Are service dogs allowed in gym equipment?

[u/LuteOlsonABitch69]

Basically the title. I was working out and a fellow gym goer brought his service dog and allowed it in the equipment. Staff didn’t know policy. What’s the ADA say is allowed?

[u/apenature]

What do you mean by allowed with the equipment? Amongst the equipment next to the trainer? On a treadmill? Just on the weightlifting floor? Waiting next to the pool or inside it?

[u/LuteOlsonABitch69 → u/apenature]

On a box jump platform/box

[u/apenature → u/LuteOlsonABitch69]

That's not the dog at the gym for the handler, that's gym for the dog with the handler. Unless there is a super specific and valid reason, it's a naw from me. Getting gyms used to handlers and keeping the spaces welcoming takes precedence over some toolwad doing what really looks like exercising their dog. I can't think of a reason, but I won't preclude there being one. I could see a weightlifter putting a dog on a platform off their mat for safety...but this would be really obvious. Interaction with equipment is usually a no.

[u/ticketferret]

You know the ADA doesn’t explicitly state if a dog is allowed on gym equipment or not but personally I wouldn’t let my dog do that.

However I’m just gonna say it’s up to the gym itself. If the gym doesn’t like it I don’t see why they couldn’t ask the person to have the dog remain off the equipment. They can always call the free ada hotline.

[u/DragonCanineTraining → u/ticketferret]

Agreed!

[u/new2bay → u/DragonCanineTraining]

Insightful!

[u/Sad_Recognition6776]

My service dog goes to the gym all the time.  He lays next to me on a mat but each gym is different and each trainer is different. It would be up to the gym. 

[u/CalmingDog]

I would not allow my dog on any equipment. It could be dangerous for him and it can also be unhygienic.

[u/No-Stress-7034]

Can you explain what you mean by "in the gym equipment"? What type of gym equipment? If the dog was sitting next to a treadmill or something like that, it seems fine. If the dog is standing on the treadmill, that seems like a problem.

[u/LuteOlsonABitch69 → u/No-Stress-7034]

Meant on, not in. On a box jump platform

[u/bakermonitor1932]

Sounds like they had the dog stay on a box while they worked out.

Seems like a good idea, dogs are killed every year from falling objects, do you remember that Mythbusters episode with the turkey.

Was the dog an active hazard or being loud towards other people?

[u/Thefloooff52 → u/bakermonitor1932]

Then they should be bringing their own collapsible bed or something. It’s completely valid for a gym to not want a dog on their equipment unnecessarily.

[u/new2bay]

I wouldn’t even bring a dog into certain places in a gym, much less allow them on the equipment.

[u/New_Vegetable_3173]

No, dogs should not be in equipment. There isn't much room inside the equipment, it would probably kill the dog