Westwood Gym Caters to Fitness Hounds

On a trendy stretch of Santa Monica Boulevard, Eron hops out of a black Jaguar, runs across the parking lot and enthusiastically enters the gym.

Strong, lean and confident, he fairly ignores Chayla, an aspiring actress begging her personal trainer for another round on the treadmill.

Eron--a German shepherd--is the epitome of fitness chic as he dives into the lap pool.

At The Total Dog Inc., Eron and about 25 other “clients” pound their peds on a treadmill, swim laps in the pool and navigate an outdoor agility course.

Their owners swear by it.

“I think animals probably get that exercise high more than people,” says Esther Solomon, Eron’s owner.

The athletic center, one of the first of its kind, opened in September and boasts physical therapists to massage achy muscles, personal trainers who develop workout and weight-reduction programs, a certified chiropractic staff and even acupuncture.

While the dogs work up a drool, owners can sweat right along with them on a stair climber or exercise bike.

Although some may howl at the prospect, owner Annie Wald says her new business is a serious way to keep young dogs healthy and to rehabilitate the old and injured.

“We truly are committed to the total health of dogs,” she says.

But it’s not a place for the vain or lazy pet owner.

“We’re not a kennel,” Wald says. Staffers encourage owners to work with their dogs during each session--generally 20 to 30 minutes--and any dog coming in for rehabilitation needs a veterinarian’s recommendation.

Solomon brought in Eron, 10, to halt muscle atrophy in his hind legs.

The German shepherd has been working out twice a week for a little more than a month.

“The veterinarian noticed he had put on four pounds, and most of that was muscle mass,” said Solomon’s husband, Theodore.

The Solomons have seen a difference in Eron’s gait and say he has less trouble getting up after lying on the floor.

The lap pool is equipped with an overhead track and cable system that attaches to a flotation vest worn by the dog. It’s a low-impact workout for Eron.

Esther Solomon runs around the perimeter with a tennis ball in hand.

“Come on, come on, that’s a boy,” she coaxes.

When they finish--he’s worked up to about 14 laps--Eron is lavished with praise, patted down with towels and blown dry.

His owner, looking a bit soggy and winded, isn’t quite as pampered.

“It’s definitely not an image thing,” she says, dabbing at water spots on her shirt.

Total canine fitness isn’t cheap. Most exercise sessions run between $12 and $20 each. Wald recommends at least two session a week. Therapy--massage, chiropractic or acupuncture--ranges from $32 to $200 per session.

Chayla, the aspiring actress, comes to Total Dog with companions Chadwick and Chelsea, courtesy of owner Caryl Wolff.

While 1-year-old Chayla comes to use the treadmill, socialize and have obedience lessons, Chelsea, 13, gets acupuncture to relieve stress and Chadwick, 9, needs chiropractic care. “Actually, I think it’s a work-related injury,” Wolff says.

Staff chiropractor Anita D. Sant’Angelo says animals are excellent candidates for alternative health care.

“We’re getting really good results with the combination of treatment,” she says. “They don’t have any of the mental blocks against it that people often do.”

Independent veterinarians also see merit in Total Dog’s approach.

Jeff Werber, a veterinarian with the Century Veterinary Group, says, “There are certain limitations, but I think the concept is very important.” But he warns owners to consult their dog’s regular vet before they begin any type of rehabilitation.

“If they do the wrong thing, it can do more damage,” he says.

As far as canine workouts, he says some exercise is better than none--even if the traditional walk in the park becomes a treadmill run in the gym.

“The idea of having exercise is essential to good health in the bigger picture,” Werber says.