However, there is something to be said for the sheer convenience of the treadmill. It’s just always there. If it’s pouring rain outside, or if you are snowed in, if it’s simply boiling or late at night - it’s still right there.
You don’t have to get dressed and hunt down your dog’s harness. You don’t have to pack a poo bag or figure out which pocket to put the treats in. You don’t have to check the weather forecast or consider your other obligations. You don’t need to give your dog’s paws a good clean when you come back home. All you have to do is turn the treadmill on. And walk your dog.
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Can Dogs Use Human treadmills?
The Benefits of Owning a Dog Treadmill
Just like human treadmills are for us, dog treadmills are a great source of cardio and stress relief for dogs.
Depending on the breed of dog you own, you will need to provide 30 to 120+ minutes of daily exercise, if you want your pup to remain healthy and happy. Sometimes, getting outdoors for that long will be a challenge, which is where the treadmill comes in.
Here’s our case for the treadmill. The dog treadmill, that is:
- It’s convenient and available at all times
- It’s much safer than a human treadmill, as it has been built specifically for four-legged, as opposed to two-legged users
- It’s less noisy than a human treadmill
- The dog’s hair won’t get caught in the motor and ventilation shaft
- The speed is specifically adjustable to a dog’s gait and size
- It comes with side rails that ensure added safety
Can Dogs Use Human Treadmills?
Dog Treadmills vs. Human Treadmills: What’s the Actual Difference?
Let’s break down some of the points we’ve just outlined above, to give you a more comprehensive insight into the way dog treadmills work, and how they differ from those made for humans:
Motor Positioning
Where the motor and ventilation grid are placed on a human treadmill matters very little, and there is no industry standard. After all, humans very rarely have hair long enough to get caught in them.
However, pups tend to have fur, and this fur can prove to be a hazard on a human treadmill. They also shed, and the hair they lose will clog the ventilation grid, and may cause serious damage to the motor too.
With a dog treadmill, this issue is completely prevented, as the manufacturers were well aware of the hairiness of their users, so they have compensated accordingly. You will still have to vacuum the dog hair of course, but it will no longer be a safety hazard.
Sound Levels and Vibrations
Human treadmills are also much noisier than those made for dogs. After all, humans don’t react to the sound in the same way, and they can just cancel it out with the clever use of headphones.
Dogs on the other hand may be very bothered by the noise, so dog treadmills are often practically silent, and the vibrations they make have been reduced as much as possible. You will still have to get your dog accustomed to the noise and the movements of the treadmill, but it will be a much easier and more pleasant process.
If you have a small dog, they may find it practically impossible to run on your treadmill, as the vibrations will feel like an earthquake to them. Not to mention, the sound may be very much like a drill being operated right next to their heads.
A Case for Side Rails
The side rails on human treadmills are great for us, but completely useless for dogs. After all, you can’t expect them to grab them with their front paws, while they keep pedaling with their back ones.
The purpose of the side rail on a treadmill made for dogs is to help them focus on stepping forward and prevent them from moving too much from side to side. Although dog treadmills are wider than human ones and allow for plenty of this sideward motion, the rails are still in place to prevent your dog from stepping too much out of line.
Track Length and Width
Treadmills built for humans can’t actually ever match the gait of dogs. Larger breeds have longer strides, and a treadmill that has a shorter track surface targeting the way a two-legged human walks will never be able to accommodate them. Smaller breeds on the other hand will have shorter strides, and the treadmill might just be way too fast for them.
The belts that dog treadmills sport cater specifically to the natural gait a dog has, and has taken into consideration the way their paws alternate and move. They offer plenty of room for the dog to fall behind, and are easy on their joints.
When shopping for a dog treadmill, make sure to match its size to that of your dog. Some models will be highly adjustable, while others will specifically target a specific size and speed of dog, so make sure you carefully vet your options before making a purchase.
Gaps Between the Edges and the Belt
Maybe you’ve never noticed the narrow gaps that exist between the running belt and the edge of the frame on the treadmill you use. It is there however, and it allows you to spray the belt with silicone spray, and it’s much easier to assemble that way.
And while this gap is okay for us, a dog’s hair will get caught in it, and their claws can also get trapped here if they use a human treadmill. Needless to say, this is incredibly painful.
Treadmills for dogs don’t have this gap of course, which makes them more difficult to build, yes, but it also makes them much safer.
A Need for Speed
Human treadmills do offer a huge variety of speeds. However, this variety may not be enough for your dog. Larger breeds may be fine with the higher speeds, and they will enjoy ones that we would find challenging.
However, smaller breeds might find even the slowest of speeds to be too tiring, and they may find the exercise is just not enjoyable, and is more torture than fun.
This is why dog treadmills come with speed settings that are specific for the size of dog they were built for. They will allow your dog to both have a leisurely walk, and to do a full on sprint.
It’s of course up to you to choose the right speed for your pup, so you will need to monitor them at all times, and make sure they are not getting too tired or too hot.
