Treadmill?

AdrianneIsabel

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#21
I've been thinking about trying to get Gusto using ours. He has been known to jump on it and "slide" off the end when I'm using it, but I haven't actually tried him on it intentionally. Do you have a collar/leash on? Harness? I'm having a hard time picturing just how you get them from standing on it with the treadmill turned off to actually understanding that if they walk along, they won't fall back.
At work we used an xpen around the treadmill so that we could mill dogs while training/playing others and ensure they don't bounce off to join. At home I use a loose fleece lead from rush to tug tied in a breakawayknot, enough tension to discourage getting off (Sloan likes to jump off the front when excited, backup gets distracted and slides back) but not enough that it won't release in an emergency.

I used to use a harness and cross tied leads for Arnold on our human treadmill.

I always use a collar/leash when first training, I use a hand in the collar to show the dog how to pace themselves to reduce the chance of panic.

Not the best photo but that's one of the work treadmills behind big ears.


Sloan on my dog pacer with the loose leash, it's slipped in this photo but I try to hinge it higher usually.
 

Lyzelle

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#22
I've been wanting to find a treadmill for Zander for ages. I think the only thing holding me back is not knowing what I want to focus on....strength or cardio. Regular treadmill or carpetmill? Hmmm.

I think once I got him going, he would be THRILLED to have an option to run whenever. So I'm really enjoying reading everyone's experiences here!
 

AdrianneIsabel

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#24
I've tried Mia on the treadmill several times. She is not a fan at all.
Some dogs need time and some never learn to enjoy it, IME. Arnold doesn't like it anymore but I suspect he has some joint pain causing his hesitancy. A couple of my client dogs would get on and work out but they never looked like the dogs who ran to it, hopped on, and barked until you sped it up.
 

Laurelin

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#25
Mia's not the kind of dog that really cares for physical exercise just for physical exercise.

I was hoping it would take off the edge and spare me constant tennis balls being thrown at me.
 
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#26
Some dogs need time and some never learn to enjoy it, IME. Arnold doesn't like it anymore but I suspect he has some joint pain causing his hesitancy. A couple of my client dogs would get on and work out but they never looked like the dogs who ran to it, hopped on, and barked until you sped it up.
So true, I'll admit that as much as she tries, Enda looks SOOOOOOO bored on it. That's why I really only use it at certain time to just get that little bit of "edge" off her, such as hunting season, her season, and if we need to run somewhere quick and I don't want her all muddy.

Personally for now I'll stick with what I have, obviously, but in the future if I ever get the chance I'd get a carpet mill!
 

stardogs

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#28
There's a folding manual treadmill with 8% and 10% incline settings, 42" long surface, for $109 INCLUDING shipping through Amazon...(ponders)
 

jenv101

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#29
When you are introducing it and get to the turn it on part, is it better to turn it on low with them on it, or turn it on and then ask them to get on?

I had Riley standing on it no problem so I turned it on lowest setting and held his collar. Of course it freaked him out and he wouldn't take treats anymore so I just had him walk for a few seconds and then turned it off and treated him. He got back on it once it was off so hopefully he is not too traumatized to try it again lol
 

crazedACD

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#31
Haha, it's scary to ME to try and get on one while it's moving.

My mom used to have one and most of the dogs liked it, but mom didn't like me putting them on it/thought it was cruel. She got rid of it some time ago but when I move I'm hoping to get one.
 

jenv101

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#33
Thanks! I just have a gigantic baby on my hands. This will take some time and some coordination on his part since he pretty much takes up the whole treadmill.
 

Flyinsbt

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#34
The dog powers it themselves and the carpet mills have resistance. The idea is muscle building over cardio without the over doing it potential of a treadmill that "forces" a dog to keep up or fall off. Also, in the same school of thought, the dog cannot set their own pace on a treadmill which is more natural to a dog.

But the downside is noise for sure, they're super loud.
I have a Grand Carpet Mill. They really aren't that loud.
 

Aleron

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#37
Oh and a lot of show people I know say treadmills can ruin gaits but I know Aleron uses one so I would ask her if that's a concern. The clients I had who worried were dobe (refuse any incline and only allowed to go at a certain speed) and GSD (certain speed and specific time).
Late jumping into this but I do use a regular electric treadmill for my dogs (got it free off of freecycle!). I have heard the same thing about running dogs on treadmills over the years - if they are not extra long, they will teach your dog to shorten their stride and that's bad. I have not seen that to be the case with my dogs, they are 18-24". Now if Roust gets much bigger, he may not fit on the treadmill ;) So if you have say, a big GSD that dog may not fit properly on a regular human treadmill to use. Otherwise, I don't think it's a huge concern unless that is the only exercise you are doing with the dog. Even if it does encourage your dog to change their stride on the treadmill, lots of things teach your dog to alter or shorten their stride like heeling, certain jump exercises, walking on leash with you, turning while running, etc. I know the Dog Trotter people are big on the "human treadmills will ruin your dog's gait for the ring" but then, they are trying to sell you a product.

Everyone gave pretty good advice on getting dogs used to it. I found with mine, it was best to put it on the lowest speed possible and get them jumping on and off that way instead of turning it on when they were already on it. And I don't see any issue with trotting Zinga on it at all. Roust has used it since he was pretty young. Obviously, you don't want to run an adolescent (or any dog for that matter) to exhaustion on it but I don't see the harm in them getting some exercise with it at all.
 

SaraB

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#39
I was just leaving mine on (we are only up to a fast walk right now) and the girls would switch on and off, so they are getting on it while moving. I should probably break down and just hold their collars like Adrianne does, but we all know my weird sense of having to free-shape everything. Zuma is just so dang soft when it comes to that stuff, but I think we have enough of a reinforcement history that it won't freak her out now. That's what I'll do today.
 

Shai

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#40
I thought I already posted but now I can't find it...

Are the dogpacers fairly robust?

I tried looking up videos for dogs on the carpet mills last night but a lot of them just looked like they were frantically barreling along and sort of out of control so was glad to see the vid posted here by maliraptor. I still can't wrap my head around the carpet mill and think I need to look up how they are built...seems like the inertia would just get away from them
 

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