One happy puppy! Photo by melissambwilkins

For many of us who are dog owners, there is no question about the motivation a dog can provide to get you out of your seat and out for a run. They need exercise just as much as we do. But what if you’re really not a runner, never were, and never plan to be? But your dog is, or easily could be. I was discussing this exact scenario with a girlfriend of mine who is queen of the elliptical machine at her gym and a proud new puppy owner.

As a dog owner, she is well aware of the dog’s need for exercise and walks him regularly, but the walks don’t do for her what her regular gym routine used to do. It’s been weeks since she’s been in the air conditioned gym, bobbing along to her iPod, and sweating it out on the elliptical. While she wouldn’t trade her new pup for the world, something about dog walks that involve lots of stops for training and ‘doing business’ just isn’t cutting it for her own exercise.

What to do?

Photo by elegantwreck.

If you’ve ever watched “The Dog Whisperer” you know that Caesar is not afraid to leash a dog to a treadmill to help let out energy as well as help rehabilitate dog’s muscles and deal with overweight dogs. And if your gym is like mine, there are childcare options for parents so they can get their work-out in while their child plays under the supervision of the gym’s staff. My friend came up with the idea of combining the two. How about a gym with an integrated dog gym facility? She’d be more than happy to pay a little extra so her dog can be on the treadmill while she speeds up her own tempo on the elliptical.

There are dozens of dog gyms across the country, but none that seem to be integrated with gyms for humans. With pet-friendly hotels, airlines, restaurants, and stores abounding, surely gyms must be next up for finding a way to let in man’s best friend.