Treadmills

Mac'N'Roe · 08-25-2008, 11:04 AM

Questions.

Who uses them? I mean, who on the forum uses them?

What kind do you use (human treadmill or dog specific mill?)
How long do you have them walk/run?
Do they like it?
Was it hard to train them to use?

Darkmoon · 08-25-2008, 12:14 PM

Who uses them? I mean, who on the forum uses them? I have trained both Carter and Nubs to run on the tredmill.

What kind do you use (human treadmill or dog specific mill?)I use a human one that I picked up for $299. I know its a lot to spend on a dog, but its so worth it on days where it was just way to hot outside or when we have way too much snow for a safe walk outside. I do wish that I had gotten one with a wider belt though, but it works.

How long do you have them walk/run? Carter was up to 15 mins or 1 mile at 3.2 mph. Nubs walks for 10mins at 2.8mph or 1/2 mile. Carter I could get up to 7 mph easily for about 1/4th mile but Nubs doesn't like to run on the treadmill. It all depends on the dog from what I can tell.

Do they like it? Carter LOVED it at first but got bored with it over time. We ran him way too much on it for too long. Nubs is starting to really love it. Yesterday it was 80 outside with 90% humidity so I was running him on the treadmill. I turned it up a bit faster then normal and he ended up kinda just allowing himself to go off the end of the belt. Normally that would be it for the day, but he actually jumped back on the treadmill and wanted to keep going.

Was it hard to train them to use? Carter was so easy to train. It took me and my fiancé to train him in 15mins. Carter just jumped on the treadmill, I stood in front of him with cheese and my fiancé stood over him to keep him from falling off. In less then 15 mins he was running like a pro. After a month I would put Carter on the treadmill and let him run on it with out a leash or anything and I would sit in a chair and read.

Nubs wasn't as easy to train because of his fear of new things. It took about 6 days over 2 weeks to get him on it and walking. 4 days in the first week just to get him ON the treadmill. He was scared of the texture and sound. So I had cheese and really yummy treats and coaxed him on the treadmill. Once I had him actually going on the treadmill without fear and around the treadmill with it running. My fiancé and myself did the same thing we did with Carter. He stood over Nubs while I stood in front of him with cheese and we turned it on to 2.5mph. With his fear I never ran him over 2 or 3 mins until I knew he felt OK about it. It's just been with in the last 2 weeks I've gone up to 10 mins at a fast trot.

zimandtakandgrrandmimi · 08-25-2008, 12:25 PM

I do. I have a carpet mill made for dogs. I use it on rainy days because my dogs act like it's raining hydrochloric acid whenever they get even the slightest bit wet. they run it for 30 minutes tops with a five minute break at the fifteen minute mark. They much prefer the mill to running in the rain.

training a dog to use a treadmill is difficult or easy, It depends on the dog.

I'm pressed for time but I'll come back later and post some links on mills for you.

Patt · 08-25-2008, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zimandtakandgrrandmimi

I'm pressed for time but I'll come back later and post some links on mills for you.

I'm very interested, I look forward to your post.

Do you have the "Jog a dog" tread mill?

Don152 · 08-25-2008, 02:14 PM

When the weather was too bad for me to take her on a walk, I tried the human treadmill I have for myself. She took to it pretty fast, and likes it for short periods. 5-10 minutes at her normal pace (fast walk), with a moderate incline. One important thing though, she is not great about staying centered on it and could easily be hurt so I MUST put her on a one foot long leash and stand over her while holding the leash so she stays in the proper position on the tread.

zimandtakandgrrandmimi · 08-25-2008, 06:30 PM

http://www.grandcarpetmill.com/

This is where I got my treadmill.

http://www.pitbulllovers.com/trainin...mill-work.html

this article was very helpful. It's directed towards pit bull owners but is applicable for any breed. I run my dogs a little longer than Jason recommends but they are both maniacs and want to go even longer.

http://www.americanartifacts.com/smma/power/tread.htm

An interesting historical article on animal treadmills.

http://www.workingpitbull.com/jenni.html

Another pit bull specific article on mills with good advice. As well as fun pics of what's called a jenni which is another type of canine exercise machine. This article is under construction so check back occasionally.

When you teach your dog to run a mill, keep in mind their overall physical and mental state. Don't push them. Let them dictate how fast training goes. Be sparing with the mill. And never ever let it totally replace going for walks. Walks are pretty important for bonding imo and keep in mind some dogs won't like it.

hope that helps.

Mac'N'Roe · 08-25-2008, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zimandtakandgrrandmimi

http://www.grandcarpetmill.com/

This is where I got my treadmill.

That's cool, this is the one I was looking at

Spicy1_VV · 08-25-2008, 09:19 PM

My dogs use them sometimes.

Carpet mill no more then 45 minutes, sometimes I break it up since it should really be about 30mins each time. I had a grand carpet mill for 6yrs that I sold a couple months ago. I tried a mountain mill out and it was great. Just not sure that I will purchase, I was set on it but think I will just have SO make a couple.

Slat mill no more then 1hr, also break up. There was this neat looking new type of slat mill I saw with plastic slats but the slats seem weak watching the dogs walk on them. Again need to build a couple. Anything cheaply priced really doesn't seem to last that long and if the slats are spaced wrong it can cause problems for the dogs.

Patt · 08-25-2008, 09:39 PM

Looks interesting, that one treadmill is awfully noisy I don't think my dogs would take to that.

Thank you for posting the links.

Mac'N'Roe · 08-25-2008, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patt

Looks interesting, that one treadmill is awfully noisy I don't think my dogs would take to that.

Thank you for posting the links.

Hmmm, I didn't see a video that showed how noisy it was...I missed that!

Patt · 08-25-2008, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mac'N'Roe

Hmmm, I didn't see a video that showed how noisy it was...I missed that!

The first one with Levi is the really noisy one.

On second line it says "Click Here" for Levi on treadmill

http://www.grandcarpetmill.com/faq.htm

http://s62.photobucket.com/albums/h1...nt=GoBoyGo.flv

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouy8WprzGBQ