It's an idea that might seem crazy at first — putting a dog on a treadmill — but spend some time around practitioners and you'll learn that it's actually very sane. In fact, that's the whole point — exercise the dog to protect the sanity of the owner.
California-based dog training guru Cesar Millan, known as the 'Dog Whisperer,' is credited with inventing the idea of dogs on treadmills. It's a concept that a St. Albert entrepreneur seized upon last winter when she was out walking her dog in -17 C weather and noticed she was very much alone in that regard.
"I had a vision that someone should open an indoor centre. The idea didn't go away," said Kaytie Stack, owner of All Season K9 Awareness Centre.
Stack started with one human treadmill in her house last April and moved into a Riel Park facility in October. She now has four treadmills that are specifically designed for dogs, with a longer walking platform and caged-in sides that make the dogs feel more secure.
Stack has been training dogs since she was 15. Like Millan, she feels that lack of exercise is a major contributor to problem dog behaviour. Because a treadmill requires a dog to concentrate, it offers more focused exercise than a typical walk or off-leash session, she said.
"Putting a dog on a treadmill condenses an hour-long walk or time at an off-leash to 30 minutes of focused exercise," Stack said.
Burning off a dog's excess energy leads to better behaviour and more productive training, said Stack, whose facility also has an off-leash area where dogs can socialize after their workouts.
Client Carrie Bryden said the treadmill is just what the vet ordered for her Harley, a four-year-old Jack Russell terrier-cross with almost boundless energy.
Bryden started putting Harley on a treadmill at home after seeing it on Millan's show. Now Harley is a regular at Stack's facility.
"If he doesn't get the exercise and stimulation that he needs, he's a terror," Bryden said. "With the stimulation that he gets with the treadmill he's so much calmer, he's comfortable just laying cuddling with you."
People offer mixed reactions when Bryden tells them about Harley's treadmill regimen but most come around when they hear it explained.
"A lot of people thought we were a little nuts when we told them we put him on a treadmill at home. After they thought about it, they thought … 'hey, that's a good idea.'"
Harley loves it so much he runs for the gym door as soon as he's out of the car.
"Even now at home, when he feels he has too much energy, he'll jump on it and bark at us to turn it on for him," Bryden said.
Stack said she can get any dog on a treadmill. Most are fine with it within three sessions.
Stacy Curtis' dog, a pit bull named Chandler, was a little hesitant when he first got on a dog treadmill, but once it started moving he just kept walking and relaxed.
"Now when he goes, he'll walk right up to one and hop on it," she said.
Agility centre
Canine agility is a common pursuit for people looking to keep their dogs physically and mentally active. The activity involves a series of gymnastics-style apparatus that are set up like an obstacle course. Local dog centre Makin-Trax recently opened what it believes to be the first drop-in agility centre in Alberta.
"The sport of agility has become really, really popular lately," said dog trainer Roseanna Gullekson.
The facility works on the same format as a gym. You buy a membership (about $70 a month), then drop in when you want for a self-guided session. All that's required is a previous agility class or a brief introductory lesson.
The premise is much the same as with the treadmill gym. Focused exercise provides mental and physical stimulation for the dog and strengthens the bond between pet and person.
"We do get a lot of calls from people who have taken our obedience classes, and they're like, 'What else can I do with my dog?'" said owner Sharon Fleming.
Many people live in the city with dogs that are bred for work, and these dogs wind up getting "bored stiff" without proper stimulation, Gullekson said.
"When they're bored, they're bad."
Options
John Warren frequents the popular dog area at Lacombe Lake Park even in the harshest weather, but even he sees a place for doggie gyms and treadmills.
"It's a great idea. I watched Cesar do it," Warren said.
Dog owner Ryan Hanly also prefers the traditional off-leash park but sees the benefit of other options.
"A lot of people get dogs and they don't really know too much about the breed they're getting so sometimes different alternatives for exercise are a good idea," he said.
About 40 per cent of admissions to the Edmonton Humane Society are due to behaviour issues and exercise is a factor in proper dog behaviour, said spokesperson Shawna Randolph. She thinks more and more dog owners are seeing the value of various types of dog facilities.
"From what we're hearing from people, they just seem pleased that these types of services are offered in general, that they do have options out there," Randolph said.
"We just hope more and more people will use any type of service to help [their dogs] be more exercised and well socialized."
Growth potential
Dog treadmills have been getting a lot of buzz in dog training and rehabilitation circles, said Erica Shoultz, a sales and marketing specialist for Shor-Line, which has been selling the U.K.-made Fit Fur Life dog treadmills in Canada for the past year.
"We see outstanding potential for growth," Shoultz said in an email.
Stack's market research suggests that the last 10 years have been marked by a steady increase in the amount people are willing to spend on their dogs. She charges $15 to $20 for a drop-in session and also has monthly memberships. Word is slowly getting around and business is increasing each month.
"A lot of people consider their dog a major part of their family. They're treated as a child and they have no question to spend that disposable income on taking care of them," Stack said.
She prefers that owners personally guide their dogs through their treadmill sessions rather than just dropping them off, but either way, part of the appeal is that the treadmill is a faster way to wear out Fido.
"We get busier and busier in our daily lives," she said, "and just like mechanizing the building of cars, we're finding a faster, more efficient way to keep our dogs fit and healthy."
