Treadmills are nothing new, and dog treadmills have been around for many years in one form or another. Motorized treadmills built specifically for dogs are fine to use as long as you continually monitor the dog and how they are acting on the mill itself. When a motor is guiding the belt, the dog is being forced to walk or run or they may fall off. While this is debatable as far as being a good form of exercise or not, the movement of the muscles is the outcome that is desired. At RUN DAWG we use non-motorized treadmills called “slatmills,” which are essentially conveyer belts that roll under a dog’s feet as they walk or run. They are leashed to a bar on the top so that they do not move forward or backward, and when they walk they simply move in place. The treadmills are operated completely by the dog, using the positive motivation of a toy or excited voice to get them to want to move forward. The treadmills are placed in an air conditioned environment to prevent overheating, and the dogs are continually monitored the entire time they are working out. The process works much like a gym membership for a human being, only you also have a fitness coach to motivate you to exercise.
Treadmill exercise has been used for many years by the world’s top trainers and fitness coaches for animals. They have been used by rehabilitation experts and veterinarians to aid in mobility and healing in a controlled environment. They have also been used to build strength and stamina in working and competing dogs for many, many years. Aside from the obvious uses of physical activity, they are also used as a mental aid for training purposes. you have probably heard the expression “a tired dog is a good dog.” This is because the majority of problems that dogs exhibit are as a result of an excess of energy that frustrates them into acting out. Dogs in the wild spend their days hunting and searching for food. They run up and down hills and chase prey, burning calories and energy that is then replenished by the food they catch. Our dog’s bodies are the same, but we have removed the elements that they are evolved to do, basically leaving them with a body that is built to run and hunt but giving them no outlet to burn off that energy. As a result, they destroy things in our houses, act aggressively, whine and bark or even lash out at people or animals as a result. Much of this nervous energy can be burned off in a short time of high intensity exercise, but unfortunately simple walks with your dog will not do much. It is good to walk with them to bond and socialize them, but walking only presents the bare minimum of exercise to them. Walking at a slow human pace is even less effective at burning energy, thus making them harder to train due to a lack of ability to focus. Through routine and regular high intensity exercise that will elevate their heart rate, you will notice that they will become calmer and easier to work with. They will exhibit less of the “naughty” behaviors that are simply a way for them to burn calories on their own or seek attention, basically making them a much better behaved dog. A weekly 30 minute session can assist your own training efforts, not only getting your dog into better physical shape, but also mental shape. Your dog will thank you.
