Conditioning tips..

I do not use treadmills in keeps, their purpose in my eyes is for keeping yard dogs excersised. When either my partner or I is putting in the miles with one, the others are going nuts to be worked. It would be beneficial to set up a treadmill to let them burn some energy for 10-15 minutes at that time, but for a serious conditioning tool, I don't like them. Alot of people have the logic like you do BoiBoi, but you need to look at both end results side by side to see a treadmill is not the same. It is easier on the owner, but it is not as beneficial to the dog-a trade off I don't think is worth it. Treadmills definetly have their place, and can be more positive then negative if you really know what your doing. For the average owner, roadwork is a better choice, to get more out of the dog imo.

The only thing I would change about our current set-up, is I'd like to experiment with a jenny.

You might be getting more miles in a dog with a treadmill, and the dog will LOOK good, but all the wind and looks in the world isn't going to help a dog that you've sucked all the power and mouth out of come show time.

 

i know you were asking rock and he already anwsered but there really is not substitute for handwalking.best damn thing you can do for a animal is hand walking.but if it is just not a option to walk miles and miles per day as it is in my case a good treadmill work is still better than no work at all.i walk my dogs as much as i can but if i didn't have a mill my dogs wouldn't be in the best shape,but back when i was a young man even a middle aged man i would get out there and run with them and walk with them up and down the country roads around my farm and there is nothing better for them in my opinion.

 

when you say 8-10 miles handwalking, what are you assuming that the dog is doing on that 30' lead? is he pulling the whole way and your giving resistance or is he sniffing and stopping every 60 feet and strolling easily? i just want to clarify bc i would assume that a pedal bike with the dog running 8-10 miles sounds more worth the effort. thanks in advance for your input.

 

I still feel that running in sand and swimming is the best work out for conditioning and endurance.....but thats not available for everyone I guess

 

I understand what ur saying rock and old timer, i just don't have the experience to compare side by side so ill take ur word for it. I walk my dog a good hour to 1.5 hours almost every day, but most of the walk the dog is off leash running around in this farmers field that i have permission to walk on so he gets a much better workout than just walking next to me, now the thing is 14rock u said u walk the dog on a 30ft leash which isn't an option for many people, so what would be ur suggestion if people are limited to keeping the dog on leash at all times while walking?

 

DavidLau, the only dog I've owned who didn't work all 30 foot of that lead, is the one I'm dealing with now. I could walk him on a 6'' lead, as he will walk at my heels and that is it. All others, would spring 60' hit the end, pull a bit, run around in circles, fall behind and sprint past me. Every now and then I heave a stick through the air, lands and crashes, dog is on point for 30 minutes looking for something in the grass, and subsequently pulling. When I say 8-10 miles, I mean I'M walking 8-10 miles, how many extra the dog hits is up to his/her discretion and energy level on the leash. I originally started walking them long periods during pre-keep to toughen their pads for "harder" work, when I realized it was a better workout on a long leash then running by my side on a bike for the same distances. The places I prefer to walk dogs, the owner is burning the ground down to dirt, to regrow this summer time. All this really means, is my favorite spot is unaccessible right now, and the farmers are out in the fields so I can't much walk through them either. I'm left walking a 3/4 mile path lane, up and down, up and down, and eventually taking a jaunt down the dirt roads once the sun goes down. In "normal" areas like what most of you people are dealing with, an 8' or so lead is probably needed.

 

yeah i would figure a 8 footer would do the trick,what i would do is get me a horse lead and adjust if needed.but it was the same with mine when i would have em on short leads as a rule i used to use about 15 foot but thats because thats what i felt comfortable handling.you have to use what you feel comfortable with for your situation just like a firearm use what works for you and your situation.

 

thanks rock! my girl's only 9 months now so i need to give her more time to be my pup but i just want to be ready when she is. i don't mind putting in the work as walking 10 miles for me would mean 2 hours tops a day. i just don't want to do her wrong and waste her potential. when she's ready, it's time to "do work." she's on a 3 mile daily walk and loves it. thanks again rock.