Using a treadmill

[kaylynn143]

I applogized up front for the length of my question.

Has anyone tried using a treadmill to exercise their dogs? I have been thinking about getting a treadmill to help exercise myself and my dogs.

Unfortunately, walking my dogs is only a workout for me. I have bad knees and can only go so fast (speed walking rate, but no jogging). I exercise Harley (lab/rott mix) in my long hallway by throwing a ball for her to fetch. She will run for hours if my arms don't fall off first. I am having a harder time exercising Merlin (rescue rottie), I have tried the fetch game with him, but he has no interest unless Harley is playing too and then he will just watch her run after the ball and when she gets most of the way back to me he takes the ball out of her mouth and brings it to me.

Merlin and Harley go to doggie daycare on seperate days, so they get a days worth of play each week, but I know that is not enough exercise to keep them healthy.

I have tried taking them to the dog park a few time, but I seem to pick the times when the 'unsupervised' dogs (owner in the car watching them be nobs) are there pushing the other dogs around. We spend most of the time there fending off snarling and snapping dogs than having any fun. I know that dogs at play can seem like they are fighting, but these dogs are NOT playing nicely at all (hackles up, no play bows, etc).

I have also taken them to empty fields on a secure 100 foot rope, but all they do is sniff things and roll in even worse unseen things. They love it, but it doesn't get them the exercise they need.

With winter hitting soon here in Wisconsin, my pace will be slowing some and I am at a loss on what else to try. I thought about hiring someone to run them, but the sidewalks are not well maintained (bumpy etc) and are often covered in snow or ice. I don't want anyone getting hurt either. I have been looking for someplace indoors to run them, but most places are not dog-friendly around here (been looking for someplace else to live for a year now).

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[TrinityRun]

I don't think anything can out do actual road work but in situations like yours it may well be the pefect solution.

Try doing a search on Canine Treadmills.

[Judi W]

I bike my dogs which gives them an opportunity to reach and drive without restriction at a correct pace. I believe treadmills restrict reach and cause a dog to pull up short in front which is not good. Careening down a hallway and screeching to a halt is not really exercise so although it might be a bit entertaining, don't count that as conditioning. Of course I wouldn't recommend biking in snow and ice, but when the surface is clear and I can't think of a better way to move a dog out.

[kaylynn143]

I did a search for canine treadmills and they start around $1500 for the basic 'run of the mill' mill. I figured they would be closer to the price of the human version. What was I thinking???

During our 'hibernation' I will check on finding a bike and one or two of the springer thingies to attach the dogs to the bike. I have seen a couple different models. This summer I tried to get around my limitations by roller skating with the dogs and a friend. After using my bumm as a brake I am a bit leary to combine wheels and dogs again. I know we would both need to take it slow and easy till we know what we are doing, but my keester keeps having flashbacks.

[Judi W]

I prefer to use a leash as I would rather have the flexibility of my hand/arm and the occasional guidance of a little pop on the lead than to have my dog attached to the rear wheel of something I'm on! I use a short lead of the length that does not allow the dog to cross in front of the bike but still gives them room for free movement. Unlike skates, bikes come with real brakes. Dog off the left side and the right hand controls the rear brake which is the safest one if you are only using one hand to apply. I used to skate quite a bit with my dogs, but now I stick with biking. I've always biked all of them anyway. They really enjoy a chance to move out and an extended trott for a distance is the best conditioning.

[Carina43]

I think the "jog a dog" starts at about $1200 - still expensive! I have a friend with a large Malamute she shows in conformation...she has a jog a dog and runs him 30 minutes a night in addition to other exercise.

There's no dog parks around here and I probably wouldn't go to one if there was. My little Daphne (the Hyperweiler!) has lots and lots and lots of energy...I trained her to run with the bicycle last spring. We also have a four wheeler that we can run around the property on...it freaks Daphne out but Dutch really likes being run with that. My "significant other" has rheumatoid arthritis & can't walk great distances, so he's been taking Dutch out.

I remember from the monks of New Skete book - it's been a while since I read that - they had photos of their Shepherds being exercised by running on lines behind a vehicle...I would imagine you would need to be a: pretty careful and b: have a private road! Many years ago with my very first Rottweiler I had a newspaper route in a crappy part of town; I would take him with me for security & company. I taught him to "heel" to the van, and soon he knew the route as well as I did. There's an idea for ya, get a paper route & teach your dogs to deliver papers! :)

[mickeymichellie]

Biking is my first preference, and I agree with Judi about using a leash, but I know how hard it can be during winter. I have known quite a few people that have taught their dogs to run next to cars successsfully. The roads do not have to be completely abandoned :) , just wide and slow so you can drive slowly with the dog. It might be best if you have a second person go with you or buy one of the mail trucks so the dog can be on the right side of the car (outside of the lane, away from other cars). I like my dogs on the right side for biking too.

Oh, and for biking I like the leash because years back I had a dog that liked to stop and "do his duty" in the middle of our run. I broke him of that habit after awhile, but in the meantime I would have landed face first everytime he put on the brakes, if I wasn't paying attention and had let go of the leash.

Gppd luck, I know how hard it is to exersize my dogs here when it is snowing, I can only imagine what it is like there.

[Judi W]

If you are going to use a vehicle, find an empty parking lot please and stay off the roads! After hours business parking lots, shopping centers when they are empty or closed, whatever.

[kaylynn143]

Thank you all for some wonderful ideas!

I wouldn't feel comfortable using my car and I don't have a four wheeler (it is now on my wishlist though). I will work on biking with them this coming spring.

Would carting allow for proper movement? I have been thinking a lot about carting with Merlin and running Harley beside him, but not attaching her to the cart since she is so much smaller than he is. I think I would feel more secure with a cart than on a bike with two dogs (or even one for that matter). The parking lots are actually cleared out pretty good in the winter. Does anyone know if they make 'winter tires' for the carts?

Thanks again!

[Muckdogs]

I too would recc. biking. It's great exercise for them and you can change pace jsut enough to give them a really good workout. We are training for the AD and bike frequently. I find the ideal pace is when they are just to the point of transitioning from a trot (pace i guess it is called) to a run. As conditioning improves, the speed goes up before they break into a run. Right now, I can pace him at approx 8.5 MPH. Still need to gain 1MPH to get into the AD range.

Also, you may want to consider swimming. Very good workout as well. I tried to run my dog on my personal treadmill, but it didn't work out too well when we got up to speed. for conditioning, yo can try walking him on a treadmill at about 3-4MPH with as much incline as your treadmill can get. Mine can go up to 15 degrees.