Tips for using your treadmill

Training your dog on a treadmill is simple and can achieve lasting results while being fun at the same time. At Fit Fur Life, dogs are our life, our passion. We have spent years creating the ultimate treadmill so that your dog can live a healthy, happy life.

Here are some brief tips to ensure you and your beloved dog get the most out of the treadmill and fitness programme. Any other questions you may have, give one of our dog lovers a call.

Introducing your dog to the treadmill

• When first introducing your dog to the treadmill, always ensure it is a positive experience. Use a treat, biscuit or toy to make this a fun experience for both you and the dog.
• Start by having your dog on a lead. The lead must be slack at all times.  The object of the treadmill is to encourage the dog to stand up on its own rather than leaning on a tight lead. Walk the dog on to the treadmill from the back and off the machine at the front.
• When your dog is relaxed and his/her attention is solely on you, press the on/off  switch and allow the treadmill to start moving. The treadmill starts at an extremely slow speed 0.4 or 0.8kms per hour depending on the model.
• Slowly, slowly slowly is all that is recommended. Remember at this stage you are merely introducing your dog to the treadmill.
• After 30 seconds or so switch the treadmill off. Reward and praise your dog then repeat.

To build muscle on your dog

• If you want to increase overall muscle development in your dog, power walking at the dog’s individual pace on the horizontal position ( 0% gradient) is the best way.
• For specific muscle development on the hindquarters and back, use the incline option increasing gradually in 1% gradient increments over time.
  
• For shoulder and front-end development, use the decline function in 1% gradient increments.
• Power walk your dog every alternate day to achieve good muscle development.

To enhance muscle tone on your dog

• To enhance muscle tone, your dog needs to be at a good power walking pace, or trot.
• Use the incline and decline function, depending on which groups of muscles you wish to enhance. If you are trotting your dog ensure that you are next to it at all times as this is very intensive exercise level for it.
• For maximum results in muscle tone use the treadmill everyday, starting with a 3 – 5 minute session, and gently increase over time to a maximum of 30 minutes.

To reduce fat content in over weight dogs

• Over weight dogs are normally sluggish and lacking in energy.
• The treadmill can dramatically change this, however please start very slowly with short periods of exercise time.
• We recommend starting with 2-4 minutes twice a day. This allows your dog’s heart rate to increase and they will soon become more supple.
• Once your dog reaches 10 minutes each session you will notice a huge difference in his/her attitude to life and physical shape.