Treadmill needed - Page 1

I need to buy a treadmill to easy the conditioning of my show dogs. Anyone that can help me in obtaining this as cheap as possible,

it would help if you told folks where you live.

This is a supplier in the UK: http://www.iolanda-german-shepherds.co.uk/grillo.htm

I do not understand, is the treadmill for you or for the dogs?

wouldn't it be more fun (for you and the dogs) to use a bike, with a springer?

we do not have an area here suitible for biking so i have been hiking on the trails and throwing her toy up the path and up the mountain sides for her to get better use of her muscles and a harder workout her walk eqauls four times the distance of mine and is march more strenuous this way. Never thought of using a treadmill but I garuntee she would rather go into the forest with just her and I.

I know a lot of AKC show people who use treadmills to condition their dogs. However, I think they use a type made for dogs, not the human sort. I guess a human treadmill could be remodeled to accomodate a dog. You'd need sides and a way to fasten the dog I'd think. I've tried everything I can think of to get Blitz to walk on mine. He stands on the moving belt looking all disgusted and then just falls off the back without lifting one foot. I guess it'll take some more training LOL.

A human treadmill is a bad idea. There are ones specially made for dogs. http://www.jogadog.com Not all human treads are the same and many lack safety requirements, i.e. emergency power shut-off straps and so on.So look carefully. Never tie dog down on the tread either, but be there holding leash in the front so dog is walking in place toward you. It is just as time consuming to teach the dog to use a tread, as it is to walk them up a hillside. Albeit, the convenience is there since you can do it in your own home. I would suggest to always be holding the dog’s leash, and a breakaway leash and collar at that, and having a helper near by until you and dog get the routine down. Good luck in your search.

I have heard of the dog treadmill and can think of many advantages if you are in cold climates and can't walk the dogs in the snow or if in very hot climates you can't exercise your dogs for several months either and have airconditioning in the home. In some parts of the country there are no hills. Or even if you have more than one dog to keep in shape and cannot walk them at the same time. A friend of mine with working dogs in the North uses a treadmill to keep her dogs in shape because of the snow in Winter. She said that the treadmill is a more even and intense workout than a bike ride because the pace is kept even and the dog is not looking this way and that. She said only 10 minutes 3 times a week is enough to keep her dogs conditioned. I too have been on the look out. The jog a dog sure is a major investment compared to a human treadmill. Anyone ever convert a human treadmill for their dogs?

I am trying to convert a human treadmill to an underwater treadmill. Yes the Jog dog ones are about $1200 US, but less if you can find a used one. I had to search long and hard for a basic human tread with some safety straps. The older the model of human treads the better for the dog. The new ones with all the bells and whistles are just not as safe and more difficult to convert; as well as more compact and not as long. Unless you can find one from a gym, professional quality; and they are pricy as well- even used. The wider and longer the belt track is the better. So far I have had 2 failed attempts and am working on the third soon. The failure is not in the tread but in the tank and wiring. The tread is working fine, although I can not use the incline feature because I do not want any electrical components in the water. That feature we had to disconnect. Bolts and blocking is what I used to get machine on a slight incline. Safety is the biggest concern. I found that the safety strap shut off is better than the emergency push button shut-offs. The straps seem to only be on older models.