Several years ago after a bout with the flu I needed to rest, but my high energy puppy was driving me insane. So being a personal fitness trainer for active dogs I put on her harness, placed her on the treadmill, and started her off slow.

Need some simple tips to get your pup up and running?

Well, the first step is always safety. Make sure you have a harness with a place to attach a leash in front of the chest. This way it’s easier to control the dog while you’re in front of them, and it will prevent unnecessary tension on a neck collar.

Something else to keep in mind while you exercise your dog on a treadmill is that they are doing all the work, and we’re not. Treadmill activity can be quite a workout for dogs because it requires a steady pace, so watch and listen for signs that your dog is getting tired or overheated just as you would for any activity.

Standard mechanical treadmills intended for human use work best. I have tried placing dogs on manual treadmills, but dogs don’t feel comfortable with the jerky gait caused by pushing a tight belt. Invest in a fairly good electric treadmill and you both can reap the benefits of indoor exercise equipment on a rainy day.

Now before you ever turn on a treadmill always make sure it’s at its lowest setting. A dog will easily become frightened by the intensity of the ground moving too quickly beneath him.

After your gear is set up pretend that your dog is on the treadmill and find yourself a comfortable spot in front of the machine because you’ll want to be both close and relaxed. Getting up and leaving your dog in the middle of the training to find a chair is unsafe and will make your dog anxious.

Next take some treats that are tiny enough to swallow easily and interesting enough to encourage the dog, then lure your dog onto the treadmill and treat. You’ll want to make this a positive experience your dog.

As an extra precaution, even if your dog takes treats gently always use an open hand on the treadmill. In their awkwardness they may not be able judge where the treat ends and your fingers begin.

Once your dog is positioned directly on the platform thread the leash in through the front of the treadmill, make yourself cozy, and then turn the machine on low.

Use treats to lure your dog forward. Keep them just beyond his nose until he willingly advances (not just moves hesitantly with the machine) then reward the behavior with a treat.

Dogs love to hear your words of encouragement, so calling to them and telling them how great they’re doing will get your dog reaching his full stride in no time.

Always start out workouts slow, and progress until your dog reaches an easy comfortable trot. Do this for five minutes a day until he moves smoothly even without a treat for a lure.

As your dog gains confidence you can increase the speed gradually. However, the faster your dog goes the more important it is to stay close to your dog. Even though my Siberian husky is trained to run at high speeds accidents can happen, so I’m always ready to pull the plug.

After a dog is trained to use a treadmill it’s like riding a bicycle, and since this method of exercise is only an occasional alternative to the walk you won’t need to keep practicing everyday. Getting your dog on the machine once a month for a few minutes will be sufficient to keep your dog comfortable with the training.

Finally, having an outlet for your dog’s energy when you need a break is dog gone great, but there are times when you might consider making it part of the daily routine for high energy dogs.

While I do not recommend eliminating outdoor activities, I understand that schedules don’t always correlate with a long walk.

For example, I’ve had jobs that require me to leave in the predawn hours, and honestly, it’s creepy and lonely out there in the dark even with a dog.

My solution was to bring my dog out for her business, give her a thirty minute treadmill workout in the nicely lit comfort of home, then take her out in the yard to play ball a few minutes.

This gave her the illusion of having been outside for much longer than she actually had been. She was able to release some early morning energy and was content to lie around and wait until I got back home to take her out for a real walk or jog.

The key to daily treadmill use is to always make it a fun and enjoyable experience for your dog that extends beyond exercise. Using quick outdoor activities such as a game of fetch, trick drills, or loose leash sniff sessions to end a workout will always leave the fun activity fresh in the dog’s mind.

Proper exercise is the best way to promote a healthy mind and body in both humans and animals. Treadmill training is just one ways we can use our modern equipment to help maintain a healthy lifestyle for our dogs, put a stop to bad behaviors, and give us all some piece of mind.

Article written by Donna Pennington

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