Dog Treadmill Training: A Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Your Dog on Track

According to the  AVMA, obesity has been an ongoing concern for the veterinary profession. It affects approximately 59% of dogs in the US, resulting in life-threatening conditions like diabetes and heart disease. A treadmill offers a consistent way to help your dog maintain a healthy weight, potentially adding years to their life.

Whether you're training your canine athlete for agility or need to keep your Beagle fit and healthy to prevent obesity, dog treadmill training is the way to go. The sense of accomplishment you'll feel when your dog is fit and healthy is unparalleled. The numerous benefits of treadmill training your dog at home, including weight management, behavioral improvement, and anxiety reduction, make it a worthwhile investment in your dog's health and fitness.

Dog treadmill training and a healthy diet will keep small, medium, and large dog breeds healthier and allow for a longer lifespan. Today, many dog parents are getting peace of mind from their dogs using a treadmill, knowing that their pets are getting the exercise they need, whether it's required to prevent obesity or to help with daily exercise during extreme weather conditions. This reassurance is invaluable in ensuring your dog's well-being.

Dog treadmills also help with behavioral issues stemming from lack of exercise, boredom, bonding, and trust building.

You already know how beneficial treadmill exercise is for you, so you can imagine the positive impact treadmill training has on your dog, from things like excessive barking, separation anxiety, loneliness, and attention-seeking behavior like excessive digging and chewing. 

Dog treadmill training provides a good outlet for your dog's energy and helps promote physical and mental well-being.

• Research from  Applied Animal Behaviour Science (2017) found that dogs with adequate daily exercise show fewer signs of anxiety, hyperactivity, and destructive behavior. Treadmills provide a controlled way to expend energy, particularly for high-energy breeds like Border Collies or German Shepherds.

• The American Kennel Club (AKC) highlights that dog treadmill training can reduce separation anxiety and excessive barking by providing mental stimulation and physical outlets for pent-up energy.

• A study in the  American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) explored the benefits of treadmill therapy for dogs recovering from orthopedic surgery. Dogs that engaged in controlled treadmill exercises showed faster recovery times and improved joint mobility compared to dogs with only conventional treatment.

• Hydrotherapy treadmills , a variation used in veterinary clinics, have also been shown to aid recovery in dogs with cruciate ligament injuries and hip dysplasia.

Year-Round Exercise: Sometimes, exercising your dog can be a challenge. You may have to finish up on a project, the weather may be rainy and cold, or your adolescent pup may need a few minutes of treadmill training before going out for a walk so that he can be easier to handle.

Ensuring that your dog gets enough exercise each day doesn't need to be complicated. With dog treadmill training tips, you can also teach your dog to calm down and relax after exercising on the treadmill. A tired dog will be able to rest much more easily than a dog who hasn't been exercised and is full of energy.

Controlled Environment: Investing in a high-quality dog treadmill is key to helping your dog with his exercise routine. Safety should always be your first consideration when showing your dog how to use a treadmill.

Your dog should always feel comfortable and relaxed on the treadmill. Never leave your dog alone on a treadmill. Your dog should always be supervised when training on a treadmill. This level of attention and care is crucial in ensuring your dog's safety and well-being.

Since dogs learn at different paces, investing in the best dog treadmill is essential. Safety features should be a priority to keep your dog safe during exercise. The size of the treadmill is also important and should be appropriate for your dog's size. Always measure your dog's length and height to get an appropriately sized treadmill. Here are some other features to consider when choosing a pet treadmill:

• Adjustable incline settings

• Optimal safety features include an emergency stop button, side panels, and non-slip surfaces for stability during exercise.

• Your dog's treadmill should also offer a quiet motor so you don't startle or stress your dog during treadmill workouts.

Weight Management: Obesity is linked to many diseases, some of which are life-threatening. Diabetes and obesity often go hand in hand. Also, obese dogs may have a decreased lifespan and quality of life.

Regular workouts via dog treadmills help improve cardiovascular health and maintain an optimal weight in dogs. A treadmill can complement other forms of exercise, especially for high-energy breeds, which include:

• German Shepherds

• Belgian Malinois

• Alaskan Malamute

• Border Collie

• Australian Shepherd

• Australian Cattle Dog

• Jack Russell Terrier

• Weimaraner

• Siberian Husky

• Dalmation

• Boxer

• Irish Setter

Mental Stimulation: Dogs need routine and plenty of mental stimulation. This is because dogs can get bored, frustrated, depressed, and anxious. When introducing your dog to a new mental enrichment program like dog treadmill training, always start at an easy level and gradually increase the difficulty level to avoid frustration.

You can work with your dog and keep your dog engaged during training sessions. The joy and connection of spending quality time with your dog is unparalleled. If your pup has difficulty learning or adjusting to training, ease up. Dogs love routines, so stick to routines for feeding, walking, and training. Carve out special times throughout the day when you can spend quality time with your dog.

To keep your pup engaged during training sessions, be consistent. Treadmill workouts for dogs keep dogs at the peak of their performance.

If you're using the treadmill to train healthy, fit dogs that need more exercise, like sporting breeds, working dogs, police dogs, search and rescue, field trial dogs, and tracking dogs, choose a sturdy, non-slip treadmill.

The most common injury in dogs is cranial cruciate ligament tears. Some things that can predispose dogs to this sort of injury include obesity, lack of exercise, and other joint issues. If your dog is not very active, he could strain his ligaments because his untoned muscles don't contribute much to holding things in place. Using a treadmill can help prevent this type of injury and keep your dog healthy and fit.

Safe Setup: Some of us may be worried about treadmill safety for dogs . To ensure the safest setup for your dog when using a pet treadmill, here's what you should opt for when purchasing the best treadmill for your pet, which should include:

• Anti-slip surface

• Wear resistant

• Waterproof

• Safety pin

• Emergency stop button

• Sealed whisper quiet motors

• Continuous tension running belts

• Choose a sturdy, non-slip treadmill with side panels or rails for guidance.

Noise Reduction: You should always run the treadmill first without your dog on it when first introducing your dog to a treadmill. This helps your dog get used to the sound of a running treadmill.

• Proper Positioning: Place the treadmill in a quiet, low-distraction area to help your dog focus. Dog treadmills are a beneficial addition to a dog's existing cross-training program.

• Leash Attachment: Have a secure yet comfortable leash setup to keep your dog centered

Working with a dog trainer is always best when first using a dog treadmill. The beginning of any dog training program means that trainers work with dogs to gain and build trust and engagement.

When this happens via operant and classical conditioning with clear signals, it helps your dog learn with confidence and retain everything he's learned. Dogs need to perform behaviors and get reinforced with high-value treats and plenty of praise when learning how to use a treadmill.

Step 1: Get Your Dog Comfortable Around the Treadmill

Getting your dog used to the treadmill is not that difficult. We've come up with an easy guide on how to teach your dog to use a dog treadmill.

Step 2: Continue Rewarding Your Dog

When weather becomes an issue, you can really challenge your  dog using a treadmill . You never want your dog to have a bad experience.

• Have leadership with your dog when using the treadmill. When your dog is calm or happy or has a happy-go-lucky attitude- (0-2 excitement), reward him with a high-value treat. Take your dog around the treadmill, walk him next to it, let him sniff it, and so forth.

• Engage your dog's nose with food and scent. Puppies are always food-motivated. Bring food and guide your puppy onto the treadmill: reward and praise. You can encourage your dog to focus by sitting at the front of the treadmill and providing a stream of high-value treats and encouragement.

• Bring your dog onto the treadmill and start off by using a leash. You can even reward with food and praise while your dog is walking on the treadmill. Always start off slowly!

• When your dog is on the treadmill and having no problem using the treadmill, use no pressure on the leash. Use leash pressure to guide your dog to where you want him to be on the treadmill.

• Stop the treadmill: Ask for calmness by asking for a sit to stop your dog from moving. Then, exit your dog from the side of the treadmill and reward with treats and praise.

• Over time, you can increase the pace when your dog is more comfortable using the treadmill. Always look out for signs of stress and never rush the steps. Your dog has to be calm and relaxed, starting off slowly on the treadmill before speeding things up.

There are going to be some dogs that will resist the treadmill from day one and dogs that have had a negative experience on the treadmill. The AKC says that you should have a high rate of reinforcement so that you can build a strong treadmill walking behavior.

"Always remember to keep the training session short. Do multiple short sessions a day, and always stop before the dog shows a desire to get off," says the  AKC . " "Building your dog's confidence is extremely important. Do not progress to any of the steps until your dog is completely confident and doing well at the step he is on."

• Anxiety Reduction: Start counter-conditioning if your dog appears anxious about getting on the treadmill. You should fulfill your dog's daily needs, such as meals and treats on the treadmill.

"Once your dog has a success rate of more than over 90 percent following the lure, introduce a cue. The cue can be a word or phrase tied in with the dog's action of having all four legs on the treadmill, explains  Animal Behavior College.

• Patience and Consistency: When teaching your dog how to use the treadmill, you're teaching your dog a new behavior. The process for teaching new behaviors to dogs is similar, and you will use a cue and high-value rewards. Leash and treat lure dog training techniques give both physical support and positive reinforcement.

• Handling Resistance: If your dog resists, slow down, step back, or take breaks to reset their mindset. It can also be helpful to ensure your dog has been well exercised before getting on a treadmill if he's a high-energy breed or adolescent pup.

• Preventing Overexertion: Watch for signs of fatigue (heavy panting, reluctance to continue) and stop if needed. You should always consider short training sessions in your treadmill training sessions to keep your dog happy. Patience is key in dog training. If all your dog's interactions with the treadmill are positive, he'll want to return the next day. Always observe body language for signs of fatigue and panting.

• Advanced Treadmill Training Techniques: Once your dog has mastered treadmill basics like walking and trotting, you can elevate his training schedule with advanced treadmill training techniques via variable speed intervals and incline variations.

More and more pet parents are becoming huge fans of using dog treadmills to keep their dogs fit and healthy at home. One of the dog treadmill brands that stand out is Fitdogo, a slatmill made for high energy dog breeds.

Dog treadmill training offers year-round exercise in all types of weather. You can also manage your dog's training by controlling speed, incline, and training session length, allowing for safe and tailored exercise schedules. If you’re interested in joining our vibrant community of dog training enthusiasts, subscribe to our newsletter for expert dog training advice and the latest health and wellness tips in dog care.