Motion control weighted canine fitness garment

Abstract

A pet vest adapted to safely secure weights to a pet to improve the health benefits of exercise and a method for using same.

1 . A compression garment for dogs, comprising:
 a compression vest including body hugging material having compressive properties, the compression vest having an inner side facing toward the doe when the compression garment is worn by the dog, and an outer side facing away from the dog when the compression garment is worn by the dog; and   a compartment, wherein said compartment is integrated with said body hugging material, the compartment being accessible only from the inner side of the compression vest; and   wherein said compartment is strategically located to minimize any adverse impact to a wearer of said garment; and   wherein the body hugging material with compressive properties tends to hold the compartment snugly against the dog even when the compartment contains objects added thereto.   
     
     
         2 . The garment of  claim 1 , farther comprising:
 a cutout wherein said cutout is large enough to surround the dog's leg.   
     
     
         3 . The garment of  claim 1 , further comprising reflective piping. 
     
     
         4 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein a thermal agent is placed in said compartment. 
     
     
         5 . The garment of  claim 4  wherein said thermal agent has a temperature below ambient. 
     
     
         6 . The garment of  claim 4  wherein said thermal agent has a temperature above the normal body temperature of the dog. 
     
     
         7 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein a body conforming weight material is placed in said compartment. 
     
     
         8 . The garment of  claim 7 , wherein said weight material is removable from said weight compartment without damaging said garment. 
     
     
         9 . The garment of  claim 8 , wherein application of said weight material enhances blood flow. 
     
     
         10 . The garment of  claim 8 , wherein application of said weight material decreases blood flow. 
     
     
         11 . The garment of  claim 7 , wherein said weight material is steel shot. 
     
     
         12 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein said body hugging material has multi-directional stretching properties. 
     
     
         13 . The garment of  claim 1  additionally comprising panels lacking multi-directional stretching properties. 
     
     
         14 . A pet fitness garment comprising:
 a compartment, said compartment having a closeable opening wherein body conforming material may be inserted or removed through said opening;   said compartment being positioned on said garment to increase the therapeutic benefit from use of said garment while decreasing the therapeutic detriment associated with use of said garment; and   said garment having multi-directional compressive properties that snuggly conforms to a pet's body to secure said material in said position as said pet moves.   
     
     
         15 . The pet fitness garment of  claim 14  wherein said body conforming material is a thermal agent. 
     
     
         16 . The pet fitness garment of  claim 14  wherein said body conforming material comprises sufficient weight to provide a therapeutic benefit to a user. 
     
     
         17 - 21 . (canceled)