By Joe Spoo DVM

During the dead of winter and the heat of summer it can be a difficult task to get your dog adequate exercise. For a number of years I would recommend to clients with obese dogs, or dogs with orthopedic problems, to utilize a treadmill when they were unable to walk their dogs outside. This was often met with an incredulous response and many people thought I was joking. Over and over I heard the same response, “you can’t train a dog to use a treadmill.”

One very hot summer a few years ago, with hunting season fast approaching, I found myself with two dogs very much out of condition and weather that was incompatible to training. So, I decided to kill two birds with one stone, I would use my own advice about the treadmill, and I could now respond to those doubting-clients that you could indeed very easily train a dog to the treadmill.

When I started the process Belle wasn’t even a twinkle in her mother’s eye, and so Emma and Maggie were my very unwilling test subjects. They would represent the extremes of the training spectrum as well, with Maggie the small, agile and very easy-going dog, while Emma is bigger, not as graceful and very neurotic about unfamiliar situations.

The biggest thing to remember is that the common theory is that dogs “think in pictures,” meaning they draw on previous experiences, or pictures in their mind, to evaluate a situation. It is for this reason that the first time on the treadmill needs to be very enjoyable. On the first day I don’t even plug the machine in for the exercise. I merely entice the dogs to stand on the belt with a lot of praise and multiple treat rewards. Once I get them to stand calmly and accept the treat while on the treadmill I’ll call it a day.

The second session we will progress more rapidly with the same praise and treats, but I’ll get them on the treadmill much quicker while they are still happy. At this point I’ll turn the treadmill on and stand next to them encouraging them to walk. While in the learning stage, I would use the same equipment you would use to take them on a walk, either a leash/collar system, or a harness. The key is to keep them at heel moving forward as you gradually increase the speed of the treadmill to a comfortable walk.

This is a crucial session, because you do not want to make them so anxious that they don’t want to proceed. In my “test subjects,” Emma wanted to bail quickly and Maggie was very content to walk at heel. With both dogs I stopped the session while they were walking comfortably on the treadmill and again used the treat rewards.

By session three I was able to essentially start with them walking on the treadmill and gradually worked up to workout speeds. I maintain control of the lead the entire time, as you will need to help them adjust to speeds, and during the first few workouts I always have my other hand on the controls ready to hit the stop switch as quickly as possible. In just a few sessions I was able to progress to no collar or harness and simply use voice encouragement to keep the dog running.

Emma was definitely the tougher dog to work with, due to her neurotic quirks in uncomfortable situations, as well as her size. While not a big dog she would occasionally kick the side of the track with her foot which would scare her and she would want to bail off. It is important with this type of dog to go slow and steady so that they do not become too uncomfortable around the machine. I also have since learned that the process can be accelerated with some dogs. With Belle I literally had her go from standing on the treadmill to a run in about 15 minutes in one session.

A few key points to remember through the process:

• NEVER leave the dog unattended on the treadmill.
• Be ready at all times to disengage the treadmill during the workout.
• Make sure your dog has urinated and defecated prior to starting the workout, or after a few minutes on the treadmill, let them outside to relieve themselves before continuing. You don’t want to know how I know this one.
• Make sure the first few experiences are fun and rewarding, as they will lay the ground work for the training.
• Don’t overdo the workouts. You can always gradually increase the duration and intensity after the dog is accustomed to the workout.
  Remember SAFETY, SAFETY, SAFETY.

Make it an enjoyable experience for you and your dog. In most households this will also be the most use the treadmill has gotten since it was purchased. For those without a treadmill keep an eye on garage sales and newspapers, as many can be had for a very low price. This is a great way to keep your dog in shape year round, and takes away the weather excuses when your dog is suffering from cabin fever.