This gym in Singapore gives dogs a good workout

Mission: Extending Dogs' Active Lives [0:00]

• The core mission is to give dogs a longer active life through exercise science, focusing on health span.
• Programs begin with pre-exercise questions about the dog's recovery and energy levels to tailor the session.

  "So that's really about their health span as opposed to their lifespan."

The Gym and Pool Facilities [0:26]

• The gym features treadmills, some electric and others human-powered, with inclines to engage hind legs.
• The pool uses cooler water to prevent dogs from overheating too quickly.
• Various programs target cardiovascular fitness, explosiveness, and overall strength.

  "So the longest time I've spent in the pool is 12 hours. I think I work out more than the dogs in the pool."

Addressing Environmental Challenges [1:32]

• The founder, originally from Northern Ireland, notes temperature and space limitations in Singapore.
• Dogs in hot climates fatigue from heat before muscle fatigue.
• The facility's design, including a cool pool and air-conditioned gym, compensates for these limitations.

  "Temperature is a problem in Singapore. Dogs, they tend to reach heat fatigue long before they'd ever reach muscle fatigue."

Optimizing Canine Fitness [2:15]

• Treadmills were specifically chosen to help compensate for the flat terrain dogs encounter.
• The equipment and programs are designed to optimize canine fitness, building strength and muscle even with weekly sessions.
• The goal is to enhance physical conditioning, making dogs more resilient.

  "So what we've tried to do with the equipment we have and the programs is to optimize that."

From Hydrotherapy to Proactive Training [2:55]

• Initially, the facility was mistaken for offering hydrotherapy, but the founder's goal was preventative.
• The aim is to prevent dogs from needing physiotherapy by promoting an active lifestyle and beneficial exercise.
• This proactive approach was promoted dog by dog.

  "I was hoping to prevent dogs needing physiotherapy. And so we really had to promote this idea of an active lifestyle for dogs, of exercise being beneficial."

Tyson's Legacy and Resilience [3:35]

• The founder shares the story of Tyson, a Rottweiler who lost a hind leg to bone cancer.
• Tyson's ability to walk the day after amputation was attributed to years of prior physical conditioning.
• This highlights how prior conditioning impacts a dog's resilience and recovery.

  "And how resilient they are depends a large extent on the kind of physical conditioning they had when they're younger."

Confidence and Joy in Exercise [4:15]

• Stronger dogs often exhibit increased confidence, which seems to positively affect their mental state.
• There's a natural joy dogs experience when exercising.
• Praha, a seven-year-old Rottweiler, attends weekly sessions and looks forward to her "swimming day."

  "And there's a natural joy in dogs when they exercise."

Personalized Progress and Outcomes [5:00]

• Regular clients like Rumi and Yogi push themselves hard, building resistance and improving muscle and heart health.
• These sessions leave them tired but happy, embodying the "tired puppy is a happy puppy" adage.
• RG, who had issues walking upstairs, gained confidence and ease in climbing stairs after swimming.

  "So I think, as they say, a tired puppy is a happy puppy."