Best Dog Treadmills Buying Guide
Picking the right treadmill for your pooch entails quite a few considerations. First and foremost, you should know the importance of treadmills for dogs. You should also have a clear idea of how much exercise your dog needs and how long you want to use a treadmill. Usually, a dog needs 30-60 minutes of exercise daily to maintain his health. The following are some of the benefits of using treadmills for dogs:
Ideal for Owners with Long Days
Some dog owners are so busy in their business activities that they cannot take their dogs for a walk and rely on treadmills to save their pets from specific health and behavioral issues.
Suitable for Overweight Canines
Lack of exercise can make your dogs overweight, and it often happens with the owners with modern and busy lifestyles. Treadmills help them to bring their pets back into shape without going for long walks.
Your Companion in Unpredictable Weather
Sometimes, unpredictable weather makes it painful for you to take your dogs for a walk. A dog treadmill can prove a good investment in these circumstances because it helps you to get your dog walk without going out in extreme weather conditions.
Great for Disabled and Aged Owners
Having a dog treadmill is the perfect solution for those owners who are disabled or have reached the age where walking long distances is impossible. It saves them from long and multiple walks every day.
Good for Healing after an Injury
Veterinarians recommend using dog treadmills for the rehabilitation process also. It means that treadmills are a good option for your dog to recover from an injury due to controlled environment to fulfill the exercising needs of your pet without the fear of re-injuring it.
Things to Consider while Buying a Treadmill for Your Dog
Despite many advantages, you must keep certain things in mind while buying a treadmill for your pets because different treadmills offer different features. Therefore, you should go for the one that suits the size, weight, and exercise needs of your pet. The following are the things to consider before buying the one for your dog.
Speed
The first thing to keep in mind while buying a treadmill for your pet is the speed of the machine. Various breeds of dogs have different energy levels, and their running rate also varies with it. Large breeds of dogs possess high energy and need more walk at more top speed to keep them going. On the other hand, small breeds of dogs have low energy levels and, therefore, have less momentum. Buy the machine that can fulfill the running needs of your dog. Usually, the speed of various treadmills varies between 0.5-7.5 MPH.
Weight Capacity
Another significant feature to look for in dog treadmills is the weight capacity of the machine. Your buying decision will once again depend on the breed of dog you own. There are chances of your dog getting injured if you buy a large and speedy treadmill for your small breed of dog. Similarly, if you own a large and powerful dog, it will break the treadmill within no time. Typically, the weighing capacity of treadmills ranges between 0-200 pounds.
Size
The size of your pet and the size of the treadmill are also useful factors that influence your buying decision. The experts recommend measuring the length of your dog before buying the perfect treadmill for it. The size of the dog treadmill is also important to consider because you have to arrange the storage space needed for the machine. Always buy the treadmill whose belt is twice the length of your dog, and your room has enough storage space to accommodate it perfectly.
Incline Feature
Although you should consider various features that the treadmills offer, yet incline feature is the most important of all. It enables you to control the weight of your pet by giving it more workout and burn extra calories. Once again, you will have to keep the size of your dog in mind to avoid injuries because small breeds of dogs are unable to run on too steep treadmills.
Noise
Treadmills that are designed to be quiet are always best to buy because dogs, especially the starters, are afraid of noise. Checking the reviews of a particular treadmill will tell you the experiences of other pet owners and help you in the decision.
Look for Extra Features
Always look for some extra features on the treadmill before buying because these may suit your dog’s needs. For example, treadmills with built-in treats dispense are ideal for reluctant dogs.
Warranty
Mostly, pet owners prefer this feature over the others because they think that they may end up breaking. Similarly, if you are unsure of your dog taking to it, go for the one with a money back guarantee.