BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – A lot of dog owners know how busy a man’s best friend can keep them. They need exercise and attention, and for a lot of people, that means heading outside. But if the weather is nearing the negatives, that’s not really an option.
Elevate Canine Academy’s new addition isn’t your typical gym. Instead of bench presses or treadmills, there are stairs and tunnels, and the gym goers are a little fuzzier than normal.
“We were trying to figure out what we could do because people would ask in the wintertime, ‘What can we do in the winter-time?’ So, that’s where the idea for this came,” said owner Kyle Baltrusch.
He said the gym opened about a week and a half ago and is attached to the training academy. He said it’s a space where owners can help their furry friends get all of their pent-up energy out. That might mean running through an obstacle course or taking a swim in the pool. Trainers at the Academy have used the new space nearly every day since it’s opened. Trainer Kristina Lawson said the indoor space solves a few problems.
“It’s really good to come in and get out of the cold weather. You don’t have to worry about frozen paws or anything or ice melt on the feet,” Lawson said.
She said the indoor pool has been especially helpful for her corgi.
“My corgi actually slipped on the ice and hurt her paw, so this is a great alternative to that. You don’t have to worry about that,” Lawson said.
If your dog isn’t really a swimmer or just isn’t feeling it, a good old game of fetch can work just as well.
Much like a normal gym, Baltrusch said pet owners can get a membership to come whenever or pay to book the space as needed during the Academy’s business hours.
A half-hour in the gym costs $30. A full hour is $50, and there are additional costs for multiple dogs. Baltrusch said owners are welcome to share that private gym booking with a friend and their dog, and there are no restrictions on allowed breeds.
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