Treadmills and slatmills for dogs: what the research says

Treadmills have a real place in veterinary rehabilitation and gait research, and dogs adapt to them quickly, but there is no research at all on slatmills, and very little on treadmills as everyday exercise for healthy dogs — so a treadmill can supplement walks, sniffing and free play under good conditions, but the claims made for it, good or bad, go further than the evidence.

Treadmills in research and the clinic

Much of what we know comes from gait analysis, where veterinarians measure how a dog moves to detect lameness. In a study of ten Belgian Malinois trotting on an instrumented treadmill, Fanchon and colleagues found that the force curves looked similar to those recorded on the ground, and that measurements changed between the first and second day but not between the second and third. In a later study of 28 healthy dogs, Fanchon and Grandjean found that habituation occurred after a single training session. For most dogs, getting used to the belt is quick when it is introduced calmly.

Treadmills are also used in exercise tests for heart disease. In a 2025 review, Bugeaud and Marcondes-Santos describe treadmill tests as promising for monitoring dogs with heart failure, and report that structured exercise programs may help slow the progression of the disease — though more research is needed.

Underwater treadmills and rehabilitation

In an underwater treadmill, the water supports part of the dog’s weight and adds resistance. Evidence is growing but still limited:

• In a pilot study of 50 dogs with various conditions, Twarowska and colleagues found that the range of motion of all major joints improved after ten sessions — but there was no comparison group.
• In a study of dogs recovering from spinal disc surgery, Kuricová and colleagues compared 17 dogs given supervised underwater treadmill therapy with 17 matched dogs given exercises at home. Both groups improved, but the treadmill group improved faster and walked independently sooner, with no treatment-related complications. The study was retrospective and small.

Underwater treadmill therapy should be prescribed and supervised by a veterinarian or a qualified rehabilitation professional.

Fitness training in healthy dogs

Studies of structured fitness training in healthy dogs are few. In a small Finnish study, Hyytiäinen and colleagues followed eight Labrador puppies under six months of age through an eight-week endurance program — on the ground, not on a treadmill — and found no short-term adverse effects compared with seven untrained puppies, although most measurements did not change significantly. The authors stress the need for programs that vary volume and intensity.

We found no studies that compare treadmill or slatmill running with outdoor exercise for the long-term health, joints or behavior of healthy dogs.

Slatmills

A slatmill is a non-motorized machine with a belt of slats that the dog moves by running. Supporters say the dog controls its own speed and can stop when it wants. That may be true for some dogs and some setups, but it has not been studied: there is no published research on slatmills and canine fitness, injury risk or welfare.

The topic is also heated for another reason. The ASPCA lists a treadmill “used to condition dogs in preparation for fighting” among the exhibits in its museum exhibition on dogfighting, and machines like these are associated with that history in many people’s minds. That does not mean every owner who uses one is doing anything wrong — but it explains the strong reactions.

If you use a treadmill

• Ask your veterinarian first, especially for puppies, older dogs, dogs with joint, heart or breathing problems, and flat-faced breeds. Puppies have their own exercise needs; see age-appropriate activity for puppies.
• Introduce it slowly, with the belt off and then at a walk, with food and praise, over several short sessions.
• Stay with your dog the whole time. Never tie a dog to a treadmill or slatmill, and never leave it alone on one.
• Use a walk or slow trot, short sessions and plenty of breaks. Watch breathing and heat; see heatstroke in breeding dogs and puppies.
• Stop at signs of stress: trying to get off, tail tucked, lip licking, yawning, wide eyes, panting out of proportion, or limping.
• Keep it as an extra, never instead of walks, sniffing, play and time with you. The Five Domains model describes why behavioral needs matter as much as physical ones.

When to call your veterinarian

• Your dog limps, is stiff or reluctant to move after exercise.
• It breathes heavily for a long time after a short session, collapses or seems weak.
• You plan to start a training program for a puppy, an older dog, or a dog with a known health problem.
• If in doubt, call — your vet would rather hear from you early.

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Sources & further reading

1. Fanchon L, Valette JP, Sanaa M, Grandjean D (2006) — The measurement of ground reaction force in dogs trotting on a treadmill: an investigation of habituation. Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology 19(2):81–86. doi.org
2. Fanchon L, Grandjean D (2009) — Habituation of healthy dogs to treadmill trotting: repeatability assessment of vertical ground reaction force. Research in Veterinary Science 87(1):135–139. doi.org
3. Bugeaud G, Marcondes-Santos M (2025) — Exercise testing and physical activity in dogs: from health to heart disease. Animals 15(22):3336. doi.org
4. Twarowska J, Strychalski J, Gugołek A (2025) — A pilot study on the effects of a 10-session underwater treadmill programme on canine joint range of motion. Animals 15(21):3186. doi.org
5. Kuricová M, Török M, Zelezník P, Lipták T (2026) — Effect of postoperative underwater treadmill therapy on functional recovery in dogs undergoing intervertebral disc surgery: a retrospective matched cohort study. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 40(4). doi.org
6. Hyytiäinen H, Junnila J, Laitinen-Vapaavuori O, Kyröläinen H (2026) — Endurance training-induced changes in heart rate and blood lactate concentration in puppies. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 13:1770294. doi.org
7. ASPCA — ASPCA Exhibit “Dog Fighting: The Voiceless Victims” Opens at Crime Museum. aspca.org

Where evidence is limited, recommendations rest on established practice and expert judgment, and may be updated as knowledge develops. Research on treadmills for healthy dogs is sparse, and slatmills have not been studied. This is general information and does not replace advice from your veterinarian.

Next steps

• Read next: Age-appropriate activity for puppies.
• Related: Caring for breeding dogs · The senior breeding dog.
• Return to the area hub: The breeding dog’s life.