Training on a treadmill? - Page 1

Funny you should ask this today...the daily newspaper in my little podunk town actually picked up an AP-newsfeed article about the increasing popularity of treadmills for exercising dogs, both home use of them as well as the upswing of them being incorporated into doggie day care facilities and even in shelter situations, and the reports are all very positive.  Shelter dogs are being given the opportunity to burn off excess energy and frustration, which makes them less stressed and results in them 'showing' better to prospective adopters and improves the living situation for all of the dogs there.  Pet owners who have time-constrained lives are able to ensure their dogs can get sufficient exercise to keep the animals fit both physically and mentally, either using treadmills in their homes or at the day care facilities they take their dogs to each day instead of leaving them home alone.  They're also being used in areas where the weather often restricts the amount of exercise a dog can get, such as those places where usual the heat and humidity offer a tiny window of the day when it's safe for man and beast to be engaging in energetic activity outdoors...

As for specific exercise programs, I can't speak to that, as I haven't had any experience using a treadmill for dogs.  I seem to recall Cesar Milan using them and recommending them to clients, though, so perhaps some of his writings may include advice on getting started with the device and how to build the dog's exercise tolerance up gradually....

Well worth looking into, I think.  It's something I may consider...

I tried my GSD on a treadmill and it was not nearly long enough. He could not extend into a natural
trot. 

DetroitSchH, that used to be an issue, but apparently recently manufacturers of canine treadmills started making the products in various sizes in order to accomodate larger or longer breeds of dog, so you could probably purchase one more appropriate for the 8:10 height to length ratio of a GSD and other breeds that are longer than they are tall.

One thing that DOES concern me is that, at one time anyway, having a canine treadmill in your possession was considered to be evidence that you were involved, in some capacity, in training dogs for fighting, as the fighters apparently routinely used treadmill work to condition their dogs in privacy.  I'd sure hope that mindset has adjusted; I think we all know that there are some animal welfare advocates who can be a bit, uh, over-zealous in their viewpoints and their desire to catch people who abuse their dogs...

Quite a few GSD people in the UK have treadmills.  Yes, as Hexe says, there is a risk that you may be
mistaken for a dog-fighter, worse here actually as Pits are an 'illegal' breed - but if you only have Shepherds, not bull breeds, and show you use it properly to condition your dog(s), didn't ought to be a 
huge problem.

The thing with Ceasar is that he often uses his clients' people treadmills as they are already there; fine
for smaller dogs, not for a hulking great long-striding GSD !  Get a proper dog one -  the Germans make a
range of them.  They come with instructions for how to build up speeds and mileage GRADUALLY.

Treadmills are not a substitute for walks.   They are an additional help.


 

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