How to Build a Treadmill for Dogs

The secret behind many show dogs' success is the use of treadmills. Using a treadmill allows your dog to get the workout he needs. Regular exercise will improve health, increase life-span and even help your dog's coat stay sleek and shiny.

Things You'll Need

• Treadmill
• Kennel cage
• Screwdriver
• String
• Carabiner
• Rope

Instructions

1. Use a treadmill without a center post. Dogs expect their walking path to be unimpeded and are unlikely to walk if a post is immediately in front of them. Using a standard human treadmill is perfectly acceptable, as long as the control panel is elevated by struts on the treadmill's side, rather than a center console.

2. Stand kennel gates alongside the treadmill to serve as guardrails. While any sort of fencing material can work, even chairs turned backwards, one of the best solutions for keeping your dog walking forward, rather than being distracted by sights in her peripheral vision, is to use an existing kennel cage. These cages are often made with six panels to form a rectangular box. Simply remove the front, back and top panels with a screwdriver and set the treadmill on top of the floor panel. You should now have a treadmill with kennel panels standing erect on either side of the walkway.

3. Extend the emergency stop line with string. The emergency stop, typically a string attached to a human user's wrist, is probably not long enough to attach to your dog's collar. Knot another length of string on to the emergency stop cord and you'll have a doggy-sized stop line.

4. Thread the emergency stop through a carabiner so it rides at your dog's level. Tie a rope around one of the control panel's pillars at the level of your dog's neck, then attach a carabiner to the rope. Run the emergency stop line down the leg of the control panel and through the carabiner. In this way, the carabiner acts as a sort of pulley, ensuring that the emergency stop line does not attach uncomfortably upward from your dog's natural line of sight.

5. Put your dog on the treadmill, tie the extended emergency stop line to his collar and slowly ramp up the speed until he is walking comfortably. The point is general fitness, not outright sprinting, so there is no need to increase the speed beyond a comfortable walking gait.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep a thick carpet behind the treadmill in case your dog backs off the treadmill.

• Always observe your dog while on the treadmill.

Resources

• Tips for Treadmill Training
• Doggy Exercises