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Anyone tried the treadmill "gimmick" with their BMD's? Did it work?

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Berner_Mom:
My hubby and I were talking the other night, as we watched yet another Dog Whisperer episode.  We've watched the show for a long time, pretty much since it started- way before we got Tucker of course, and were wondering- Do your dogs (specifically BMD) walk successfully on a treadmill, and do they seem to like it?

Since we are in Calgary, and snow/winter is fast approaching, we were playing with the idea of investing in a treadmill for Tucker (and us!) to help get through the cold, COLD winter months ahead. Not to completely stop walking him outside, just to be able to not do it as frequently or for as long, for both of our safety.  Neither of us want to be walking in -40degree weather, in a white out, on slick, ice covered roads/sidewalks.

So we thought we'd look into it and ask around, and what better place to ask then here!

Does the treadmill thing really work, or is it just edited to look like it works on the show? Do your dogs like it? How hard/easy was it to get them used to it?

Thanks for the input!

People Whisperer:
Treadmill could be very useful for "sporting" dogs and "super hyper" kind as well. With BMD you don't want to use it at least until your pup is 2 years old to avoid any orthopaedic issues  ;)

Modified: there are plenty of activities you can do with your pup IN the house to keep him stimulated and tired. "Hide and Seek" is our favorite, various scent games, tug-of-war, etc.

sc.trojans:

Just one of MANY horrible ideas I see on that show.  Sad, since I understand that our human preferences are different and we dont want to be out in bitter weather, but Tucker is sitting there patiently waiting for that winter to come, and you want to keep him in?  Don't tell Tucker!

Going out every day for a BMD is more about mental and emotional stimulation - smelling things, finding other dogs or critters to engage, playing in snow etc.  Nothing on a treadmill will replace what your BMD needs.  Even Cesar is using it for solely those high energy dogs or overweight who need to burn calories.  That kind of repetitive motion without any stimulation or enjoyment is not beneficial or a sound replacement for getting outdoors.

ruffian:
I am not sure how many of you have tried to walk a dog at -40, that is with out the wind chill, we had 3 or 4 weeks of -50  with the wind chill here last winter, but it is not easy on us or the dogs.  My little ones hardly will step foot out the door, let alone go for a walk, and they have thick winter Shiba coats, I dont know how Gage is going to fair this winter.  Frostbite starts to set in in a few minutes at -20, let alone -40, I honestly fear for his ears if he spends to much time outside.

I know people here, quite a few hours north of Calgary, that have treadmill trained their dogs for when it is that cold.  My friend trained his boxer Maiden one of those -50 days and she loves it.  He did it with food though not by tieing her to it like ceaser does, I just cant stand that man.

Berner_Mom:

--- Quote from: sc.trojans on October 16, 2008, 04:49:42 pm ---
Just one of MANY horrible ideas I see on that show.  Sad, since I understand that our human preferences are different and we dont want to be out in bitter weather, but Tucker is sitting there patiently waiting for that winter to come, and you want to keep him in?  Don't tell Tucker!

Going out every day for a BMD is more about mental and emotional stimulation - smelling things, finding other dogs or critters to engage, playing in snow etc.  Nothing on a treadmill will replace what your BMD needs.  Even Cesar is using it for solely those high energy dogs or overweight who need to burn calories.  That kind of repetitive motion without any stimulation or enjoyment is not beneficial or a sound replacement for getting outdoors.

--- End quote ---

I did not say we would replace Tucker's daily walks with the treadmill. Obviously the outdoor walking/stimulation/sniffing/meeting new people/dogs, experiencing everything- including the weather- is more beneficial for Tucker; I was curious about the treadmill thing for those few nights that will come up when its -40 or -50 with the windchill, when its physically unsafe to be outdoors for more than a few minutes due to threat of frostbite, when your front steps/sidewalk and the streets are all slick with ice AND buried in two to four feet of snow making it physically dangerous to both Tucker and ourselves to be outside- would a few minutes on a treadmill here and there throughout the day (along with the normal playing/tug/puzzle/cat chasing/hide and seek games we play with Tucker) be ok?

Assuming of course we could get him to walk on it in the first place.

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