Even though owners tend to use treadmills to exercise dogs in bad weather treadmills should be used at all times. Show dogs are also put in shape using treadmills.

Describing a Dog Treadmill

There are two types of treadmills for dogs:  motorized and animal powered. The latter which provides a workout of 30 to 60 minutes in just 5 to 10 minutes, is recommended.

They are cheaper at $300 to $600 for a quality machine, in comparison to $500 to $1000 for a motorized machine.

Dog powered treadmills have two types:  Slate and Carpet

Slate Treadmills have been in existence for over a century, several could be used in household tasks like churning butter or ice cream.
pitbull related sites on the net may turn up information on slate mill makers.

Carpet Treadmills are popular with pitbull owners. They are easier to maintain, less complex, quieter, and provide a thirty minute workout in five or ten. Five to eight minutes sessions should be gradually increased to a brisk walking pace.

Two Mill Makers Recommended

Colby Treadmills come highly recommended, are nicely turned out by manufacturers of long experience, and are reasonably priced.

Grand Carpet Mills have three affordable models: regular, traditional and customized Big Dog.

Note: My personal experience of sourcing a mill from the latter was a smooth and pleasant experience. Prices were excellent and the mill high quality.

Pointer for Getting a pitbull on a Treadmill

• At the beginning, do ten minutes of full speed workout or twenty minutes of brisk walk. Halve that for dogs that are not too healthy.

• Do not leave the dog alone on the treadmill.

• Warm up and cool down the dog before and after the session with a 5 to 10 minute walk.

• A 5 to 10 minute brisk rub down after a tough session will reduce chances of cramping.

Training Steps

1. Even confident dogs need to be introduced gently to the presence of the treadmill, with repeated exposure and breaks, until he has become accustomed to the mill.

2. Put him on the mill, praise him and take him off. Repeat this until he is comfortable on the mill.

3. Put him on the mill with a harness and call him to get the feet moving. Don’t hurry him. Praise, take off and repeat until he understands.

Note:

Do not utilise a collar to harness him to the mill.

If you could avoid baiting but rather bring them to a point where they want to run, it would be better.

The goal is to make the pitbull so comfortable on the machine that he will start walking on his own. Then stand in front and encourage him to run by calling him to you.