As we as a society have gained weight through the years, our pets have gained weight right along side us. Today our cats and dogs are beginning to show signs of the same health problems that plague the human world, with heart disease, diabetes and other common problems quickly making their way into the world of veterinary medicine. It is an attempt to get these pudgy pooches to shape up that has led to the invention of dog treadmills.
The dog treadmill works much the same as its human counterpart, just on a smaller scale to accommodate those little paws. Dog treadmills are even available in a variety of sizes for different size dogs.
The trick, of course, is to convince your four legged friend that he or she is in need of a workout. After all, dogs lack a great deal of the motivating factors that drive us humans to get into shape – your dog probably couldn’t care less how he or she looks in a bathing suit, and he or she may be totally unconcerned about the attitude of other dogs.
It is of course the job of the dog owner to take charge when it comes to the health of man’s best friend, and teaching the dog to walk or run on the treadmill can be quite a challenge depending on the dog. Some dogs take to these dog treadmills as if they were born on the device, while others look at the treadmill with the same attitude they reserve for a trip to the vet.
For reluctant pooches, a demonstration often comes in handy. Sometimes seeing the owner run on his or her own treadmill will give the dog the idea and he or she will follow suit. In other cases it may take some time and some patience before the dog understands the concept.
When introducing the dog to the treadmill it is a good idea to do so with the treadmill turned off. Allow the dog to stand on the treadmill, sniff it and otherwise check it out. When it does come time to turn the treadmill on, be sure to set it at the lowest speed, and to be ready to turn it off if the dog becomes frightened. The slow and steady approach is the best approach to teaching your dog to love the treadmill as much as you do.