Frequently leading the way when it comes to pet-related innovations, the SF Bay Area’s done it again. The recent opening of The Rex Center, a canine aquatic fitness facility, means Bay Area pooches have another new and exciting array of pampering services at their paws.
Located in Pacifica, The Rex Center offers a spa-like menu of holistic services including canine massage, acupressure, Reiki, nutrition counseling, aromatherapy, training, and aquatic fitness sessions in a heated indoor pool. Swimming is excellent exercise for dogs and because it’s a non-impact sport, is easy on their joints. Swimming is especially beneficial for dogs with orthopedic issues such as hip dysplasia, knee problems and arthritis, and dogs recovering from orthopedic injuries and/or surgery. Cathy Chen-Rennie, owner and brainchild behind The Rex Center, realized the need for a doggy swim facility after her 11-month old dog had surgery for hip dysplasia and she was researching ways to help him recover.
Swimming’s multitude of benefits has been well-documented in humans, horses and dogs. Because the resistance of water is 60 times greater than that of air, swimming is a terrific way to strengthen muscles and cardio-respiratory endurance without subjecting joints to the wear and tear resulting from walking or running. Warm water reduces pain and inflammation, relaxes muscles, increases circulation and increases range of motion.
Obese animals desperately need exercise but those extra pounds can make exercising a real physical challenge. The buoyancy of water diminishes that. In water, overweight or arthritic animals can work out safely and more comfortably than they would on land.
The Rex Center is careful to point out that it’s not staffed or operated by vets and its services aren’t medical procedures. If your dog has a medical condition or is overweight, you should consult with your vet before booking a session at The Rex Center.
Individual assisted swim sessions at The Rex Center come complete with a professional canine swim coach who helps the dog get into and out of the water and gently encourages him to swim against a generated current. During the session, the coach also does Reiki-influenced body work with the dog. (Reiki is a hands-on Japanese technique for stress reduction, relaxation and healing.) Dogs that are already swim-aholics can swim independently after one assisted session to make sure they can enter and exit the pool safely and without help.
The Rex Center is located at 1040 Palmetto Avenue in Pacifica. To learn more about their services or book an appointment for your dog, visit their website at
www.therexcenter.com.
Lisa-Anne Manolius is the multi- talented owner/trainer of Oh Behave! in San Francisco. A graduate of the S.F. SPCA's Academy for Dog Trainers and U.C. Berkeley's Boalt School of Law, she's available for dog behavior consultations, private training sessions, and to teach a variety of group classes. She can be reached at lisaohbehave@gmail.com.
About InCirclePets.com: We highlight locally-owned pet businesses, non-profits and organizations as well as pet-friendly activities. We think the Bay Area is an amazing spot in which to have an animal, yet we know that many hidden gems go unnoticed and local spots may not get the attention they deserve. We hope to fill in this gap. If you think we could be doing things better, send us an email . Click here to learn more about us.
Reader comments
Wish there was a "Rex Center" a bit further south, like in Palo Alto, Los Altos, Mountain View......
How exciting to see the Rex Center near us! We like to bite the water especially at Fort Funston rather than swim but love and approve of your work! We wish you lots of success!
@JANET -- We have quite a few people drive up from the south bay to see us - but understand that its a long way! Depending on what you're looking for, there may be places that you can take your dog:
- Water Therapy on a Water Treadmill (for arthritis, or various injury recovery) at Scout's House http://www.scoutshouse.com in Menlo Park
- Water Therapy Swimming with Connie Frank (for injury recovery) in an outdoor pool http://www.aquadogk9pt.com/ in San Jose
- Swimming for fun/exercise in a cold water pool at Pooch Hotel in Sunnyvale
Hope to get over to this pool for our dog's sake soon. Have been looking for ages for a pool. We've been taking her to a dog swim pool in Baltimore for years (pet depot in timonium). What's this about a bay area innovation?
Hi K, We stand corrected. I just saw the facility - its beautiful. You have a really great pool there - I bet it comes in handy during the winter months. . .
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