Gym Dogs | Mark Rippetoe

by Mark Rippetoe | October 28, 2024

I
think most privately-owned gyms in the US (and probably abroad) have
a dog hanging around in the gym. I think that people who train are
fond of dogs, and I think that people who train other people
especially like dogs, so it’s no surprise to me that many of our
Starting Strength Gyms have a dog or two on the payroll. But that’s
just me thinking, and I could be wrong. Tell me about it in the
comments.

Dogs
have been associating with people for a long time, about 15,000
years, and it seems unreasonable to leave them at home while we
train. People bring their dogs with them to my gym, and my pretty
little black puppy comes with me to work every day. Her name is
Phoebe, and everybody loves her here, especially the kids. (I
personally prefer her to the kids, because it’s easier to explain
things to her.) We have 5 dogs that are here at various times during
the day, with occasional visiting dogs.

Once they learn to stay out
from underfoot, dogs are useful in the gym. They give you someone to
talk to between sets, who isn’t constantly harping on your squat
depth. They make you feel good when you pat them on the head. They
keep the rats and mice under control (especially important in New
York City), and they can let you know when someone new comes in.

The
only downside is the occasional teetee/doodoo accident, but everybody
is fairly tolerant and understanding. Gyms that welcome dogs have the
materials necessary to deal with this, and the dog’s owner is
obviously responsible for the cleanup. Most dogs seem to learn very
quickly that the gym is not a good place to “void” and will
either hold it or ask to go outside.

We
have a Dog Toy Box full of bones, antlers, tennis balls, odd-shaped
rubber objects, and store-bought toys that all the dogs drag out all
over the gym and never put back. But the little assholes have a lot
of fun with them, so I guess it’s okay. Stepping on them in the dark
is sometimes a problem, and we really shouldn’t leave them all over
the place, but it gives the gym a nice lived-in look.

Dog
hair can be a problem for gyms that aren’t regularly cleaned. But
gyms should be regularly cleaned, just like everything else. A little
dog hair doesn’t hurt anything, and I’ll bet you tolerate other
things being dirty that aren’t near as cool as having your gym dog
around.

You
keep a little bowl of dog food and a little bowl of water on the
floor in a corner, so your buddy can have a bite and get a drink when
necessary. Everybody is happy this way – your dog gets to stay with
you and visit his peoples, the members get to learn about dogs (if
they don’t already know), and tension is reduced.

Notice
how there aren’t many Gym Cats?

Discuss in Forums