Dogs in Pilates classes

[NightCzar]

I go to reformer Pilates about 3 times a week. It's a small studio with only 10 reformer beds so I seem the same faces regularly and know all the instructors on a nod and say hi type basis.

There's one participant who has always brought her dog to the class. She walks her on the way there, I guess. The dog just sleeps in a corner, near the door, about 5 metres from the class.

However more and more people are starting to bring their dogs. On Mondays class, the instructor had two poodles (also near the door), and two participants had dogs next to their reformers, one at each end of the room (which is about 10 metres x 10 metres)

They're not really bothering me, I suppose. I'm a bit allergic but if I don't stroke them then I don't sneeze (whereas I couldn't be in the same room as a cat). But I just find it really annoying. All the instructors seem to love them and one was taking selfies with an enormous bull mastiff the other day.

I've got a great, cheap membership because I signed up when the studio opened. Loads of the instructors are excellent, so I don't want to go elsewhere. Should I say something and risk bad feeling?

[thenightsky]

That's weird. I cannot imagine a dog being okay in my pilates class.

[thenightsky]

We have just broken up for the Easter break, but I'll ask my instructor when we get back. I suspect she'll think I'm joking.

[QueenArseClangers]

I much prefer ferrets at yoga personally.

[DonaldStott]

As long as they're doing the downward dog

Seriously though, this would do my head in.

Everyone with pets assume that everyone else loves their pets as much as they do. This is simply not true.

There must be some kind of policy regarding this

[123rd]

Why can't they be left outside? V odd. It would Defo put me off going to that class. & I don't mind dogs

[Chippednailvarnishing]

Bring a turd with you, drop it on the floor and blame a dog

[Rainatnight]

Definitely weird. Unless it's advertised as some sort of 'doggy pilates' class, like mother and baby yoga. I think you're perfectly entitled to raise it with the instructor.

[MiniAlphaBravo]

Someone had a very small dog in a
Yoga class with me once and he peed right next to my mat. They cleaned it up but it wasn't very nice. I don't think they should be allowed in personally.

[bigtapdancingpimp]

Bollocks to that. I love pilates and I love dogs but no way!

What's next, can I bring my cat to power yoga? grumpycat says no

[NightCzar]

Thanks for the responses. I'm glad you think it's odd and I'm not being curmudgeonly. None of them have ever pooed or weed and they are almost always completely silent (except when a dog comes in with its owner for the next class and then they bark in greeting).

I suppose they can't be outside because it's on a main road.

It's definitely not advertised as bringing a dog. But because people do, others think they can. It's tacitly encouraged by the instructors being so dog friendly.

Ok. I'll email the owners.

[KoalaDownUnder]

Yeah, I love my dog to bits, but she's not coming to my fitness class.

Weird.

[ToesInWater]

That is really bizarre - there has been the odd child old enough to read/play on iPad for the length of the class at our studio - but never a dog! I'm pretty sure dog related incidents wouldn't be covered by the studio's insurance

[NightCzar]

I've emailed the owners and asked if perhaps they could have only some pooch dedicated classes where dogs might be present, so that I could choose to avoid them.

They have allowed me to bring a child with an iPad in the distant past, but it was an "emergency" I need to exercise and her school holiday activity fell through situation. I only brought her once and she didn't make a sound, poo, wee or cause anyone to sneeze.

[monkeysox]

Wtf. Why would they take pets. I am allergic and this would make me leave.

[Mummyoflittledragon]

I love dogs. But this is totally inappropriate.

[Falafelings]

Weird thing to bring to a yoga class. I can understand bringing a kid in an emergency. But a dog?

[Babymamamama]

I wouldn't like that at all.

[murphys]

I am just trying to picture if I had taken my Lab puppy to class with me.... There wouldn't be a ball without a hole in it that is for certain....

I do pilates, but I have no clue what a reformer bed is?

Really not appropriate at all. You will probably find that as one person took their dog everyone else is jumping on the bandwagon for a pilates aka 'show off your dog' class.

I would have just had a word with the instructor though.

[Iamastonished]

What is a reformer bed? I do Pilates on a yoga mat.

[NightCzar]

Here's a photo. The principles of Pilates are the same (I think) but the machine gives you resistance to work against. It's brilliant.

[NightCzar]

It's a photo from google obv. Not of me (or you'd see dogs in the background)

[Sallygoroundthemoon]

How weird. I love animals but this isn't acceptable and will also invalidate the instructors and the owners insurance.

[toolonglurking]

I'd absolutely bloody LOVE to take my dog to Pilates! I don't imagine for a second she'd be as well behaved as the dogs you are describing though.
I think if you don't like the way they operate you can go elsewhere. Everyone else there seems happy with the set up, they are clearly unusual, so it wouldn't be hard at all for you to find another Pilates studio that doesn't let dogs in.
Don't be such a fun sponge!

[Iamastonished]

"Don't be such a fun sponge!"

That's a bit harsh. Not everyone loves dogs as much as you do.

[toolonglurking]

My apologies "iamastonished", that was meant slightly tongue in cheek, but I stand by my main point - there are thousands of Pilates studios and this is the first one I've ever heard of allowing dogs, so imo it would be nice to let this crowd carry on happy as they are and have the person with a problem with it go elsewhere.