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Using a dog walker is an increasingly popular and responsible option for keeping our best friends healthy and happy. Ensuring your safety is easy. These five tips will get you on the right track quickly.

1. Introduce your dog to the treadmill appropriately. How comfortable Fido is with his dog walker is reflected in every aspect of its use, from getting on and off to being able to walk or run in the center of the belt. Nervous and awkward steps make training less effective and can take missteps as your dog gets on and off the machine. Your patience and confidence throughout the training process, during this particular step, will go a long way to your dog’s success and enjoyment on the treadmill.
2. Position the treadmill correctly. This is also an often overlooked step. A dog walker should never be in front of a wall, window, or similar obstacle. Dogs do not want to hit a wall and they do not understand that the machine will prevent them from doing so. An uncomfortable workout and / or nervous jumping may occur if the treadmill is facing the wall. If Fido tends to get overexcited if he sees dogs or other animals on television, position the treadmill so that he cannot watch television. The best position is to have the treadmill facing into a room so that Fido can see you up close, supervising him calmly.
3. Always provide supervision. You should never leave Fido unattended while on the treadmill, even if you consider him a pro in his treadmill routine. A dog walker is a machine with moving parts, and Fido is a living creature who could make a reckless decision at any moment. This combination can be dangerous and requires your supervision. Also, because dogs have “off” days just like humans do, you should keep an eye on Fido for signs of fatigue so you can adjust his training accordingly. This doesn’t mean you have to watch him for 30 minutes while walking or running, but you should be close enough to keep an eye on him and intervene quickly if necessary. It is not acceptable to be in another room where you cannot see it while on the tape.
4. Use a leash / harness, but never tie Fido to the machine. It’s okay, especially when your dog is getting used to the treadmill, to use a leash or harness to mimic a walk with you. Wearing a strap or harness can also help Fido learn to stay focused on the strap while walking or jogging. Gradually, with your constant help, you will learn to use the treadmill without the strap. However, it is not okay, under any circumstances, to tie your dog’s leash to the treadmill. Create a potentially dangerous situation for Fido if he makes a misstep. And since you will be monitoring closely, there is no reason to have to do this.
5. Incorporate warm-up and cool-down into Fido’s workouts. For the safety of your dog’s muscles and joints, be sure to warm up before he starts jogging or brisk walking, and then add a cool down. The amount of warm-up / cool-down time will be different for each dog, but a general rule of thumb to start with is about 10 percent of the training time. For example, if Fido is jogging for 30 minutes, start with a 3-minute warm-up where you walk at a slow pace to get your muscles moving and blood flowing before gradually increasing your speed to your jogging pace. Then give him a 3 minute cool down in which you slow down your walk and gradually stop at the end of your workout. Every dog ​​is different, so you will need to monitor and adjust accordingly.

Always do your homework before buying a dog walker. There are many that come with safety features, such as being close to the floor for easy access for a dog and the sides to keep it centered. The idea of ​​using a dog walker to exercise Fido is to provide him with a safe and comfortable environment to exercise so that he is happy, healthy and confident. With these guiding principles, you and your best friend will look forward to your treadmill workouts.