Treadmill

[JMFS]

So, I have Gertie confident with stepping all four paws onto our treadmill and she watches me quizzically when I use it. How do I progress to getting her to use it? It's been so flippin' hot that we've had to skip a couple walks but they do so much good for both us gals that I want to give this thing a whirl to see if I can get Miss Gertrude to use it as well. She's had a busy week. Her first deer, her first foray into a fully enclosed trailer, and now the treadmill. So far she's taking these challenges on like a Champ. :)

 

A little kudos to Momo, who is wholly distrusting of doors - he made it Mostly through the kitchen baby gate a few nights ago Mostly without help. It tapped his rump at the last second and he headed for the hills, lol. Thankfully it didn't set us back. It's so funny to watch Gertie while I'm trying to entice Mo through. She comes over from the opposite side of the gate, whips the door open with her nose, and gives him an encouraging bow. He's having none of it! He's such a timid pooch. It's tough to train him with Gertrude around because of that resource issue. He snarled at her the other night because he was over threshold with the exercise, Gertie would Not let up, and I was not reading the room very well. Since there was a baby gate that he's too shy with she was safe, ha! Next time Gertie will be properly separated.

 

Okay, now returning you to the original question - treadmill training. :D I'm imagining a dangling carrot (meat chunk) on a stick scenario, lol.

 

Pets and ear scratches to Einstein. :)

[hridika]

Holy crap I LOVE the treadmill, for the dogs, not for me. All my dogs love the treadmill, except my new rescue (border collie), she would hide upstairs when I turned the treadmill on in the basement. Lots of treats with the treadmill on and lots of pets. She will walk on the treadmill now (took about 6-7 months with almost daily work) when it's on, but only for as long as I have treats... so I filled a kong with peanut butter and she had to walk on the treadmill to lick it out. haha I'm a smarty pants.

My other dogs were quite easy to train. I slipped a lead on them, planted my feet on both sides of them (on the non moving part) turned it on and held treats in front of them. VERY slow setting, they didn't care at all about it moving, but the lead just keeps them going. My one dog, will come home from a 1hr walk, jump on the treadmill and bark for me to turn it on! Thank goodness it folds up, so I can close it or she's on it all the time. The goldens just took to it no issues at all. I also trained my brothers Husky he found in the bush in Feb in Canada (-30'C) and No matter what I did, she hated the noise. So you are doing quite well with her standing on it. Perhaps try the leash and treat idea.

[Adrienne Farricelli]

I have never really personally used a treadmill for dogs, so I have no personal experience, but as with all things we expose our dogs to which have components known to potentially evoke fear responses, we can use shaping and the use of high value treats to create positive associations. The biggest component of fear in a treadmill I would think is the sensation of the "floor" moving under the dog. This fear must feel similar to the sensation felt in dogs who become afraid of walking on slippery floors or who are scared of the bath tub's surface when given a bath. The sensation of losing footing and being on an unstable surface, is therefore what needs to be worked on the most.

 

As hridika explained, best to start with the slowest setting. Prior to that, it may help to work on sub-steps, such as feeding her treats next to it when it's turned off, then still why next to it, feed treats when it's turned on, and stop feeding treats when it's turned off, just to get her used to the sight and sound. Then one paw, on, praise/reward, two paws on/ praise reward. Once hopped on, feed treats as it's on, stop feeding treats once off. Once the dog gives signs of understanding the mechanics, it always helps to reward intermittently as the dog trots to maintain positive associations. I know dogs who find them intrinsically reinforcing as it feels good for them to exercise and they just love to hop on them voluntarily. One big buzzword now in the dog training world is "giving dogs choice." I think there are mechanical models (no motor) out now where the dogs can choose their pace which is a big plus.

 

I know this is common sense, but always best to say it in cases others reading think about doing this: never tie a dog to a treadmill and leave the dog unattended. The dog may get scared, fall and be choked. Harnesses may be safer to use. It's important to watch the dog's pace, breathing, gait and check to see if they start to get overheated. Slats can catch nails so care needs to be taken that the dog is properly centered. Dogs should be watched carefully for signs of tiring or getting bored. Safety is paramount. Talking to a vet is always a good idea prior to starting dogs on any exercise regimens. Also, treadmills are not meant to be a dog's only form of exercise by any means. They can come handy in cases of occasional cases of prolonged inclement weather, owner illness, and in cases of severe dog aggression to help dogs release any pent-up energy while working on the counter conditioning/desensitization process.

 

Another thing to consider is that sometimes if we subject dogs to a lot of exercise, we may obtain the opposite effect:in other words, the more the dog becomes physically fit, the more he/she requires even more exercise, which is why mentally stimulating them with training, brain games and puzzles and sniffing adventures in the great outdoors (weather permitting) may be preferable.

[JMFS]

Thank you, both. :) I've got her hopping on to it with all 4 paws, but it's literally a hop to get to the other side, lol. It's like you said, Adrienne, she can feel that the floor is different and she's not all about that. I'll certainly keep in mind limiting the exercise. I'm thinking 15 minutes on the days we can't go to the trail, or if I have another arthritic flare up myself (those take me to my knees and I'm worthless for exercise). I am working on getting her nails shortened. Her quicks are so long it's taking ages to get her to a non-click on the floor stage.

 

I was thinking the harness, minus the lead, might be a good idea since she associates it with walks and good times. And I'd definitely be right there with her while I cool down after my turn. :D It's just so doggone hot right now, 100+ with the heat index every day and usually by 10 a.m., that I'm looking for alternate solutions. I'd go with the pool for exercise but wet dog every day is a daunting thought! Not to mention Miss Priss' dry skin - chlorine might dry it further.

 

Incidentally, I have figured out a course that's working for us with her meals. She's still getting swollen glands despite having solid stools so back to the drawing board on that issue; however, her itching is darn near eradicated. Switching to half wet and half dry food helped, adding chamomile to each meal helps, in the morning she gets oatmeal and dry food, in the evening she gets 1200 mg of fish oil and wet food with the dry food. Bonus - since switching to Pro Plan from Blue Buffalo her head no longer smells like pee - that was a strange phenomenon.