Getting fit for Crufts

Feb 28 2008 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

AT EIGHT years old, Crufts champion Chloe needs to take her exercise regime a bit more seriously than most dogs.

With a long list of awards to her name, the Japanese akita is again looking forward to the “world’s greatest dog show” next month in Birmingham where she will seek to retain her veterans title.

And every week her owner Faye Bevis and her mother Carol, from Prenton, in Wirral, take Chloe to Glenbrittle Kennels, in Burton, to exercise in their hydrotherapy pool.

With handler Amy Rimmer, Chloe takes to the water somewhat dubiously, but once in paddles away, helping to get on top form for the next dog show.

According to Faye Bevis, Chloe took some time to get used to the pool, which measures 8ft by 16ft.

The water is heated to a generous 29°C and the pool is a rarity in being so large.

Faye said: “We started to bring her to the hydrotherapy pool because as she gets older it’s harder to gain muscle tone and keep her fit.

“We thought this would be the best way, and the easiest way to do this – and being in the water is non-weight bearing, so it’s less of an injury risk.

“She didn’t enjoy it much at first but now she gets in first time and she goes outside and has a treat after she’s finished, so she knows that she will get a treat and she likes it.”

In 1991, Carol Bevis and her family, who have been breeding and showing akita dogs for many years, had the breed's first British champion, and in 1994 Chloe's “uncle” Duke also made it into the Pup of the Year finals.

Amy Rimmer, who dons a wet suit and helps the dogs in the water, says the pool, which costs £15 for a half-hour session and is open three days a week, is proving popular with dog owners from west Wirral and beyond – and Chloe the akita is one of the best behaved.

She said: “We get all kinds of dogs; older dogs who can’t walk as much but need exercise, and we even have greyhound kennels that bring dogs.

“It’s also useful for dogs which have had operations and are not allowed to walk.”

Amy said the hydrotherapy is also being researched by vets from nearby animal hospital Leahurst to assess its effectiveness.

She said: “In humans, it’s already recognised as being beneficial, and this is just proving it can be for dogs, too.”

liammurphy