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Is Walking Your Dog Enough? Inside Singapore's Dog Gym

Is Walking Your Dog Enough? Inside Singapore's Dog Gym

Is Walking Your Dog Enough? Inside Singapore's Dog Gym
Barker & Pooch opened in 2019. It was one of the first centers in Singapore to focus on dog fitness through exercise science.
The gym has treadmills and a pool. It also has a shower area and a recovery space.
Every dog gets an assessment before starting a training program.
The head coach, Leo Lee, says they check the dog's physical condition first. If a dog needs surgery or therapy, they can't take it.
The gym has electric and self-powered treadmills. The self-powered ones make the dogs work harder.
Treadmill training helps build muscle. Walking on an incline targets the hind legs.
When dogs walk on flat ground, their front legs do most of the work. Walking on an incline makes their hind legs work more.
First-time swimmers wear life jackets. Coaches watch them underwater to tailor their programs.
One minute of swimming is like four minutes of running.
The pool is kept cool, not heated, because heat can be bad for dogs.
Heat can make dogs tired before they get a good workout. This can hurt their fitness and health.
After exercise, dogs get cooldowns, stretches, or massages. They also get showers and dried off.
The gym started because of the owner's dog. He wanted to train his dog.
The owner had a big Rottweiler named Tyson. He wanted to train him like a soccer player.
The owner grew up in Northern Ireland, where he worked with dogs on a farm.
The farm had space and a cool climate. This kept the dogs active.
When the owner moved to Singapore, he found it hard to give his dog the exercise he needed. He took a course to learn about dog fitness.
The course wasn't what he wanted. It focused on therapy, not fitness.
The owner's philosophy is that dogs need to get fit to play, not play to get fit.
This idea became the basis of Barker & Pooch.
At first, it was hard to find people to hire. The owner had to train them himself.
The owner looks for people with energy and who can connect with dogs.
One of the coaches, Leo Lee, used to train humans. Now he loves seeing dogs progress.
Another coach, Megan Lau, loves her job. She has lots of energy and loves working with dogs.
The coaches share tips on how to keep your dog fit.
Barker & Pooch has many clients, from show dogs to old service dogs.
Each dog is different and needs a unique approach.
The coaches have noticed differences between male and female dogs.
Female dogs can be more reserved, while male dogs are often more friendly.
Different breeds have distinct personalities.
Some breeds, like Shiba Inus, can be trickier to train than others.
One client, Bobby Tonelli, brings his Rottweiler to the gym. He believes Rottweilers need to be challenged.
The gym gives his dog different drills to keep her engaged.
Tonelli says the gym is like having a personal trainer for his dog.
His dog loves going to the gym and gets excited every week.
The owner believes that a dog's quality of life is important, not just how long they live.
The goal of Barker & Pooch is to help dogs stay strong and active.
The gym wants to give dogs a longer, happier life.
Barker & Pooch is a tribute to Tyson, the Rottweiler who inspired it.
The owner didn't want to name the gym after his dog, because it might scare people off.
The gym is for all dogs, not just a particular type.