The trainer we use recommended a treadmill, since in the middle of an Alaskan winter it's not only undesirable, it's also dangerous with the ice and snow, to walk the dog outdoors. We got one yesterday, and Jackson is doing well on it. He's been doing 2mph for 12 minutes twice so far today. I'm wondering if anyone else uses a treadmill? What speed/length of time do you use? Jackson is a very large, like 90+ lbs, 8 month old German Shepherd pup, if that helps...
The trainer didn't help, we just did it. H e wanted off right away, but we had him on lead, and just made him stay on... he only struggled for a second. We live in the Mat-Su valley ;)
are you apart of the facebook meetup group? I think I remember something about 3 tots in a box on there... Nice to meet you too :)
Perhaps you're a part of the Alaska groups here?? and that's where I remember you from? Still good to meet you:)
I wouldn't do much at all for a growing large breed like a shepherd... a nice even walking pace for about 15 min 2x a day. You don't want to have him jog or run (espceially not for far/long) untill he's at leas 18months old.
I treadmill trained my Doberman one winter when I was supper pregnant and it was cold rainy Oregon, it was the best thing ever... I usually put him on at about 3.5-4 MPH I think, with a bit of an incline, and for 30-60 min. But I started him when he was 2 years old and worked him up to it.
Here's a youtube video of him on the treadmill (he's never tied so he can get off when ever he wants, but he usually won't):
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- underHISwing
on Jan. 6, 2012 at 8:27 PM