Three dogs. One treadmill. Zero patience. That's often the scene in a lot of homes and usually it leads to "someone" barking at the treadmill and "someone else" glaring at the leash as if it were a personal attack. Figuring out how to buy the best pet treadmill for dogs is a challenge with one; try it with two or three animals and you've got a mini gym of very opinionated clientele. Here's how to get it right.
One Machine or Several?
Ask a tough question. Do you really need two treadmills?
Most people have one good machine. Dogs have their turn. The times are short, frequently just ten or fifteen minutes, so with three dogs you will be able to get each in the same night.
There are a few situations where two machines just make sense: Perhaps your dogs are severely mismatched in size (and you can't really accommodate a giant breed and a small breed's needs on one belt). Maybe one dog requires a fairly gentle manual model while another requires motorized control. Or maybe you just have more dogs than free evenings.
Otherwise, keep the cash and the real estate. One good station, used appropriately, will beat two bad stations.
Matching the Machine to Your Mixed Crew
Things get complicated here. Dogs in one home are not often the same.
One of them has a dog's lungs. One of them has a senior spaniel and a bouncing young terrier's lungs. It has to take them all or at least take the thinnest margin.
Have a large range of speed. A low start say a crawl is fine for small or senior dogs, and a good high range allows a fit, athletic dog to open out. Small, incremental changes are key as that's what you'll be changing from run to run.
Confirm the belt length with your biggest dog and not your teeny dog. A huge dog on a short belt goes crazy. A tiny dog on a long belt is fine so long as the bike is not too fast.
And the weight limit, though. Get a frame rated well above your heaviest pet.
Adjustable Features Win
Multi-dog homes live and die by flexibility.
Simple speed controls. You'll be playing with these all day. Large, simple buttons are way better than tiny touch screens.
Incline. Dogs come in many sizes and shapes. While some thrive on a gentle incline, others need it totally flat. Change them out quickly.
Very low step-up height. Very small and senior dogs find it tough to climb on tall platforms. A ramp or low frame makes it easier for all.
Quick reset. Choose a device that you can pause, reboot, and reset easily without battling a manual.
Safety Rules When Dogs Take Turns
And here is the truth. When you have several dogs, you have several distractions.
One dog could run up to the dog on the belt. One could leap onto the machine. Another could walk across the room at the very second you're about to do the take. Expect distractions.
Isolate the waiting dogs. Block them with a baby gate, hold the door shut, or put them in a crate in another room so they don't jockey to get to the treadmill first. Even the well-mannered dogs can be competitive.
Always keep dogs in your sight while they are on the belt. Not a single moment. Dogs can trip, tangle themselves or even panic in the blink of an eye, and you're not as on edge when all they want to do is get your attention.
Always use the emergency stop. Try it prior to each use. Keep a tether or magnetic key readily available.
Observe resource guarding. Dogs often view the treadmill as the newest, greatest toy in the house and may growl at sharing with it. Back up if it starts to go south.
Establishing a Just Rotation
Unfairness makes a dog's blood boil. They have a memory bank and won't forget.
Choose a predictable sequence. Perhaps your hyper dog enters the ring second, because it'll be more relaxed for the wait. Or perhaps your worried dog enters the ring first, so that the time of waiting is over before the peak of arousal.
Ensure a fairly equal focus on each pooch. A treat after each session is nice and so is a quick play session. We've been waiting dogs out – and they need to do something to distract them from being a whining crowd!
Be sure to schedule short but regular sessions. For many healthy adult animals, ten minutes per dog is a good starting point, but check with your veterinarian about timing and pacing for each individual pet.
Training Dogs Together
Benefits of group learning Dogs observe one another. A certain more confident dog could demonstrate to the others that the machine is not a threat.
And beware the consequences. Fear can be contagious, and if your dog becomes frightened, the rest will feed off that negativity.
Begin with the treadmill off. Allow your dogs to smell, approach and investigate at their own pace. Give treats and praise. Allow your bolder dog to walk on the moving treadmill at his own pace, calm and happy, while the others watch at a safe distance.
Then switch to slow-paced sessions, one dog at a time. Take your time. A nervous dog may require days or even weeks. That's totally fine.
Praise Out loud and regularly. Your voice says all of it to a canine. A heat, secure spoken cadence always is more effective than a whine.
Noise, Space and Storage
A busy house already sounds like a zoo. Don't add a roaring engine.
A quiet machine helps nervous dogs stay calm, and keeps the household sane. Be sure to read the reviews for any comments about the noise level – particularly from those with more than one pet.
Space is also important. There must be enough clear space all around the treadmill for you to be at the side of the treadmill's belt with the dog, and keep the others back. An empty room or garage corner is ideal. Lay down a rubber mat for noise and floor protection.
For crowded rooms, folding styles can easily be slipped away between visits. Useful when the living room moonlights as a dog park.
Keeping Tabs on Each Dog
Different dogs, different needs. Write it down.
Record each pet's duration, pace and response. Any kind of notebook near the machine will do. As time goes by, you may notice trends, such as which dog gets tired sooner or which dog gets skittish at certain paces.
Identify warning signs of every dog. Heavy panting, decreasing energy levels, limping and attempting to leave all indicate "stop". What is normal behavior for one pet may be cause for concern in another.
Discuss each individual dog with your vet. The proper plan varies by age, breed, weight, and health.
What to Spend
Multi-dog households would want something a little more heavy duty. More use equals more abuse. A machine that would run everyday would probably take a beating.
Prices range from very low hundreds all the way up to whatever you want. Simple basic models are low hundreds. Heavy duty motorized types with broad speed ranges cost several hundred dollars or more – they have a beefier motor, a more robust belt and a longer lifespan.
Think of warranties. One year is standard. Two years or more means the manufacturer believes the product will last.
If your dogs are very different, weigh two machines versus compromising. Sometimes the inexpensive option is the one where everyone wins.
Choose wisely, rotate fairly and keep the treats coming. Your pack will thank you with wagging tails and a quieter evening.
