6 Dog-Friendly Gyms
Going to the gym is an everyday event, like brushing your teeth, PPI calls or missing your bus and arriving into work late. And who wouldn’t want to share those things with their dog? Maybe using a different toothbrush. Dogs are increasingly acceptable pretty much everywhere, dog-friendly restaurants are a thing now, people fly with their pets, take them to bed, dogs are getting everywhere. So why not the gym? That’s exactly what we thought, so here are some dog-friendly options when it comes to gymming.
Dog Box Fitness
This Balham gym launched last year with the aim of ‘connecting fitness, music and dogs’. Given they’re three of our favourite things, what could be better? The trendy gym is the ideal place to head to get fit along with your hound with a combination of spin classes, boxing and yoga, then enjoy coffee after at the highly doggable cafe. A Company Friend of Battersea Dogs Home, the gym also raises funds for the cause, so what’s not to bark about?
Where: 23 Harberson Road, Balham, SW12 9QX
Website: www.doghousefitness.london

Barking Fit
Dogs love the outdoors, and so do we. Work out in Battersea park with Barking Fit, the morning exercise class for both you and your dog pal. The class starts off with a dynamic stretch before progressing on to some High Intensity Training, upper body work, abs and gluts before finishing with a cool down stretch. And what about the canines? They’re included as the training combines a dog walk with the mobile exercise class, which is ideal for personal trainer Georgina and her ShihTzu, ‘Yum Yum’.
Website: www.barkingfitclass.com

DOGA (ie Dog Yoga)
So you know downward dog? DOGA, or dog yoga, is 90 minutes of yoga during which you can bond with your dog through various Doga poses, yoga meditation and breathing as you find the interconnections between you and your four-legged friend. ‘Discovered’ by yoga expert Mahny Djahanguiri and her dog Robbie, DOGA’s been such a hit that she’s been featured on BBC and CBS News, the Jimmy Kimmel Show and even The Alan Titchmarsh Show. You don’t even need a dog to attend!
Where: The Courtyard Theatre, Bowling Green Walk, 40 Pitfield Street, Islington, N1 6EU
Website: www.dogamahny.com

Soma House
Obree is king of all he surveys over in Spitalfields. SOMA House is his domain, but other dogs are welcome to come, along with owners set on hot yoga, cycling or barre. The classes are all dog-friendly, provided your dog is friendly back, and many of the instructors bring their dogs along too.
Where: 8 Horner Square, Spitalfields, E1 6EW
Website: www.soma.house

Fetch Fitness
Fancy some Mixed Martial Arts with your mutt? Fetch Fitness run exercise classes that ensure that you get a full workout while your pet has a great time doing more socialising than you’ll have time for as you engage in exercise classes that build your cardio fitnesss and challenge your strength.
Where: Parliament Hill Fields, Hampstead, NW5 1QR
Website: www.fetch.fitness

Work Out Like A Dog
This one’s a curveball even by dog-friendly gym standards. Not only is Work Out Like A Dog by Blue Cross good for taking your dog to, it’s a chance to work out exactly like your actual dog. As in ‘fetch!’. The 45 minute aerobic and conditioning workout features workouts adapted from dogs’ favourite exercises. Fitness instructor Born Barikor has developed the routines, which combine full-body strength training with high intensity cardio bursts all modelled on dog movement and exercises.
Where: Various locations across London
Website: www.bluecross.org.uk