The 9 Best Treadmills for Dogs To Help With Recovery And Prevent Injury

Best Overall

DogPACER Treadmill

$614 at Amazon View on Dogpacer.com

The dogPACER Treadmill 3.1 is a safe and flexible treadmill for most dogs in need of a standardized exercise program or just a way to expend a little extra energy. It also operates more quietly than many other dog treadmills, which will make it easier to acclimate your dog to exercising with the device.

The pace is adjustable between .5 and 7.5 miles per hour, in increments of 0.1, allowing for a wide range of exercise options. The incline has four adjustable settings between 5 and 9 degrees, though it has to be changed manually so there's no way to program multiple inclines into a single exercise.

In addition to the safety bars―which incorporates a fabric guard so your dog's view is focused ahead, making them less likely to be distracted―the dogPACER operates using a red Safety Key, which can be clipped to your dog's collar.

Weighing in at over 84 pounds, the dogPACER isn't exactly light, but its form factor is as minimal as a treadmill is likely to get, collapsing down for easy transport. It even has little wheels so you can roll it to a different position in your house like it were luggage.

The dogPACER has a straightforward control interface, which is mostly a strength, unless you are hoping for highly customizable features. In addition to the "Start/Stop" button (which only works when the Safety Key is in place), there are buttons to adjust the treadmill's speed. The screen can display how much time has passed, the current speed, distance travelled, and an estimate of calories your dog has burned.

There is also a "Mode" button, which lets you select between 3 different programs: Easy Pacer, Interval Pacer, and Competitive Pacer. Each exercise program can be run for 10-30 minutes and adjusts the speed of the treadmill minute-by-minute (following program details laid out in the dogPACER manual, which is also available online) to keep your dog engaged.

It's a no-frills design that provides everything you need for your dog's standard exercise needs.

What About The dogPACER 4.0?

We also considered the dogPACER 4.0, which costs about $300 more. Minor design differences include an option to set the treadmill’s walking surface completely level, whereas the 3.1’s flattest setting still has a 5 degree incline. But the marquee feature is Bluetooth connectivity and an app (available for iPhone or Android). It’s a simple control app that we think won't be worth the significantly steeper price for most dog owners. 

_{Footprint: 76.77 x 27.16 x 46.18 inches | Running Area: 71 x 16.5 inches | Weight: 84.4 pounds | Speed Range: 0.5- 7.5 mph}

Best for Small Dogs

DogPACER Minipacer

$581 at Amazon View on Dogpacer.com

Designed for dogs 55 lbs and under, the dogPACER Minipacer is an affordable model from the most ubiquitous and trusted dog exercise equipment brand. It’s a little more limited than the larger dogPACER models, however. For example, the Minipacer has a fixed incline of 4.5 degrees. It also doesn’t fold up for transport or storage like larger models.

Its preset exercise program covers everything that a puppy could need for an at-home workout, whether there aren’t enough opportunities for them to bound around outside or they are just dynamos with an excess of energy. Despite the portability and small footprint, the Mini is sturdy and safe thanks to a carbon steel design.

_{Footprint: 42 x 28.5 x 21.5 inches | Running Area: 38 x 16 inches | Weight: 48.4 pounds | Speed Range: 0.5 to 7.5 mph}

Best Budget

LifePro Dog Treadmill

$400 at Amazon $400 at Walmart View on Lifeprofitness.com

If you have a medium-size dog, or want to save a little money, then the LifePro PawRunner is a good alternative to the Minipacer. Suitable for pets as long as 29.5 inches and as heavy as 130 pounds, The LifePro treadmill has a longer running area than the competition, though it is narrower. It’s got a remote control and 12 preset exercise programs. 

_{Footprint: 48 x 22.8 x 41.75 inches | Running Area: Not listed | Weight: 47 pounds | Speed Range: 8 mph (max)}

Best for Large Dogs

GoPet Petrun PR725

View on Petprosupplyco.com

GoPET specializes in premium, heavy-duty treadmill models for dogs of all weight classes, and has cornered the market on exercise devices for hefty canines. The Petrun PR725 can easily support dogs up to 176 lbs, and that isn’t even the biggest the company goes sizing-wise; it’s currently difficult to find, but the PR300 model can accommodate dogs weighing just upwards for 250 lbs.

These hyper-durable machines feel as close to professional dog physical therapy equipment as you can find on the consumer market. Its remote-controlled Air Step Incline system can give dogs of any size the precise workout they need, whether they are simply overly rambunctious, attempting to lose weight, or adhering to a specific physical therapy regimen to recover from injury. It also allows for a faster running speed than any other major dog treadmill on the market.

Of course, the trade-off for medical-grade quality is a high price tag. If you aren’t able to purchase, you should look around for other exercise and rehab alternatives for your king-size canine.

_{Footprint: 90 x 24 x 16 | Running Area: 71 x 16 | Weight: 137 pounds | Speed Range: 0.6 to 10 mph}

Best Wheel

GoPet Treadwheel

View on Gopetusa.com

The GoPet Treadwheel is an industrial-grade hamster wheel for your dog, and comes in four different sizes, designed for small, medium, large, medium-large, and large breeds. The careful attention to tension control in each model insures that even the largest pup will be well-supported and free to run to their heart’s content. 

_{Footprint: From 19 x 41  x 44 to 36 x 82 x 87, depending on model | Running Area: From 40 x 12 to 80 x 22 | Weight: 42 to 250 pounds | Speed Range: Not applicable}

Best Slat Mill

Dog Trotter USA Classic Trotter

View on Wearecanineathletes.com View on Dogtrotterusa.net

A slat mill is a treadmill alternative that doesn’t use a motor. Instead, your dog sets their own pace, and the large bearings rotate the slatted track around to keep up. This has several advantages, including quieter operation. Plus, your dog can run or walk, since the track rotates in response to their behavior. Since your dog sets the pace, this is also a potential downside. Slat mills also tend to be more expensive.

The Classic Trotter from Dog Trotter USA is made from anodized aluminum for a lightweight and durable frame, while its slats are kept spinning on 10.5-inch roller discs and ABEC 9 bearings (the same you’d find in skateboard wheels). Plus, it’s got big, beefy dolly wheels so the slat mill is easy to move from place to place.

While expensive, with a high-quality build, some extra features are only available on more advanced models, such as the EVO Pro Trotter, which includes remote control adjustable elevation, a digital speedometer, and a disc braking system.

While the Classic Trotter arrives nearly fully assembled, getting it to your house may present a challenge—since it can only be shipped freight you’ll likely need to pick it up at a freight terminal. 

_{Footprint: 65-inch overall length (medium), 77-inch overall length (large), 83-inch overall length (maxx) | Running Area: 49 x 12 inches (medium), 61 x 14 inches (large), 67 x 16 inches (maxx) | Weight: Not listed | Speed Range: Determined by dog's pace}

Best Budget Slat Mill

PawPaw’s Dog Treadmill

$596 at Amazon $800 at Etsy

PawPaw’s Dog Treadmill offers an alternative to the professional-level quality of the Dog Trotter USA model, at a significantly lower price. While we are impressed by the large aluminum wheel driving the slat mill and the carbon steel construction, there are other components that are likely to be less durable over time, such as the all-wood slats and rubber-covered bearing wheels.

The PawPaw slat mill is available in two sizes.

_{Footprint: 63 x 20.5 x 51.2 inches (medium), 74.8 x 23.6 x 59.1 inches (large) | Running Area: Not listed | Weight: 99 pounds (medium), 117 pounds (large) | Speed Range: Determined by dog’s pace}

Best Adjustable Incline

Moysoon Dog Treadmill

$1,000 at Amazon

Moysoon's Dog Treadmill is full of functional bells and whistles, yet requires no electricity to function. It is built to support up to 300 pounds, which might come in handy if you and your dog need to momentarily step on the treadmill at the same time. Next, its non-motorized design allows your dog to stop and go freely, and the affixed chains and harness ensure they won't fall off the frame or lose their balance. The non-slip, wear-resistant track is also weather-resistant, allowing this treadmill to be conveniently stored outside, despite the elements.

The Moysoon treadmill should be adjusted to your dog's height and body type before use. It also features a brake valve allowing you to set the walking speed. Use the built-in, multi-function pedometer to clock your dog's speed in real time and their overall distance traveled. You can also view the temperature, time, and workout averages.

Moysoon stands behind its products, offering instructions and solutions for assembly, and the per their website, company will replace any accessories lost or broken in transit for free.

^{Footprint: 67 x 24 x 54 inches | Running Area: Not listed | Weight: 99 pounds | Speed Range: Determined by dog’s pace}

Best Rehabilitation Pad

FitPAWS Dog Balance Pad

$50 at Amazon $46 at Chewy

The FitPAWS Dog Balance Dad provides a proper rehabilitation tool for injured dogs needing to regain their strength and stabilize their joints. It can also be used at playtime for puppies to help them learn their balance and muscle memory skills.

This rectangular pad measures 15 by 18.25 and is 2 inches in height. It is made of closed-cell memory foam, which creates an indentation when your dog steps on it for support. Pair this pad with an exercise program, provided by your veterinarian, for interactive fun during your dog's recovery. For longevity of the pad, make sure to clip your dog's nails before use, as long claws will start to rip away at the foam.

^{Footprint: 15 x 18.25 x 2 inches | Running Area: Not applicable | Weight: 2 pounds | Speed Range: Not applicable}