Rio opens dog training in public parks

Rio’s city hall has launched a program aimed at dog owners offering veterinary services and dog agility training parks to enhance canine health and well-being. The 4 parks, overlooked by the Municipal Secretary of Animal Protection and Defense, are the first public parks for dogs in the country.

In the first two months, more than 250 dog owners applied for the agility classes on all parks. “The idea of the project, besides expanding dog agility and introducing it to everyone, is to bring the dogs to do sports.

Because nowadays many dogs are inactive, not only the dogs but the duo (dog and owner) is inactive, ” said, one of the project’s dog trainers. The “dog gyms” are becoming popular in working class neighborhoods like Madureira and Bangu, where many owners can’t pay for specialized dog training.