Ever thought of using a doggie treadmill? Well it appears that you wouldn’t be the first to have this inclination as this workout machine is becoming more popular for pups around the nation. According to a survey by American Pet Products Association, about three million dogs were exercising on a treadmill in 2010.

Dog Treadmills

According to the Associated Press, even celebrity dogs like Uggie, star of “The Artist,” have put in lots of time on the treadmill. Omar Von Muller, Uggie’s owner and trainer, says that he uses the treadmill when the weather is bad, there’s too much work to be done or of course, they’re dodging paparazzi. Muller also notes that exercise like this will help Uggie, and other dogs, stay young.(dog walking services nyc)

The benefits of a dog treadmill are fairly obvious. Heather Chau, a Las Vegas bookkeeper, used the DogPacer to help her overweight pooch lose almost 40 pounds. It helped her get around the difficulties of taking her four dogs for a walk at once and helped her pups beat the heat when the weather got too hot.

These treadmills definitely come at a price though with the cheapest being around $500. They look like human treadmills but are built to accommodate a dog’s shorter body and longer stride.

While ideally, we think, walking or running with your dog is the way to go, there are definitely times that crazy weather or unexpected circumstances arise. The treadmill could be a great supplement to an outdoor walk for an energized pooch. It could also be a perfect tool, as mentioned by dog trainer April Suhr, for shelter animals to unwind, exercise and ultimately have a better chance of adoption.

What are your thoughts?

Sources: Associated Press, Yorkdispatch.com, Main image via coolest-gadgets.com