Treadmill?

[Valentine]

Well! I finally found a way to make Valentine listen to me and give me his undivided attention when we go for walks!

Today I brought him into the area where I work out, my treadmill, hand weights etc.. And he started sniffing around the treadmill and was being all curious. So I turned the switch on and he of course jumped off right away. But I left it on and he was still curious. So I lifted him onto the tread mill and held him in place for a few seconds and then he was just a natural after that. He understood that in order to not fall off (he almost did!) he is to keep moving. So I did this for about 8 minutes at canter pace. Then I sped it up for about 1 minute at a full "galloping speed" then he started panting.

So then I took him out for a walk and he wasn't pulling, or acting "stupid" when he saw someone...I have yet to try this with another dog passing by. Although it didn't tire him out at all, he was panting a little and he seemed a little calmer on the walk.

So is this safe? Can I do this without hurting him somehow? (well besides him falling off!) How long and how fast can I go before I take him out? How long is safe for a 13 month old?

[poohbearsmom]

If you are going to use a treadmill, TROT him, do not RUN him on it... that is far too dangerous.

His growth plates will come together within a few more months, in the meantime, keep his forced exercise to minimal levels, as you don't want to damage his joints.

If you're going to exercise him like this, it would be prudent to get xrays of his hips/elbows to make sure he is indeed sound.

[jlaack]

If your dog isn't listening to you the treadmill most likely will not fix the problem. You need to find a qualified trainer to help you with your dog. You are fighting a DD label and on your posts re: that in the behavior section you did not mention that your dog doesn't listen to you. I urge you to seek assistance from a professional behaviorist to help you transform your dog into a model citizen. All of us Rottie owners have a lot to loose when other owners have dogs that are out of control. I was a bit nervous from reading your behavior post when you stated you use 2 leads on him even with a prong collar. Please, please, please for the sake of your dog and the breeds reputation get serious about obedience training for him and the pit too if needed.

[Sharon Marples]

As was stated, exercise is NOT training in this instance. He may be easier to walk, but what have you gained? You need to get with a behaviorist and get him the proper TRAINING so that he becomes a well-mannered dog.

[AngelBunny]

A Rottie needs to be exercised physically and mentally. Thinking you're going to gain control over a young healthy dog by physical exercise alone is a pipe dream. What you'll be doing is building up the dog’s strength for even more inappropriate behavior. You’ll be giving your dog workouts, making your dog even worse.

You must get your dog into obed class. Anything else is futile.

[Valentine]

IT has NOTHING to do with him getting trained!! It has ALL to do with the fact that when he is tired or warmed up before he goes for a walk he seems to listen better because he is not so feisty!

jack there is a thread already on this in the behavior section. I think it was even posted for you in the other tread. There are two threads, one about Vals aggression problem and one about the DD label.

Valentines Aggression Getting Worse

Now my questions was: "Is it safe to exercise him a little before we go for walks, because when I DO exercise him a little he listens cos he is not so "fresh" and excited"

Please try to keep this about Treadmills, if you want to comment on Valentines behavior please post in the appropriate thread (linked above)

Thank you

[moondog]

His behavior and his need for training can't be separated, they are interrelated.

While it does help to take the "edge" off, it sounds to me like you worked him beyond that. A dog that's TOO exhausted isn't going to be any more responsive to training than a dog that goes out the door snorting fire from their belly.

So, moderation. In duration and in speed I'd think, both for his joints (he's very young!), and for his mindset. I don't use a treadmill, so I don't know for sure, but it seems some stretching exercises might be a good idea before putting him on it.

[jlaack]

You were the one that brought up the behavior related to the treadmill on this thread: [QUOTE I finally found a way to make Valentine listen to me and give me his undivided attention when we go for walks! ] The point is that your dog needs to listen to you regardless of how much exercise he has had period. He obviously needs to potty in the morning before going on a treadmill therefore he needs to listen to you at that point as well as he does after he has had some good exercise. I read your post that the reason for the inquiry about the treadmill is because you think it will increase his listening to you. As I and others have posted on this and other threads you should focus on good obedience training with your dog. You cannot rely on the treadmill as a good fix. What if your dog is injured and cannot use the treadmill? He needs to listen to you all the time.

[spidey]

Most behaviour problems are at least somewhat lessened and/or made more amenable to training when a dog is well exercised (which is probably what you are seeing), so increasing his exercise will probably help. However, I don't know that a treadmill is necessarily the way to go, since dogs do not use a proper gait on a treadmill as a general rule, and the dog has no control over how fast/how long, etc. which can be harmful for a younger dog. Can you not just take him for a run every day or something like that?

[mwaters]

I'm not sure it is exactly the same in dogs but...I know horse people that use this same logic before riding a excitable horse...lets lunge (run the horse in circles with no rider) til he's tired before going for a ride...this 'seems' to make the horse behave better on the ride...in reality what happens is before each ride the horse needs more and more 'lunging' first as they become more and more fit and don't get tired as quickly! It doesn't fix the training problems.

I would say take that extra energy that Valentine has and focus it on an energetic training session before going for a walk and forget about the treadmill for now.

[moondog]

Originally Posted by mwaters

I'm not sure it is exactly the same in dogs but...I know horse people that use this same logic before riding a excitable horse...lets lunge (run the horse in circles with no rider) til he's tired before going for a ride...this 'seems' to make the horse behave better on the ride...in reality what happens is before each ride the horse needs more and more 'lunging' first as they become more and more fit and don't get tired as quickly! It doesn't fix the training problems.

I've saved my hiney more than once by give my horse a nice go on the lungeline before riding.....far fewer impromptu caprioles out of him, LOL. If you don't overuse the tool, you won't overcondition the critter, but it is a valid concern. Get them too fit, and then you're really in the soup.

[sweetlee]

I am disabled and some nights I can't walk far enough for Dodge to get his excersise like he should. I haven't used a treadmill, but might if I had one. Although my problem is not about him listening to me.
BEFORE he was trained not to pull I would either take him out back and play fetch with him for awhile or else my husband would take him out for a jog around the block a time or two. I am sure that most of us have noticed that our dogs slow a bit from the beginning of a walk to the end of one.
A tired dog IS a good dog, but no matter how tired, training can't be overlooked. Even a tired dog can still be a butthead, and still get excited at another dog passing by. And just because a dog is tired doesn't mean he is going to listen to you. If only it were that simple. I believe that if your dog is very active a treadmill walk is not a bad idea if you can't keep up with his energy levels, but it is NOT going to do a thing as far as making him mind you.

Sharon