treadmill training? - Page 1

I treadmill my dogs and you must first teach your dog how to walk on it. many dogs, even those with a lot of confidence, are unsure of the treadmill.  You will need to be close to her when she is on it until she knows what's she's doing. You may need to always stay close if she is inclined to jump off. 

The first step is walking your dog, on leash,  on and off the treadmill a few times to familiarize them with it.  Then you turn it on VERY low and hold the lead short. Standing at the head of the treadbelt or right alongside the dog allows you to tap the front of the belt and show the dog where to go.  It helps if the dog has prior obedience and experience in trust building excercises. I use teh command "walk" as I tap the treadbelt, lavish the dog with praise as they take a few steps. If the dog seems uncomfortable, and many of them are, keep your sessions very short and positive until the dog is comfortable enough to walk on it.

Actually, my daughter's dog needs to start learning to use the treadmill. If you like, I can work on it with her tommorrow and post a video, would that help?

I too am interested in how to make my GSD use the treadmill. I sent you a email.

DiAngelo

I too am interested in how to make my GSD use the treadmill. I sent you a email. If it does not reach you mine I will PM you mine.

DiAngelo

Just be careful with BSL because they would automatically assume that you are conditionong your dog for a dog fight.

You also have to be very careful while your dog is on the treadmill.Never leave them un-attended,monitor your inclines(its not like your dog should only run up a hill)and start with very small sessions and let the dog advise you when he/she is capable of running for longer periods of time!!

Here is a video of how my dog got to doing it.

http://s82.photobucket.com/albums/j242/lonewulf_lobo/?action=view&current=JuneauTreadmill.flv

If the link does not work then cut and paste it into your browser window.

The video is an old one and now-a-days he typically runs twice a week for 2-to- 2.5 miles at 5 mile per hour speed. Most of it is on level grade but occasionally I'll have him do about .75 mile to 1 mile on a 5% grade and the rest on level grade.

This level has him on a moderate pant with enough energy at the end to do a sprint into our backyard to chase the deer beyond the fence-line...

In addition he goes swimming once a week for 30 minutes and does a 3 mile bike run once a week.

Lonewolf's dog clearly is a natural on the treadmill (lovely boy btw) but a dog who shows concern over being on a moving surface must be treated differently. I also notice in the video the treadbelt is VERY short.  The downside of regular person treadmills is many of them have too short of treadbelts for a GSD. Running one at the end of it will encourage the dog to clip their front reach short, NOT something you want to teach a showline dog. I use a dog treadmill, but there are some people treadmills with longer belts out there.

KCzaza is absolutely correct about the shorter length.... fortunately my current treadmill is an $ 899/- technological wonder that would allow you to build muscles by just looking at it and has a super long stride belt and more buttons than a 747 jumbo jet.

I would however recommend that you stick to KCzaza's advise since they are very sound.... in fact initally I had to straddle my dog for the first session until both he and I were confident about the whole thing..... In my dogs case it was much easier 'cos he was obssessed with scratching at the belt at the front of the treadmill where it seems to appear magically out of the machine... so getting him upto speed with walking required no restraints or other aids. However like she says... my dog was somewhat of a natural and it is best to be careful and go in small incremental steps.

Best of luck anyway.... nothing like having your dog workout while you kick back in a chair with a beer beside him.