Why on earth would anyone want a treadmill for their dogs? There's a lot more to going for a walk than exercise-- the world is a wonderful place to dogs, and they should enjoy plenty of time out and about in it with their owners.

you seem to think that if someone has a treadmill they do not walk their dog, i use a treadmill as its easy to gauge the amount of running the dog is getting, i also WALK my dog down by the river or through the woods at least 6 miles, usually more per day. anything that can exercise the dogs is good, i also go out on the bike and take the dog with me too but believe me the dog goes nuts to get a run on the treadmill as she loves it.

I don't have a problem with the use of a treadmill in conjunction with other walking/stimulating exercise.

In fact for my two (if I could convince them to even get on it!) it would be really useful.  I live in a very hot climate, so to be able to get them to use the treadmill in an air conditioned environment would be much better than having to shorten walks due to that heat and humidity.

I can (and do) take them to the beach, but that's a 20 minute journey & not always practical to do every day (plus bathing/rinsing the salt & sand out of coats).

I can understand that in theory a treadmill would burn energy in a lively dog, or develop tone, but anyone who runs themselves with their dogs (i.e. long distance running on a leisure or sport or working basis) would be ill advised to use a treadmill on a regular basis as it develops the wrong kind of muscle response for long distance running and increases the risk of certain injuries.

A treadmill would be nice, I agree - especially as I am now living with my elderly mother and due to her ill health I haven't been able to walk my dogs very much over the last few weeks (or even walk myself).

However, I think I saved myself a great deal of money and anguish by training my main dog to have an 'off switch' when he was young, and to use his mind instead. He gets a huge amount of interaction and attention every day, which is something he learned to value as a puppy, and he never appears to be bored (though I don't take that for granted). If anything he is more than happy to be with her all day, and he certainly doesn't pester me for walks, neither is he climbing the walls in frustration. If he has a job in life, then it is to be a 'companion' more than anything else, but that's how I raised him.

My other dog is co-owned with my sister and comes to stay on a regular basis - I don't see her being particularly upset either, as long as her mind and brain is exercised daily.

Why on earth?

Rehabilitiation
Fitness - Building stamina, speed, strength, skills
Safety - if you can only exercise dogs in the dark during winter in various environments
Developing proprioception

The same reason as people bike their dogs;run cross country with their dogs; swim with their dogs; etc etc etc

Cross training has been done with human and equine athletes for years, it is also beneficial for dogs.

tohme *like*

I know a number of people who train and work their dogs to compete at the highest levels in competition, whilst their dogs are already extremely fit, the use of a treadmill maintains them in peak condition when otherwise the daily 'work' might not be there to do so. Yes going for a walk will maintain a certain level of fitness, but there are few people I know who would be able to walk these dogs to the level of fitness, stamina, etc required, nor have the time (bearing in mind they are working dogs as well as competing dogs!).

The use of a treadmill can be very beneficial for dogs rehabilitating from illness/injury, just as hydrotherapy may be recommended. Pounding pavements can be quite 'hard' going.

I wouldn't recommend a treadmill to replace going out for walks with your dog, but I do see there can be benefits to using one.

I remember someone who shows Dobermanns and has about 16 (at the time) and I innocently asked how someone had the time to walk all of them - the person lives in a normal 3 bed house, average garden etc...the response...oh the dogs aren't walked they just go on a treadmill!  I have no problem people using them for some fitness or health reasons but instead of walks is crazy!

Now that's just wrong, what is the point of having such lovely dogs and not enjoying walking them?  And part of it is stimulation for the dogs - a treadmill doesn't provide them with the social aspect of meeting other dogs, playing, or the many wonderful sniffs that a walk gives.

If they don't walk them at all then - and I know I'm basing this on very limited information - they have too many dogs!  I have 8 at the moment and they still go out at least once a day, yes it's hard work and yes, some days I would love to have just 3 or 4 so I only had to do one walk, but it's part of owning dogs and something we accept needs doing when we take them on.  I would love to have 16 dobermanns - my idea of heaven - but I know I'd never manage to walk them all so I wouldn't have that many.

Right now I'm heading into 3 walks a day because Tia is now not able to go as far as the others - so she'll get one short walk, then I'll have 2 longer ones to do.  I'll be doing it regardless because it's what they need!

Treadmills for dogs, are not designed to use instead of walks but alongside walking, to help maintain the fitness. They are also used for rehab, as other ways are also used.