Above: Cats on Exercise Wheel
Pet exercise wheels and treadmills are increasing in popularity. With the pet obesity problem escalating and time becoming more of a premium for most pet parents, additional options are important but they are better IN ADDITION TO regular activities and off site ambles instead of IN PLACE OF.
Animals that are socialized and exercised do much better than those that are not. They are also able to better handle change and more accepting of novel situations.
Now there are ways to get your pet safely into these exercise options–animals need to be introduced to the equipment, habituated to the novel equipment, and slowly integrated through training so they will use them.
A big mistake people make is to put an animal onto a machine with a slip or prong collar.
No, no, NO!
Also, when an animal is going to be engaged in activity using any type of device or even introduced to a new toy, they should always be supervised and not left alone.
And by not left alone, I mean not even a short period of time.
I can’t tell you how many accidents or injuries occur because people “only step away for a minute.”
So, what do you think of pet exercise wheels and treadmills? Have you used one? Are you thinking of using one?
Please share you thoughts in the comments.
Above: Dog (Ozzy) on Treadmill
