Motorized Dog Exercise!
Dogs, like people need regular exercise
Dogs, like people need regular exercise. The benefits of exercise include helping build muscles and endurance. Exercise can calm excited dogs or even relax nervous dogs. If your dog is overweight, along with a healthy weight loss dog food, exercise may be recommended by your vet.
But what if you can't walk your dog everyday for a variety of reasons: don't have time or energy, or maybe you are injured, handicapped, or elderly. Maybe your dog needs an extra run or you can't control your dog on a walk. Maybe the weather outside is not ideal for a walk.. it may be too cold, hot, humid, rainy or as here in Northern NY and other areas across the country below zero temperatures and the dreaded S word, snow. It may be fun to see your puppy or dog play in snow for the first time, but not so much fun when you have to exercise them in the snow. In warmer climates you would not want to risk heat exhaustion for yourself or your dog when temperatures rise.
Here are a few motorized ways we have used to exercise our dog. Did you know you can use your treadmill to exercise your dog. Don't have a treadmill? When the weather is not too bad how about using your All Terrain Vehicle. No ATV? Maybe you have a lawn tractor, just don't mow the grass at the same time.
Always remember safety first and use common sense when using any motorized method to exercise your dog. Here are just a few: Don't go to fast or exercise your dog too long, 20 min max! Leash, but don't tie your dog! Keep the treadmill auto-shutoff in hand!
We are faithful followers of Cesar Millan, The Dog Whisperer. Cesar has used a treadmill for quite a few years to exercise and drain the energy of dogs. Recently we watched an episode from his new facility where he utilized an All Terrain Vehicle (a 2 person Gator) to exercise two dogs. We have used our treadmill and ATV with our dog for the last few years, he always enjoys the walks and especially running alongside the ATV.
Treadmills are an excellent tool to use to exercise any size dog. Did you know there are even treadmills designed specifically for dogs. A treadmill will enable you to exercise your dog for a set time, speed, or distance. Our experience is with a motorized treadmill, not the non-motorized or manual treadmills. A manual treadmill may be too hard for your dog, especially a small one, to initially operate. One benefit of manual treadmills is the lack of motor noise, so they are quieter during operation.
When we began to use a motorized treadmill for our dog we started out with two people. One person was holding the leash, coaxing the dog, and handing out Training Treats from the front. The other was on the side keeping the dog in position and controlling the treadmill. With the treadmill in the stop position we started it out on slow, about 2-3 miles per hour. It only took a few minutes for our dog to learn to keep moving, then we increased the speed to a comfortable gait.
At first your dog may be nervous on the treadmill, but with reassurance your dog will quickly learn not to jump off the treadmill when it begins to move or pause and start to glide off the back (just like you may have done yourself). Your dog may also take more or less practice or encouragement with treats. When your dog gets it reduce the frequency of Training Treats, until they are no longer needed (they will always be wanted).
Besides the treadmill, we have also exercised our dog using our ATV and a few times with our lawn tractor. The Training Treats were given out again to convince our dog to follow along. We tried a long lead, but prefer to use a retractable leash. Try to stay clear of roads, we live in the country so that is not an issue. If you have to use or cross a road, keep the dog on a shorter leash, close to your side, away from traffic.
With any motorized exercise just be real safety conscious! Start out slow to give your dog time to adjust to the idea, noise, and speed. Especially with puppies and senior dogs, start out with a very short session (about 5 minutes). Maybe try a few shorter sessions in the beginning rather than one long session. Let your dog set the pace, if comfortable your dog may even progress to a run. With motorized exercise you can customize the exercise sessions: vary the speed and with some treadmills you can even add inclines to simulate uphill. Motorized exercise will use up some of your dog's energy and make walking your dog easier.
As always you will want to check with your doctor and vet before beginning any exercise program. And remember Cesar's rule to Be the Pack Leader, walk in front of or beside your dog.
Good Luck!
by: Chuck McCasland
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