The most common slatmill questions: How long should my dog run? How many times per week? When do I increase intensity?
Here's the exact schedule.
The Rules (Every Session)
1. Warm up: 2-3 minutes of walking pace. Always.
2. Cool down: 2-3 minutes of walking pace. Always.
3. Water: Available before and after every session.
4. Fan: Pointed at the dog during every session.
5. Harness: Never a collar. Always a harness.
6. Supervision: Never leave your dog unattended.
Phase 1: Introduction (Weeks 1-2)
| Day | Session |
| Mon | 3 min walk |
| Tue | Rest |
| Wed | 4 min walk |
| Thu | Rest |
| Fri | 5 min walk |
| Sat-Sun | Rest |
Goal: Dog walks comfortably and voluntarily on the slatmill. No pressure to go faster. If the dog isn't comfortable yet, repeat this phase.
Phase 2: Building Base (Weeks 3-4)
| Day | Session |
| Mon | 8 min walk |
| Tue | Rest |
| Wed | 10 min (8 walk + 2 trot) |
| Thu | Rest |
| Fri | 10 min (7 walk + 3 trot) |
| Sat | Optional: 8 min easy walk |
| Sun | Rest |
Goal: Dog trots comfortably for short periods. Building cardiovascular base.
Phase 3: Conditioning (Weeks 5-6)
| Day | Session |
| Mon | 15 min (5 walk / 5 trot / 5 walk) |
| Tue | Rest |
| Wed | 15 min (5 walk / 8 trot / 2 walk) |
| Thu | Rest |
| Fri | 18 min (3 walk / 3 trot × 4 / 2 walk / 2 walk) |
| Sat | Optional: 10 min easy walk |
| Sun | Rest |
Goal: Sustained 15-minute sessions with mixed intensity.
Phase 4: Performance (Weeks 7-8)
| Day | Session |
| Mon | 20 min (5 walk / 10 trot / 5 walk) |
| Tue | Rest |
| Wed | 18 min intervals (3 walk / 2 sprint / 1 walk × 4 / 2 walk) |
| Thu | Rest |
| Fri | 25 min endurance (5 walk / 15 trot / 5 walk) |
| Sat | Optional: 12 min easy |
| Sun | Rest |
Goal: Peak conditioning. Sprint intervals build power. Endurance sessions build stamina.
Maintenance (Week 9+)
After completing the 8-week program:
•3-4 sessions per week
•15-25 minutes per session
•1 interval session (sprints) per week
•2 steady sessions (trotting) per week
•Always 2+ rest days per week
How Long Per Session (Quick Reference)
| Dog Type | Session Length | Frequency |
| Beginner / puppies | 3-10 min | 3x/week |
| Average adult | 15-20 min | 3-4x/week |
| High-energy breed | 20-25 min | 4-5x/week |
| Sport/working dog | 20-30 min | 4-5x/week |
| Senior dog | 5-10 min | 2-3x/week |
| Overweight dog | 5-15 min | 3-4x/week |
Maximum for any dog: 30 minutes. If your dog needs more exercise than that, add a second session later in the day rather than extending a single session.
Signs You're Progressing Too Fast
•Dog is reluctant to get on the slatmill (they used to be eager)
•Limping or stiffness the day after
•Heavy panting that doesn't resolve within 10 minutes of stopping
•Decreased enthusiasm or energy between sessions
If you see these: drop back to the previous phase for another week.
The Bottom Line
Start slow. Add 1-2 minutes per week. Never skip warm-up or cool-down. Your dog will tell you when they're ready for more — and when they need a break. Listen to them.
Download our free 8-Week Conditioning Program →Ready to Get Started?
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