Best Treadmills For Dogs
Making any kind of choice in this day and age is, well, sometimes seemingly quite impossible. Whether you are buying something as simple as a spoon or something more complex like a toothpaste (let alone a car, a phone or a TV), you are faced with practically infinite choice.
Which is where we come in, at least in the dog treadmill department.
Because, let’s be honest, how could you possibly know which treadmill to purchase?
Granted, there is the small dog vs. large dog factor of differentiation, but that’s practically it. To grasp any of the finer points, you’d need to compare dozens of products before you narrow your choice down.
With an aim to save you time and effort, we’ve tested out 9 different treadmills for dogs, and we’ll break them down for you below. Hopefully, you’ll find one you and your pooch will equally love.
The Best Treadmills for DOgs
Best Treadmills
PETSITE Dog Treadmill
We’ve done a more in-depth review of the PETSITE treadmill here, if you are interested in hearing more about it. Let’s recap the main points though.
This treadmill was made for small dogs and measures 49 x 21 x 28 inches. The deck itself is 38 inches long and 14 inches wide, so it should be able to accommodate most small breeds.
It’s light and is only 49 pounds heavy, but can at the same time accommodate the weight of a 200-pound dog. The construction is sturdy and reliable, and should last you for a very long time.
The deck is adjustable and there are 3 heights available, meaning you can challenge your dog quite significantly with an uphill run or walk. It features the usual speeds for dog treadmills: 0.5 to 7.5 miles per hour.
It has an LCD display and a remote control, plus it comes with 12 programs you can choose from when taking your pooch for a run or a walk. You can also set the speed yourself, and increase or decrease it as you see fit.
It also comes with a safety key you can pull in emergencies, making it one of the safest dog treadmills on the market. The side panels it comes with also ensure your dog stays in the right lane, so to speak.
While this treadmill can’t be folded down and requires a bit of assembly, it does come with wheels, so you’ll easily be able to move it from room to room if you ever need to.
In short, the PETSITE dog treadmill is an excellent choice for small breed owners who are okay with keeping it assembled at all times, and would like the remote control option it comes with.
Best Treadmills
dogPACER Minipacer Treadmill
We’ve done a more in-depth review of the PETSITE treadmill here, if you are interested in hearing more about it. Let’s recap the main points though.
Another treadmill you can check out a more in-depth review for here, the dogPACER Minipacer is another small breed treadmill you’ll love.
It’s small and compact at 42 x 21.5 x 28.5 inches, with a deck 38 inches long and 16 inches wide.
It’s also light at 48 pounds, and can thus carry the load of a 55-pound pup. Perfectly reasonable as it was built with small and toy breeds in mind.
As for the available speeds, you can take it from the usual 0.5 miles per hour to 7.5 miles per hour, and it also features a small incline of 4.5 degrees, if you want to throw a challenge your dog’s way.
It has only 3 pre-set programs to choose from, and of course also provides the option of manually adjusting the speeds. It does not have a remote control, so you will have to click on the dashboard itself when you want to speed up or down.
The display provides plenty of useful information, like time, distance, speed and caloric expenditure, so you can keep track of your dog’s progress over time.
While you will need to assemble the treadmill when it arrives, the process is not overly complicated. The sides that ensure your dog’s safety are also removable, and the entire treadmill can also be folded down. Ideal if you live in a small space and want to store it under the bed when not in use.
The sides are a bit garish though, as they only come in a very bright red, so it’s a good thing they are removable.
Also bear in mind that the Minipacer works at 110 volts, so you may need to purchase a surge protector as well.
Despite the lack of the remote control option, still an amazing treadmill for small dog breeds, ideal for small spaces.
Best Treadmills
BINGBING Dog Treadmill
Another treadmill you might want to check out is the BINGBING dog treadmill.
It comes in that standard size of 40 inches of deck length and 17 inches of deck width, which should be quite right for a smaller or medium-sized breed. There is also the adjustable incline, making it super simple to take endurance levels up a notch over time.
It also offers speeds from 0.5 miles per hour up to 7.5 miles per hour, so plenty of room for you to adjust and give your pup a real run for their treats. Make sure to ease them into it, of course.
The auto-shutdown feature that it comes with, and which goes off after 30 minutes, comes quite in handy, as do the sides that prevent your dog from running off in the middle of their workout.
There is also a bar you can attach the lead to above the actual deck, which makes it additionally safe and comfortable for your pup. Most treadmills require you to attach the lead to the front of the treadmill, making for more of a forward “pull”. The lead should never be taught though, of course, as you want the experience to be a comfortable one.
You get the usual LCD display (sans remote control) and a rather silent motor, which will be much appreciated by both the dog and your household.
Not the most stylish of dog treadmills, but a good model to have if you need to up your dog’s exercise routine.
Best Treadmills
DogTread Premium Small Dog Treadmill
Another treadmill that is ideal for small dogs is this DogTread Premium model.
It measures 44 x 20 x 21 inches and weighs 47 pounds, accommodating a 30-pound dog. If you are the owner of a small breed, this treadmill will work well - however, don’t get it for a mid-sized breed, as they might feel a bit claustrophobic on it.
It has the usual LCD display that will share speed, distance and time with you, so you can adjust according to your dog’s needs. There is also a Safety Start and Stop feature that ensures your dog will not get injured while using this treadmill.
There is also a remote control, so you don’t have to hover over them while they are exercising, and you can stop the treadmill from a distance if you ever need to.
What makes it stand out is the treat holder that dispenses and holds treats. Great for those initial stages of treadmill training when your dog is not yet sure whether or not they like the activity. Bear in mind that it should be used for dry treats only, never for wet food or water.
You can adjust the incline of this treadmill model too, so are able to better simulate outdoor conditions. It also comes with wheels and can be folded down to an extent, so you can store it and move it around your home more easily and conveniently.
There is some assembly required, and the manual is not exactly all that helpful, but you should be able to tackle the task with a bit of application.
If you are looking for a less conventional design and a compact solution for your small dog breed, give the DogTread a look.
Best Treadmills
GOPET PetRun PR720F Dog Treadmill
We’re still in the small and medium dog breed category with the GOPET PetRun PR720F.
It has a deck that’s 52 inches long and 16 inches wide, so it should comfortably be able to work with a slightly longer dog. It can also tolerate weights of up to 132 pounds, which means this treadmill will work even for obese small dogs.
What you can also do is exercise two of your small dogs at the same time, provided they can comfortably fit behind each other. Make sure to measure your dogs before purchasing this model, if that’s what you are looking for.
You also get a remote control and the usual manual control options. Speeds can be adjusted from 0.6 miles per hour up to 7.5 miles per hour, as is usual for dog treadmills.
You can also control the incline remotely, not something you often see in treadmills for dogs. This will make it super easy to simulate outdoor conditions and an uneven or rough terrain.
There is also an emergency stop which we hope you will never need, and you have a neat bar at the front where you can attach your dog’s lead to. You can even attach a toy to the metal eyelet, if your dog needs a bit of motivation to get going.
It comes with wheels and can be folded down, so you’ll have an easy job of storing and moving it, although it’s smooth design won’t clash with your interiors too much even if you choose to let it permanently live in the living room.
Certainly an investment, but one that will ensure your dog gets plenty of much-needed exercise every day, no matter the weather.
Best Treadmills
SRFDD Dog Treadmill
Let’s finally discuss a treadmill that has been designed with medium and large dog breeds in mind.
The SRFDD dog treadmill weighs 100 pounds, but that’s simply what you need to contend with if you are the owner of a larger dog and want to exercise them indoors.
While it certainly resembles a cage, it’s sturdy build ensures your dog can’t injure itself while trying to step off the treadmill to either side. There is a crossbar at the top preventing jumping, and the bars on the sides and in the front are well constructed with safety in mind.
Its dimensions are 68 x 22 x 39 inches, so you will definitely need to provide plenty of space for this treadmill. That does however mean that you can use it for a 220-pound dog. Most larger breeds should be able to fit into that weight limit.
You get the usual treadmill speeds, from 0.5 to 7.5 miles per hour. What you don’t get is an adjustable incline, so you will only be able to simulate a straight and narrow open road with this model.
The motor is quiet despite the 1.75 horsepower under the hood. The control panel is easy to use and displays all the usual data about the speed and time of the exercise you may be interested to know about.
The one downside of this treadmill is that you can’t fold it down, so once constructed, it will remain as is. You can roll it around on its wheels though, but you will certainly need to set aside some space for it.
This model comes with a heftier price tag, as you would expect from a larger and heavier model built for larger breeds. If you need an effective and easy-to-access way to exercise a Labrador or a Retriever though, it can provide the solution.
Best Treadmills
Gravitis Pet Supplies Dual Purpose Electric Treadmill for Dogs and Humans
If you would like a 2-in-1 solution, aka a treadmill both you and your dog can use, this Gravitis model is ideal. As you may already know, human treadmills are not the safest option for dogs, but this one works both ways.
In less than 3 minutes, you can convert it from human to doggy use and vice versa, which is faster than you can put your shoes on, find the dog’s lead, pack a poo bag and head out the door.
It comes in at 57.87 x 27.56 x 5.51 inches, so is a tad larger than your average dog treadmill. Then again, it’s just the right size for a human one.
It weighs 66 pounds and can tolerate up to 220 pounds of canine or human weight, which should be able to accommodate both of you. Not at the same time though, most likely.
The max speed of this model is only 5 miles per hour, so slightly less than some other models on this list, but it should be more than enough to tire you both out.
It’s also perfectly safe, as it comes with an emergency stop device you can attach to your shirt or your dog’s collar. The handrails and side guards + front guard will ensure added safety too.
There is a digital display that counts your time, steps, speed and distance, plus a remote control that you can use to speed both yourself and your pup up.
It packs down easily so you’ll be able to save some space, and given that it’s such a unique solution, it’s definitely worth looking into.
Best Treadmills
Firepaw Standard Dog Treadmill
If you are looking for something a bit different, let us point you in the direction of the Firepaw dog treadmill.
In less than 3 minutes, you can convert it from human to doggy use and vice versa, which is faster than you can put your shoes on, find the dog’s lead, pack a poo bag and head out the door.
It comes in at 57.87 x 27.56 x 5.51 inches, so is a tad larger than your average dog treadmill. Then again, it’s just the right size for a human one.
It weighs 66 pounds and can tolerate up to 220 pounds of canine or human weight, which should be able to accommodate both of you. Not at the same time though, most likely.
The max speed of this model is only 5 miles per hour, so slightly less than some other models on this list, but it should be more than enough to tire you both out.
It’s also perfectly safe, as it comes with an emergency stop device you can attach to your shirt or your dog’s collar. The handrails and side guards + front guard will ensure added safety too.
There is a digital display that counts your time, steps, speed and distance, plus a remote control that you can use to speed both yourself and your pup up.
It packs down easily so you’ll be able to save some space, and given that it’s such a unique solution, it’s definitely worth looking into.
Best Treadmills
GOPET Treadwheel for Small Dogs
Finally, let’s look at something completely different. The GOPET treadwheel is not a treadmill per se, but it is certainly a great way to provide some indoor exercise for your dog.
This model is also motorless and will be entirely controlled by your dog’s speed. It can appear quite intimidating though, and your dog may need more time to get used to this model than to your run of the mill motorized treadmills.
Dogs that weigh up to 25 pounds can safely use the treadwheel, and its running area is 40 x 12 inches. Great for a smaller dog, definitely not built for a larger breed.
You won’t be able to track speed, distance or caloric expenditure, as the treadwheel does not come with a computer. However, one look at your dog should be enough to tell you how much energy they have spent, and if they want to go for more.
The manufacturer claims their hamster wheel meets dog treadmill invention is safe for use even when you are not at home, but whether you choose to allow your dog access to it while you are away is up to you. Once you are certain they are comfortable using it, you may let them have a go on their own, but to be perfectly safe, monitor their exercise at all times.
Plus, you won’t want to miss the sheer entertainment.
Best Treadmills
Final Verdict
All of the treadmills for dogs we’ve just listed for you do that one all-important thing well: they provide indoor exercise for your pooch whenever you need it. Whether the weather outside is frightful or you just don’t feel up for a long walk, having a dog treadmill in the home will ensure your four-legged friend stays active and healthy.
While there are slight variations in design, speed, weight, and size between these 9 models, know that all of them work and work well. All you have to do now is make that ever-difficult choice, and select the one you feel will work best in your home and for your dog’s needs.
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How to Train Your Dog to Use a Treadmill?
Let us just remind you of the key ingredients of dog training first: patience, consistency, perseverance and treats. PCPT, if you need an acronym to commit it to memory more easily
Can Dogs Use Human Treadmills?
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