’t in our local area, do some research on your local mobile dog gym to see if they provide a good service. When you find the right fit, you will see your dog thrive.