15-Year-Old Golden Retriever is Winning Hearts With His Unusual Pilates Routine
Image Credit: Washington Post / Facebook.
As dogs age, they can experience a number of issues similar to what humans do. From graying fur to limited mobility, senior dogs can face a range of challenges. But one dog mom seems to have found a creative solution for her pooch.
Jillian Loustaunau is using Pilates-inspired exercises to help her 15-year-old golden retriever, Weasel. According to the Washington Post, Loustaunau began bringing her dog to her studio, where he performs some of the same moves she teaches her human clients.
People cheered Weasel on in the comments, with some praising his efforts and others sharing tips for helping their senior dogs, like one person who says she does something similar for her dog with objects you can find around the house, making it easy for those who don't have access to a Pilates studio.
Meanwhile, the outlet says that Weasel has been transformed and continues to make additional progress each day. It looks like this Pilates instructor may have unlocked a new way to keep her dog feeling like himself. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?
Weasel Gets His Workouts in Each Week
It looks like Weasel has a weekly appointment at Loustaunau's studio, where he uses different machines and moves to help with the mobility in his hind legs. According to the outlet, he uses the reformer, the Cadillac, Chair CoreAlign, and the ladder barrel when he comes in, with treats and plenty of encouragement to coax him onto the equipment.
"Weasel has been a Pilates prince and continues to make weekly progress," the caption on the post says.
Commenters Cheered Weasel on
Dog lovers jumped at the chance to give Weasel words of encouragement, with some finding humor in the situation. "I've never understood the point of Pilates, but this might have sold me on it," one person wrote.
"I know it's a serious issue, but I laughed in joy," one person wrote in part, excited over the fact that the dog was actively working to improve his situation.
Another commenter suggested an alternative for people who can't take their senior dogs to a studio. "Penn Vet Working Dog Center has a tried and true fitness routine for working dogs, but any dog can do it. And you only need things like cinderblocks and stairs, not Pilates equipment," they wrote.
Pilates-Inspired Workouts for Dogs Aren't New
Weasel's story may be going viral, but he's hardly the first dog to incorporate Pilates moves into their workout routine. According to Rover.com, there are canine-specific fitness products that resemble Pilates equipment, allowing dogs to take advantage of the mobility benefits from these types of workouts.
And senior pups aren't the only ones benefiting. According to Rover.com, these exercises may also be used in injury rehabilitation under professional guidance. Hopefully, Weasel's story inspires other pet parents to explore safe ways to keep their senior dogs active
Source: Nature
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