From Business Insider · Jane Ridley · · 2m
Dog Pilates Sparked a Business
When her senior golden retriever lost mobility, Jillian Loustaunau taught him Pilates. His recovery went viral and became a paying class.
In brief
When her senior golden retriever lost mobility, Jillian Loustaunau taught him Pilates. His recovery went viral and became a paying class. Jillian Loustaunau, 36, turned her efforts to rehabilitate her 15-year-old golden retriever Weasel with Pilates into a business called Pawlates 101, offering monthly classes to pet…
A dog who couldn't walk straight
Weasel, a 15-year-old golden retriever, suddenly lost his ability to walk in a straight line one day in May. His owner Jillian Loustaunau, 36, feared he might need carrying home.
“It was almost as if he were drunk, and I wasn't sure if I needed to carry him.”
The vet's diagnosis and plan
A surgical vet client performed a neurological test on Weasel by flipping his back paw under. He kept it that way, suggesting neurological issues. She recommended acupuncture and physiotherapy to preserve his remaining mobility.
Pilates equipment for dog rehab
Physiotherapy involved planking, turning sideways, and backward walking. Loustaunau had the idea to use Pilates equipment to help Weasel. He started on the reformer, then the Cadillac, chair, CoreAlign, and ladder barrel.
Results came almost straightaway
Weasel's stance and mobility improved dramatically. He regained his energy and spark. Friends and clients said he'd gone right back to being a puppy, reversing his decline.
The Instagram moment
Loustaunau recorded Weasel's progress for his physiotherapist and posted it on Instagram. The footage went viral. She now has twenty-nine point one K followers, many wanting to apply the techniques to their own senior dogs.
Pawlates 101 launches
Loustaunau launched Pawlates 101 and held her first Zoom class in August with forty attendees from Greece, England, and India. She charges thirty dollars for the hourlong live session demonstrating moves on Weasel.
No specialist equipment needed
Loustaunau showed owners they don't need specialist Pilates equipment. A simple bottom step works for planking. Classes attract around forty pet owners monthly and include access to pre-recorded sessions with modifications.
Changing how owners think about aging
Loustaunau believes many owners feel hopeless when their dogs age. People are conditioned to stop exercising older dogs, but she says the opposite is true. Exercise helps senior dogs maintain quality of life.
“So many owners feel hopeless when their dog gets older. We're conditioned to believe that we should stop exercising them when they reach a certain age. The opposite is true.”
Next: an app for pet owners
Loustaunau plans to develop an app to help owners choose equipment and track what their dog needs to accomplish daily. The app will also track water intake, bathroom habits, and pet food supplements.
The main idea
Jillian Loustaunau, 36, turned her efforts to rehabilitate her 15-year-old golden retriever Weasel with Pilates into a business called Pawlates 101, offering monthly classes to pet owners worldwide.
