1871
The first dog treadmill patent was issued. Nicholas Potter of Troy, PA created the "Enterprise Dog Power" - originally designed for dogs to assist with churning butter, grinding stones, and operating farm equipment.
1939
John R. Richards of Oak Park, IL patented the first dog treadmill marketed specifically as an exercise device for dogs.
1952
Dr. Robert A. Bruce invented the first human treadmill, using it as a stress test to monitor heart conditions.
1987
I built my first treadmill for dogs, beginning a journey of continuous improvement and innovation.
1997
I built the first of the modern-day Dog Trotters, incorporating decades of learning and refinement.
2008
RH "Bobby" Lummus officially founded Dog Trotter USA, motivated by his observation that existing canine treadmills on the market were either of poor build quality or not safe enough for his animals. The company was established with a mission to build the safest, highest quality canine treadmills in the world.
2017
Dog Trotter USA invested in its first MultiCam 3000 series CNC flatbed cutter, dramatically improving manufacturing efficiency. Production time for slat beds was reduced from six to seven hours down to about two hours per unit.
2020
The company became BBB Accredited on April 14, 2020, demonstrating commitment to ethical business practices and customer satisfaction.
2020s
Dog Trotter USA acquired a MultiCam Apex3R router, enabling a complete redesign of the treadmill product line. This advanced equipment allowed for one-piece construction of 12-14 foot slat belts with precision accuracy within 1/32nd of an inch, eliminating previous two-piece manufacturing that was prone to human error. The product line expanded to include the Classic, Classic Pro, and Evo Pro models, now used by police departments across the USA and all branches of the US Military.