Introduction
Selected dog treadmills
Using a dog treadmill
Dog treadmill FAQ
Dog Treadmills – Introduction
A dog treadmill can be a great tool to exercise your dog, especially if your circumstances don’t allow you to partake in strenuous physical activity due to lack of time or a disability. A dog treadmill can’t replace a good long walk and run at the park for your dog, but it can help to keep your dog in great physical shape. It can also come in useful when the weather doesn’t allow you to exercise your dog outside.
There are many different kinds of dog treadmills out on the market today – electrical and manual, heavy duty and lightweight. Treadmills come in all shapes and sizes and many dog treadmill manufacturers create different-sized versions of their treadmills for different-sized dogs.
Selected Dog Treadmills
Here at 1 Fit Mutt we’ve scoured the web for the best available dog treadmills, looking at feedback, reviews, any problems, pricing, and anything else I could think of. I’ve compiled what in my opinion are the best dog treadmills to choose from.
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GoPet Dog Treadmill |
Using a dog treadmill
Using a dog treadmill is pretty straightforward. Some dogs hop onto treadmills on their own and others may need a bit of prompting.
Training your dog to use a dog treadmill
If your dog is quite wary of your new treadmill, check out some of the training tips below.
No dog is exactly alike and a training method that works for one dog may not work for the next, but here are some basic steps you can take to train your dog to run on a dog treadmill:
Make your dog like the treadmill
Allow your dog to sniff and familiarise itself with the treadmill. Associate the treadmill with good things. Play around the treadmill, praise and treat your dog when it touches or sniffs the treadmill. Soon your dog will learn that the treadmill is good and like being around it.
Walk your dog onto the treadmill
When your dog is completely comfortable around the treadmill, encourage it to step onto it. If your dog knows the “Up” or “on” command, you can use that. Otherwise you can lure your dog onto the treadmill with a treat or toy (or verbal encouragement) or guide it on a leash attached to a harness (don’t use a collar for safety purposes when exercising your dog on a treadmill – use a body harness). You could try starting a game of fetch with your dog and tossing the ball onto the treadmill for your dog to get. Your dog may then need to step onto the treadmill to retrieve the toy. Remember that this must be a good experience for your dog – your dog must always like the treadmill!
If you bought an electric dog treadmill…
…start out on the slowest speed setting. Let your dog get used to the ground suddenly moving under its paws! Gradually increase the speed as your dog gets more comfortable. If becomes spooked, decrease the speed a notch until it calms down. Praise your dog when it’s acting calm and walking on the dog treadmill properly.
If you bought a manual dog treadmill…
Encourage your dog to start walking. Try standing in front of the treadmill and calling your dog to you. As it starts walking forward and the treadmill starts moving, praise your dog. Let it know that it’s doing well. If your dog gets confused and hops off to get to you, calmly guide it back. Reward your dog each time it makes the treadmill move by taking steps.
Supervise your dog
Never leave your dog alone on a dog treadmill.
FAQ
How long should my dog run on the treadmill?
Start out with 1 or 2 minute sessions, then gradually build up to five, ten, and fifteen minutes. Your dog should be able to run on a dog treadmill at a brisk pace for 15-20 minutes per day. Technically your dog probably could physically run for longer periods, but when coupled with other types of light exercise and the proper speed setting for your dog, more than 20 minutes should not be required. Remember to get your dog to warm up and cool down before and after its treadmill session.
Can I use the treadmill as the sole form of exercise for my dog?
You can use the dog treadmill as the most intense exercise for your dog, but it’s important to keep taking your dog for walks, playing with your dog, and allowing your dog to socialize with other dogs and people. A treadmill is excellent physical exercise, but activities like walking, playing, and socializing are crucial for your dog’s mental health and wellbeing.
How old should my dog be to use a dog treadmill?
You can start teaching your dog how to use a dog treadmill when it’s still a puppy. However, it isn’t recommended to run with your dog (and this also goes for having it run on a dog treadmill) until its body has finished growing and its bones and joints are fully developed. If you want your dog to learn how to use a treadmill at a young age make sure you set a slow speed…as in a walk. I wouldn’t recommend using a dog treadmill daily for exercise purposes until your dog is at least 6 months old (and even then – make it a very slow jog).
How fast should my dog go on a dog treadmill?
For a well conditioned, fit dog the pace should be a brisk jog. A dog who isn’t used to exercise will need to start out at a walk and then move up in speed. The pace should never be a full out sprint and your dog should not be constantly running – the gait should be a jog. You can work a couple of running sessions in your dog’s treadmill workout and increase the speed for 30 seconds to a minute or so once or twice per session and then lower the speed back down to a jog.
Can I use a regular human treadmill to exercise my dog
Technically, yes. You would need to make sure that the build of the treadmill is safe for your dog and as a human treadmill isn’t designed for dogs it won’t be as convenient and ideal a solution, but a treadmill is a treadmill after all. Just remember that treadmills built specifically for dogs will likely be a safer option as they take a dog and not a human into account. Higher end dog treadmills include safety mechanisms designed specifically for dogs. If you’re going to be using a treadmill regularly as a form of execise for your dog, you should definitely invest in one designed especially for dogs.
