Using a dog treadmill is a responsible and increasingly popular option to keep our best friends healthy and happy. Ensuring your safety is easy. These five tips will get you on the right track quickly.
- Introduce your dog to the treadmill properly. Fido’s comfort with his canine walker is reflected in all aspects of its use, from getting on and off to being able to walk or run in the center of the belt. Nervous and awkward steps make training less effective and potential mistakes when your dog gets on and off the machine. His patience and trust throughout the training process, during this particular step, will go a long way toward your dog’s success and enjoyment on the treadmill.
- Position the treadmill correctly. This is also a step that is often overlooked. A dog walker should never face a wall, window, or similar obstacle. The dogs do not want to run into a wall and do not understand that the machine will prevent them from doing so. An awkward workout and/or nervous jumping can occur if the treadmill faces a wall. If Fido tends to get over-excited when watching dogs or other animals on TV, position the treadmill so he can’t watch TV. The best position is to have the treadmill facing into a room so that Fido can see you nearby, calmly supervising him.
- Always provide supervision. You should never leave Fido unattended while he’s on the treadmill, even if you consider him a pro at treadmill training. A dog treadmill is a machine with moving parts, and Fido is a living creature that could make a reckless decision at any moment. This combination can be dangerous and requires his supervision. Also, since dogs have “off” days just like humans, you should watch Fido for signs of tiredness so he can adjust his training accordingly. This doesn’t mean you have to stare at him for 30 minutes while he walks or runs, but you do need to be close enough to keep an eye on him and intervene quickly if necessary. It is not acceptable to be in another room where you cannot see him while he is on the treadmill.
- Use a leash/harness, but never tie Fido to the machine.. It’s okay, especially when your dog is getting comfortable on the treadmill, to use a leash or harness to mimic a walk with you. Using a leash or harness can also help Fido learn to stay centered on the treadmill as he walks or jogs. Gradually, with constant help from him, he will learn to walk off the leash. However, it is not okay, under any circumstances, to attach your dog’s leash to the treadmill. Creates a potentially dangerous situation for Fido if he makes a wrong move. And since you’ll be nearby supervising, there’s no reason to have to do this.
- Incorporate warm-up and cool-down into Fido’s workouts. For the safety of your dog’s muscles and joints, be sure to do a warm-up before he begins a brisk jog or walk, and add a cool-down afterward. The amount of warm-up/cool-down time will be different for each dog, but a general rule of thumb to start with is around 10 percent of training time. For example, if Fido jogs for 30 minutes, start with a 3-minute warmup where he walks at a slow pace to get his muscles moving and blood flowing before gradually increasing speed to your jogging pace. Then give him a 3 minute cool down where he slows down his walking and gradually stops at the end of his workout. Every dog is different so you will need to monitor and adjust accordingly.
Always do your homework before purchasing a dog treadmill. There are many that come with safety features such as being low to the ground for easy access for a dog and sides to keep it centered. The idea of using a dog treadmill to train Fido is to provide him with a safe and comfortable environment to exercise so that he is happy, healthy and confident. With these guiding principles, you and your best friend will be looking forward to your treadmill workouts.