When 29-year-old Jiang Yue noticed her corgi (柯基犬), Liulian, was overweight, she took him to a pet gym in Shanghai offered not only swimming, but also treadmill (跑步机) workouts. What began out of (curious) soon became necessary for her dog's health.
Her corgi now goes to the gym twice a month, and, in addition, runs outdoors and swims three times a month. She has noticed the difference: The dog is (slim) than before by exercising and has (basic) keep a healthy weight. Once the weather cools down, she plans (add) more outdoor exercise to complement the indoor workouts.
Jiang is among growing number of Chinese pet owners bringing their animals to fitness centers. On social media, pet fitness (become) a trending topic in recent years. For example, a search for "pet fitness" on the lifestyle-sharing platform brings up posts of owners doing yoga with their pets, checking in at gyms designed for pets, or (go) outdoors with their pets for long walks and other workouts.
Pet fitness is meeting the growing demand as owners focus more their pets' health and strength. "It offers an alternative to (tradition) activities, adds variety, and strengthens the bond between pets and their owners," Wang Peng, an associate research fellow at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, told the social media.
