10 Steps To Teach Dogs How To Run On Treadmills!
Using a treadmill isn’t very complicated. However, it’s not innate for dogs so you must introduce them slowly to this new training gear. It could take some days or even weeks before your buddy masters this running machine. To help you out, I’ve found some simple steps to teach your dog how to run properly on a treadmill. Please take your time and be patient to not rush this simple and safe process. Here are the 10 steps to help your dog start running on a treadmill safely!
Here’s a video as visual support that explains all the steps in more detail. Personally, I wouldn’t let my dog run alone on a treadmill. It’s not safe, and your dog could hurt himself without any person to help him. If your buddy’s safety really counts for you, always be near him and watch him when he’s on a treadmill!
Don’ts for Exercising Your Dog on a Treadmill
Years ago, I saw a documentary on television where a Maltese in China could do 200 or 2000 steps of stair-climbing after a tai chi exercise. (I know its very questionable that a dog can do tai-chi.
The owner never showed how the technique was done as he spoke in Mandarin. Honestly, if this is possible, my late dad would have taught our dogs tai chi instead of tormenting me for years!) with his master every morning. If Im not mistaken, I believe they are aiming to break the Guinness Book of World Records (for stairs climbing, of course).
Treadmill exercise for dogs is believed by some to be cruel or bad for the animal. This is primarily due to them being illegal in some states in the United States. Unfortunately the reason they are illegal in some states has nothing to do with their effectiveness at building muscle and stamina, or forcing dogs to run. They are illegal because they are a common tool that dogfighters use to train their dogs. In the dogfighting world, the strongest dogs are going to be the best at fighting for lengthy times, leading authorities to realize that most dogfighters will have treadmills on the premises. In order to make criminal convictions stick, evidence of dog fighting is necessary to present. Because the treadmill is such a common tool to use to build strength and endurance, it is almost always present when police raid dog fighting rings. As a result of the desire to more easily convict dog fighters, authorities made it illegal to own treadmills that are designed for dogs in many states. Unfortunately this is very much like saying that leashes or collars should be illegal, because dog fighters use them too. A misunderstanding of why the tool is being used by this particular group leads many people to assume that the tool itself must be cruel. Nothing is further from the truth. Treadmills are no more cruel for dogs than they are for humans, and nobody is raiding gyms to confiscate the equipment.
Treadmills have been used for many years to train working and agility dogs in order to build up their endurance, heart and lungs. Just like a treadmill for a human being, it gives the dog the ability to walk or run at a pace that they set, providing them with the ability to burn as many calories as they want to. There are two types of dog treadmills, the motorized treadmills and “slatmills” which are treadmills without a motor. The way they work is by leashing the dog to the treadmill so they cannot fall off the front or back, then motivating them to run forward using some form of toy, treat or energy. The dog then walks or runs in place as a belt moves under their feet. These types of treadmills are preferred by many trainers as they provide resistance as well as being able to be stopped any time the dog wants to stop moving. Since they work using positive motivation, if the dog does not want to walk or run, they cannot be forced to. This allows for the exercise to be more enjoyable as well as strenuous for the dog, who in turn builds stamina and muscle mass while doing exactly what is natural, chasing things.
Naturally, any tool can be misused and be co-opted by bad people for bad purposes. Treadmills have been used for decades by the best trainers in the world to provide weight control, aggression and destructiveness training as well as general canine fitness. They will almost always be met with criticism from uninformed people who believe things based on a lack of knowledge and understanding.
Dog Treadmills – Slat Mills – Health, Fitness, Safety and FUN!
Owning a dog can be very fun, but it also comes with some responsibilities. For instance, your companion will need plenty of exercise to keep stay healthy, busy, and happy. If you’re an active person, it’s simple to go out hiking or running with him. However, not everybody is able or wants to do such intense sports with their furry friend. Thus, you might wonder if it’s OK to let dogs run on treadmills!
The weather is bad? You’re not suitable to run or walk? You don’t have enough time to exercise with your dog? Or you’re simply not in the mood to play with him? That’s alright, but it’s not a good reason to let your pup getting bored. For example, you could teach him how to run on a treadmill to ensure he has the physical activity he needs without too much effort from you. However, you probably wonder if running on treadmills is safe for dogs?
Absolutely, dogs that can run are suitable to exercise on treadmills. However, certain types of treadmills aren’t safe for dogs. Moreover, your companion should never walk or run alone on these running machines. With proper training, precaution, and supervision, treadmills can be an excellent way to keep your dog active and healthy!
As every dog owner knows, these furry animals are full of energy. But did you know that around 56% of dogs are overweight? The APOP found these outstanding results that just blew me away. The lack of knowledge about dogs’ exercise requirements is probably one main reason for this high percentage of obesity in dogs!
That’s why I want to make sure you understand how to give enough exercise to your pup. In general, most dogs will need around 30 to 60 minutes of daily physical activity. Thus, you MUST provide at least half an hour of exercise to your companion EVERY DAY. Don’t worry, I totally understand that it’s not easy at all. However, you could simply teach him how to run on treadmills safely if there’s no other way to meet his exercise requirements!
Furthermore, some very energetic breeds will need much more than 30 minutes of physical activity every day. Your dog’s breed, level of energy, size, and health will determine how much exercise he needs. Here are some high-energy dog breeds and low-energy ones!