Can Dogs Go on Trampolines? Absolutely or Not?

Trampoline for dogs

Trampolines are a blast and can be used for many recreation activities. Some people have trampolines in their gardens and dogs love to go outside, so it’s only natural that they would want to include their pet. This begs the question, can dogs go on trampolines?

Yes, dogs can go on trampolines, but as responsible owners, you need to take necessary precautions to ensure both the jumper and the dog’s safety. For example, they need to be supervised to prevent being trampled on by other jumpers.

In this post, I will share a bunch of details about how you can make trampolines an enjoyable and safe experience for you and your lovely doggy.

Are trampolines safe for dogs?

Many people ask themselves if trampolines are safe for dogs. While there is no one specific answer to that question, it is important for dog owners to know the risks that are involved with allowing their dog on a trampoline.

Trampolines can be dangerous for dogs because of the risk they face of falling off while jumping or running.

A dog can easily fall off the trampoline and hurt themselves if they are not careful.

It is very important that your pet knows how to use the trampoline before letting them near it, especially if they have never jumped before!

It is also crucial for pet owners not to let their dog jump on the trampoline without supervision as this could result in serious injuries or even death due to strangulation from being caught underneath while jumping.

Dogs should only be allowed on a trampoline when there is an adult present who can monitor what they’re doing and make sure everything goes according to plan.

More safety tips will be covered in the sections below.

Is jumping on a trampoline beneficial for dogs?

Does jumping on a trampoline help your dog?

Does it actually improve their health?

Does it help with joint pain or arthritis?

Will it make them stronger, faster, and fitter?

The truth is that the answer to all of these questions is “maybe,” but we can say with certainty that jumping on a trampoline can do some good for your dog’s physical health.

Reduced anxiety

Jumping on a trampoline can help reduce anxiety in dogs.

Dogs often feel anxious when they’re hurt or when they’re feeling pain, not just physically but also mentally.

While you bond with your dog on the trampoline, the activity can help lessen fear and anxiety in them.

Stress relief

To keep healthy, dogs need to engage in some sort of enjoyable activity.

If they are unable to engage in physical activity, they may get depressed.

Trampolines can be a wonderful way to spend quality time with your dog and your family!

Keeping your dog fit

Jumping on the trampoline utilizes almost every muscle in the body of a dog.

Hence, jumping on the trampoline is not only a fantastic fun activity, but it is also a great workout.

So, if you are busy someday, you can ask your dog sitter or a family member to take your dog out onto the trampoline.

This will also keep your dog occupied for a while so that you can focus on your work. Most importantly, by doing this, your dog won’t miss its daily dose of workout.

A trampoline can help you in other ways too. For example, if you don’t have time to take your dog for a walk, a trampoline can do the job in less time.

Helps burn excess energy

Lots of dogs burst at the seams with energy, and you know they can be quite a handful. If you are an owner of a dog with boundless energy, you are always looking for activities that will help them burn it off.

Trampolines for dogs can be used to encourage them to jump around and burn off some of their surplus energy.

You will not have to go on long walks as a result of this, and your dog will be completely happy.

Trampolines, like taking a dog for a walk, are an excellent method for dogs to burn calories without having to leave the yard.

Does your dog need to train before trampolining?

I don’t personally think it is necessary. It seems more important that your dog gets comfortable being around a trampoline which helps it fully enjoy the activity.

That said, you can give it some basic training.

Some dogs are natural jumpers, while others can’t manage to get up on the trampoline and jump off right away.

If your dog isn’t a natural jumper, the training will teach him how to jump on the trampoline and become used to the sensation.

How do I teach my dog to jump on the trampoline?

Dogs are super smart and they can be trained to jump on a trampoline. In fact, I bet there are some dogs who instinctively know what to do simply by feeling or looking at you doing it.

When you first set up the trampoline, give them time to get acclimated to it. Dogs must understand that the trampoline is not a threat.

Get your dog’s favorite toy and jump on the trampoline with him or her.

Don’t do any bouncing for the time being. Allow your dog to become accustomed to the trampoline’s surface by just playing with it so that it learns that the trampoline is a safe environment.

Continue to play, but this time add a little bouncing. You don’t want to scare or damage your dog, so keep the bounces small.

By exposing this activity to them daily, they will quickly get the hang of it, which is when you can start to introduce bigger bounces too.

As always, keep an eye out for your dog and follow safety precautions to the T.

Trampoline safety precautions for your dog

Just like when you let a child get on a trampoline, you need to make certain there are safety precautions in place.

Some people may view trampolining as a dangerous activity, but there are simple steps you can take to ensure otherwise.

Supervision

It cannot be emphasized more that supervision is required at all times. Dogs are less capable of getting themselves out of trouble, so a pair of watchful eyes must be around.

Number of jumpers

Trampolines come in many shapes and sizes, so if you have a big one, it can be tempting to have a few jumpers at one go.

That might turn out to be a mistake, especially if you have kids and dogs in the mix.

A collision can cause serious injuries for your pooch as it gets trampled under the weight of a child.

Broken bones or head injuries can turn out to be fatal, so you definitely do not want them jumping near each other.

Safety enclosure

Not every trampoline comes with a safety enclosure net, but it is highly recommended that you have one.

They prevent people from accidentally jumping off the trampoline and landing awkwardly, resulting in injuries.

A net will also prevent your dog from jumping off a trampoline, which might be of a height that it cannot handle.

Check the health of your dog

Needless to say, you should be on top of the health condition of your dog.

If they are suffering from any existing medical conditions, it would be best advised to avoid letting them play on the trampoline.

Likewise, if your dog is getting on in years, they should probably just watch from a distance.

Time on the trampoline

Sometimes, it can be easy to have “too much fun” and forget about watching the clock.

Not all dogs are blessed with superb physical conditions. Overworking it can thus run the risk of your dog getting exhausted.

Give it time to get used to trampolines

There are brave dogs who would try everything, but there are also timid ones who would stay away.

Although the activity might seem fun, they are simply not ready for it.

In this case, it would be wise to give them some basic training and help them get used to being around and on a trampoline.

Having their favorite snacks handy will help greatly.

Install a fence or skirting

While your dog is not on the trampoline, it is likely to be running around the yard.

This means that they could sneak unnoticed under the trampoline, which can potentially cause them injury.

To avoid this, you should set up a fence around the trampoline and install some kind of skirting around the trampoline base.

How can I protect my trampoline from my dog?

Signs your dog likes or dislikes the trampoline

I’m not some kind of animal or dog expert, but having lived with a few dogs in my lifetime, I have learned how to observe and understand them better.

Overall, I do think that they enjoy trampolines. It seems to satisfy their curiosity and give them an outlet to have fun.

Just check out this cute video for more evidence:

Here are a few signs that he or she is ready or not ready for a trampoline session.

Ready to play:

• Tails wagging vigorously
• Cannot settle down
• Keeps looking at you and barking
• Ready to dive right in
• Keeps leaning into you

Not ready to play:

• Tail between its hind legs
• Signs of shivering
• Running away
• Cowering behind you
• Aggressive barking at the trampoline

What are dog trampoline beds?

These trampoline beds for dogs may appear to be miniature trampolines, but they have no genuine bounce.

Essentially, they are elevated beds, which can be made of metal or wood, and then a soft fabric is put over the frame to provide your dog with some flexibility.

When your dog climbs on top of it, they should never bounce or dip too low.

These elevated beds are designed to provide more comfort for your dog while also preventing fleas from infesting the bed and generating more fleas.

The beds are available in a variety of heights to fit all kinds of dogs.

Trampoline dog beds recommendations

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)