Apparently, there are over 3 million dogs in America that use dog treadmills every day to improve their fitness. Dog treadmills have been used for some time for ‘celebrity pooches’ to keep them happy and active during filming breaks on movie sets. But the craze has been becoming steadily more mainstream in the past few years and now millions of dogs are taking a stroll on custom doggy treadmills every day.In most cases these pampered pooches aren’t doing heavy training on their customized dog treadmills – just a little light stroll in the comfort of their homes, particularly on rainy days when their owners are reluctant to brave the weather so that they can get the exercise they need.
DOG TREADMILLS: ARE THEY RIGHT FOR YOUR PET?
You know it’s important to keep your family pooch in shape, but is a dog exercise treadmill or a TreadWheel something that you need to consider investing in for your canine pal? For a lot of pooches (and their owners) the very idea of dog treadmills is still a bit strange.
Like people, dogs age prematurely without consistent exercise. Unfortunately, with a population obesity epidemic influencing the kind of daily exercise many pet owners are doing regularly, your beloved puppy is possibly suffering because you can’t get yourself off the couch for two walks a day. The answer might be looking for a dog treadmill for sale.
Dog treadmills are selling very well according to APPA President Bob Vetere. And the benefits include better behavior from your pet as well as better sleep for you and your puppy.
A treadmill for dogs might also be a great idea if you own a number of dogs and find it hard to walk them all – just line them up on the track and you can get all your exercising done in the comfort of your own home. It might be a small investment in giving your dogs a healthier and longer life.
DOG TREADMILL OPTIONS
Dog treadmills come in a wide range of models suitable for every type of dog and many different family budgets. dogPACER is one of the least expensive models (starting at about $499) and they are great for larger dogs like Alsatian German Shepherds.
Of course, if you can’t afford to invest in your own treadmill for your dog, you might consider joining a doggy gyms where your pooch can enjoy grooming, training, hydrotherapy, massage therapy and exercise equipment – even an underwater treadmill for dogs that love water and exercise. But don’t expect to be able to stick your puppy on your own home treadmill. Canine models are different to human treadmills to cater to a dog’s longer stride and shorter body. Some treadmills for dogs, like GoPet canine TreadWheels, even look like a giant hamster wheel – perfect for small breeds.
DOGS NEED A LOT OF EXERCISE
A lot of dogs, perhaps even half the domestic dog population, are overweight according to some estimates. And pet shelters are starting to realize that by putting their adoptable pets on the treadmill for a few weeks can increase their chances of finding a good home. Dogs in shelters who have a regular exercise routine are better behaved and more physically appealing and more likely to be adopted because they bark less and aren’t pacing and agitated when potential families come to visit. Dogs that are fit and health will also more readily engage visitors and make friendly eye-contact.
So next time you are considering the benefits of increasing your own endorphin levels with a little exercise remember that your puppy can enjoy the same benefits and be a more loving and pleasant companion in your home because he or she will be fitter, healthier and happier.
Dog treadmill training could also be a great idea if you injure yourself and know you won’t be able to get up and about for a while, or if you you are going away and leaving your pet in the hands of a friend or neighbor who may not be as inclined to walk regularly as you would.
DOG TREADMILL REVIEWS
PETZEN DOGTREAD TREADMILL REVIEW
DogTread is a patent pending design from PetZen that allows you to exercise your pampered pooch in any weather conditions. The DogTread is 44″ x 20″ x 21″ and weighs 50lbs. It is very quiet and has a reasonably powerful motor with adjustable speed settings, the ability to program distance and also increase resistance.
DOGPACER DOG TREADMILL REVIEW
dogPACER is a lightweight and compact folding dog treadmill. It is fully programmable and can manage dogs as heavy as 179lbs. Size: 76″ x 27″ x 46″. Weight: 79.2lbs. dogPACER have really tried to raise the bar on pooch exercise machines with this one. We like the look of the machine and given it’s light weight, it can really handle a sizable dog.
GOPET TREADWHEEL DOG TREADMILLS REVIEW
GoPet have designed three TreadWheels – in sizes for small, medium or large dogs. The TreadWheel for small dogs (up to 25lbs) measures 44″ x 30″ x 40″ and weighs 42lbs. The TreadWheel for medium dogs measures 62″ x 53″ x 33″ and weighs 195lbs. The TreadWheel for large dogs (up to 150lbs) measures 72″ x 65″ x 36″ and weighs 240lbs. All three sizes incorporate resistance so you can adjust the exercise depending on the size and fitness level of your pet.