The use of treadmills has become popular with dog owners, giving
them a seemingly easy way to provide exercise for their dogs. Owners who are
unwilling or unable to give their dogs the exercise they need through
traditional activities such as walking, jogging, swimming and games are turning
to the treadmill in ever-increasing numbers. But there are significant drawbacks to putting your dog on a
treadmill.
First, dogs will often run or walk beyond exhaustion. Owners must be trained in
how to recognize physical signs of tiring in their dogs, such as how fast they
pant, excessive salivation and other subtle changes that occur in body language
as their heart rates climb.
Second, dogs who panic and fall off
the treadmill can be seriously injured. If
you absolutely must use a treadmill to exercise your dog, take the time to
follow a gradual training protocol for teaching the dog to run on the treadmill
without fear, since this is not a natural device for a dog to use. Consider attaching a kill switch to the dog’s collar
or harness so that the treadmill will stop running if the dog falls off, and
never leave the dog unattended.
Third, in addition to the chance of
slipping off, there is a chance that some dogs might find the electrical
components a bit too interesting – chewing on cords, controllers and such. Again,
if you absolutely must use a treadmill to exercise your dog, never leave your
dog unattended.
Fourth, in addition to physical exercise
your dog needs mental stimulation. A
big part of the reason why dogs benefit from walking or running is the fact
that they are doing it with the owner
and exploring the outside world. Like
their canine nomadic-hunter ancestors, dogs find “traveling with the pack” to
be a natural, enjoyable activity. They might
get a similar amount of physical exercise on a treadmill but they won’t get all
the other highly enriching components inherent in walking or running outside
with their owners.
So what’s the bottom line? In my
opinion, for the average dog owner treadmill training
is ill-advised. Don’t get me
wrong – I have seen some excellent uses of treadmill training for dogs by
dedicated owners who have done it the right way. And for physically challenged
owners it can be a godsend. But for the average
dog owner the potential for misuse or injury can far outweigh the potential
benefits.
One more thought about exercise for
dogs – exercise is extremely important but it is not a quick fix for behavior
problems. Exercise, play and mental stimulation are vital but they are not a substitute
for training. Treadmill or not, don’t assume
that the solution for all rambunctious behavior is to exhaust your dog. Most common behavior problems are caused by
inconsistent rules in the home and lack of proper training - not lack of
exercise.
