Remember the tear-and-snot-inducing #BustertheBoxer in the John Lewis advert that broke the internet? The adorable dog and his trampoline experience were all kinds of cute and heartwarming to watch and it didn’t take long for more pooch parents across the country to make their own #BustertheBoxer.
Dogs are goofballs who have little sense of their own mortality or vulnerability. With the right encouragement, they’re up for almost anything—including trampoline-bouncing! Is it advisable, though? Here’s the scoop!
Long Story Short
Yes, dogs can jump on trampolines, provided that you take a few precautionary measures. Without adequate measures, a joyful outing on the trampoline can quickly turn into a horror story.
However, you should also take into account whether your dog wants to be on the trampoline and enjoys this. Just like humans, dogs have personalities and preferences, so while other dogs enjoy a spot of trampoline jumping, your pooch may not.
Dogs and Trampolines: a Love Story?
Dogs are easily excitable and are like little children—wanting in on the fun, especially when they see others around them having fun.
Therefore, it’s easy to understand why trampolines excite them. Under your supervision, your furball can have a little bit of fun on the trampoline.
However, you should know that some dogs love trampolines, while others may get nervous and scared. If your dog is nervous around a trampoline, it’s best to keep them away from it to ensure mental and physical wellness.
Also Read: Can Dogs Play in the Rain?
Identifying Whether or Not Your Dog Loves the Trampoline
Luckily, dogs can be very expressive and make it quite clear whether or not they’re enjoying something. When introducing them to a trampoline, you can watch out for the below signs, which will help you assess whether or not your dog would like to have a go at it.
Positive Signs in Dogs
If you see the following signs in your dog, it means that your fur baby’s excited to try the trampoline!
- A fast-wagging tail
- A “grin” on the face with the tongue lolling out
- Heavy panting
- The whole body shaking
- Being jumpy and restless
- Extremely playful behavior
- Staying close to you or leaning in
Negative Signs
Keep your dog away from the trampoline if you see the following signs:
- Burrowing into the ground
- Tail chasing
- Shivering
- Unusual growling or aggression
- Licking or chewing excessively
- Attempting to escape from the area
- Continuous pacing
Does Jumping on the Trampoline Benefit My Dog?
Not only will your dog enjoy trampoline-jumping (if he or she is the type to) but he or she will also reap quite a few benefits from all that exercise.
Here are a few benefits that your dog can enjoy:
- Bouncing on the trampoline requires nearly every muscle to work, so along with all that fun, your dog’s also getting a great workout.
- If any day you’re not able to walk your dog sufficiently or don’t have the time to play with him or her, a trampoline could be a good substitute to hit the daily exercise quota and keep your dog engaged.
- Additionally, if your dog is highly energetic, a session of trampoline jumping will help burn off all this energy. Pent-up energy could lead to a deterioration in your dog’s mental health and therefore, outlets for this energy are necessary.
- Your dog’s going to have fun!
Also Read: Can Dogs See Phone Screens?
Safety Precautions for Your Dog on the Trampoline
Earlier, getting to jump on a trampoline involved a visit to the nearest amusement park, but today, trampolines are a common sight across backyards in the United States. Trampoline sales were over 500,000 units a decade and a half ago and the number has only grown, with events such as the pandemic only accelerating things.
If you’ve got pets and children at home, you may wonder if it’s safe to bring home a trampoline.
The great news is that it is safe for pets and children. The not-so-great news is that if you have children, a pet, and a trampoline at home, you have your work cut out for you!
The right safety precautions are paramount to avoiding trampoline-related injuries. With an increase in the number of trampolines selling, there has been a parallel increase in trampoline-related injuries, with injury numbers hitting 300,000 in 2018 and only having increased since then.
It’s even easier for pets to get injured, so not only do you need to childproof your trampoline but you also need to dogproof it for your beloved pooch, so that accidents such as getting trampled over by companions, bouncing uncontrollably, and hurting themselves on any nails or hooks are avoided.
Here are some safety measures you can incorporate to ensure that your dog has a safe and fun time on the trampoline:
- Always be present when your dog is using the trampoline. Constant supervision is a must.
- Your dog should always use the trampoline alone and never with other children as they could get trampled on and hurt.
- If your dog ends up damaging the trampoline, it may be a better idea to keep your dog away.
- Your dog won’t know when to stop on the trampoline, which is where you need to step in and end the session to prevent exhaustion in your dog from all that jumping.
- Guide your dog through the process so that they feel assured of your presence and are also safeguarded.
- Dogs have a tendency to get under the trampoline, which, needless to say, can be quite harmful. Installing a skirt will help prevent this.
Also Read: How Often Do Puppies Poop?
Final Thoughts
Dogs can end up having quite a bit of fun on the trampoline, as long as this is done safely. It also helps to acquaint your dog with the trampoline as you set it up so that they’re not afraid of it.
If your dog is trying to figure a way to get on the trampoline, putting their favorite toy on the trampoline will encourage them to get on it. Once they do, let them just get used to the surface the first few times, and then, when they’re ready, let the bouncing commence!
