“The beautiful thing about swimming-even with an older dog who has muscle loss-is they can exercise in a completely non-weight-bearing environment.” “When dogs are not moving, they can lose pretty profound muscle within six or seven weeks,” says Lee Deaton of Natural Healing Whole Dog Wellness in West Chicago, Illinois.
For instance, when the pavement in the wintertime is lined with ice or salt, a dog who is used to working, or running alongside his owner, can stay in shape thanks to water exercise.Īnother common reason why dogs are brought in for aquatic therapy is to help them recover following surgery (for something like an ACL tear), or to help arthritic dogs work their joints, maintain muscle mass, and move around comfortably all while minimizing discomfort.
When it comes to fitness, strength, and conditioning, aquatic therapy is an exercise that can be done year-round for dogs as young as a year old. It is a great tool to help your dog stay in optimal shape.” “From a preventative perspective, hydrotherapy is good for fitness, body condition, and a great source of aerobic exercise that is low impact on the bones and joints. Jonathan Block, DVM, of Water4Dogs Canine Rehabilitation Center in New York. “Water therapy is beneficial in a variety of different areas,” explains Dr. There are a few reasons why a pet parent may consider taking their dog to an aquatic therapy facility, be it of their own volition, or under the recommendation of their veterinarian. Whether you want to keep your working dog in shape, ease your pup’s arthritic pain, or get him back on his feet after surgery, getting your dog in the water may be just the thing he needs. And it turns out our canine companions may also reap rewards from time spent in the water. K.J.Swimming provides humans with plenty of benefits, from cooling off on a hot summer day to staying in shape. “A Dog’s Purpose,” stars Dennis Quaid, Britt Robertson and Josh Gad. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said in a tweet after news of the video broke that they want to “send the message that dogs & other animals should be treated humanely, not as props.” It’s unclear whether or not the final scene was scripted, but TMZ reports that director Lasse Hallström was on set at the time, and at least one crew member was “extremely disturbed” after seeing what happened to the German shepherd. The German shepherd finally slips under the surface after running into the wall of the pool, and someone off camera can be heard yelling, “Cut it,” as trainers rush over. The second scene shows the dog struggling to keep its head up as the swirling water carries it across the pool. Sources told TMZ that eight outboard motors were used to create the churning water.Īnother man, who doesn’t appear on camera, can be heard saying, “He ain’t gonna calm down until he goes in the water … you just gotta throw him in.” The footage shows stunt dog Hercules struggling to stay out of the swirling, frothy water as a trainer forces him in. The decision comes as animal lovers call for a boycott of the movie after TMZ published disturbing, leaked video the site says was taken on the set of “A Dog’s Purpose” in 2015. We continue to support this film, are proud of it and will release it for audiences nationwide next Friday.”
While we are all disheartened by the appearance of an animal in distress, everyone has assured us that Hercules the German Shepherd was not harmed throughout the filmmaking. “Since the emergence of the footage, Amblin has engaged with many associated with the production of the film, including safety personnel, trainers and stunt coordinators as part of their in-depth review. The wide release into theaters is still scheduled for the 27th of January. Amblin and Universal do not want anything to overshadow this film that celebrates the relationship between humans and animals.”
“Because Amblin’s review into the edited video released yesterday is still ongoing, distributor Universal Pictures has decided it is in the best interest of A Dog’s Purpose to cancel this weekend’s premiere and press junket. LOS ANGELES – This weekend’s Los Angeles premiere of “A Dog’s Purpose” has been canceled after leaked video prompted an investigation into the treatment of animals during the movie’s filming, according to a statement obtained by the Hollywood Reporter Thursday.