Mobile dog gym gives lifeline to pets and owners

A van that has been kitted out with dog-friendly treadmills is helping to provide an exercise outlet for pets when their owners get injured or have disabilities.

Oliver's Mobile Dog Gym, based in Leominster, Herefordshire, has specially designed exercise machines which give dogs a workout without having to go anywhere.

"I have one client who has an XL Bully - that's a banned breed, which means the dog can never be walked off the lead by his owner," said owner Oliver Targett.

"Imagine that - never being able to run".

Mr Targett said people from all over the country had inquired about the service.

Sarah Caldecott, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis two years ago, has been using it for her dog, Ottie.

"My mobility has become increasingly more difficult," she said, "and Ottie really, really needs more exercise than I can give her during the daytime."

The treadmills are non-motorised and are completely powered by the dogs, meaning they can go as fast or as slow as they want.

Mr Targett said there were many reasons people might need his services: "Busy households, single parents - when they come home from work, it could be raining, it could be dark.

"There's also urbanisation, so there's less places to exercise dogs these days. [Dogs that are] aggressive, reactive, no recall."

But he added: "This isn't the solution to exercising dogs, so all dogs need to go outside, they need to interact with nature, this is an added extra".