12/27/2024
Why use a treadmill? Why not just get up and walk your dog, right?!?! Long post ahead. Mute the music to read in peace!
*The treadmill does not replace our personal walks with our dogs. Walking your dog is important for bonding, being out in nature, and exposing your dog to the world.*
BUT, there are numerous benefits to treadmill training your dog that I wanted to go over below:
1. Boosts confidence: Working your dog through something new/different will always help with confidence.
2. Increases focus: Matching the pace of the treadmill and staying balanced in the center takes an immense amount of focus! Practicing focusing on the treadmill will help your dog with focusing on other tasks you do with them. Including obedience and walking outdoors.
3. Helps to overcome distractions/fears: Going back to #2, once your dog is good at focusing on the mill, you can slowly add the distractions/triggers your dog struggles with to help them overcome them (ex: vaccum cleaners, children running around, noises, your cat, etc.). The dog in the video, Moo, is dog reactive. Having her walk/run on the treadmill while other dogs are out helps her overcome the reactivity and practice ignoring/being neutral around other dogs! And practice makes perfect.
4. Adds in extra exercise: Sometimes we can't always give our dogs the amount of exercise they need. Whether it be our jobs, time, or fitness level, the treadmill can help add a little extra exercise into our dogs life!
5. Anytime: Whether it's raining, too hot, too cold, you are sick, or you have a really busy day ahead, you can always give your dog a short walk/run on the mill!
6. Dogs love to RUN: Not everyone is a runner/jogger, and that's okay! Even if you are, you most likely can't run as fast as your dog really wants! The treadmill allows you to give your dog an outlet for their speed that you may not be able to provide otherwise!
If you'd like help teaching your dog how to walk on a treadmill, contact us today!
Also, please check out Zoomies Mobile Dog Gym. They come to you and run your dog in a climate controlled van right at your house!!! We use them frequently and the dogs absolutely adore it as well as the owner Peyton Pugh!