getting the damn dog on the treadmill

[msheely]

just got an electric treadmill. trying to get my dog on it. he wont get near it. ive tried to put him on it and start it but he freaks out and runs off. how can i get him to use the treadmill.

[CB]

Well im not to helpful on this but i would say to not scare the dog to get near it just give it some time and the dog will get used to it being around.

[Crash97]

Let him get used to it as an object, then let him walk around on it while off and stationary. After a while of it being just something to walk on, start it up on real slow and see if he'll walk on it. If he just plants his feet and refuses to move, shut it off and keep allowing him to just stand/ walk around on it. Every day or so try it on lowest setting again. If none of that works, just turn it on with him in the same room and he may just get used to the noise etc. Hope this helps ya.

[msheely]

im kinda at my wits end with this dog. thinking about giving him up. its not really his fault. i just started back to school and dont have time to give him. I love the dog to death but he is a 50lb destructive monster. he breaks out of his crate eats stuff. he ate seventeen of my roomates dvd's. hes ate four comcast remotes, two tv remotes, four pairs of shoes, three homework assignments, pisses and shits on the carpet and now he wont get on the treadmill that i bought for him. im trying to give him exercise its hard when i work so much and am at school. i thought with the treadmill my roomate could help me work him. I mean all he would have to do is put him on it and watch him while he runs. im moving out of my apartment this month but the deal on the house i was buying fell through. my parents offered to let me stay at there house for free but i cant bring the dog. i just want whats best for the dog. but im tired of his shit.

[Crash97]

im kinda at my wits end with this dog. thinking about giving him up. its not really his fault. i just started back to school and dont have time to give him. I love the dog to death but he is a 50lb destructive monster. he breaks out of his crate eats stuff. he ate seventeen of my roomates dvd's. hes ate four comcast remotes, two tv remotes, four pairs of shoes, three homework assignments, pisses and shits on the carpet and now he wont get on the treadmill that i bought for him. im trying to give him exercise its hard when i work so much and am at school. i thought with the treadmill my roomate could help me work him. I mean all he would have to do is put him on it and watch him while he runs. im moving out of my apartment this month but the deal on the house i was buying fell through. my parents offered to let me stay at there house for free but i cant bring the dog. i just want whats best for the dog. but im tired of his shit.Not to be an ass, but maybe a dog just doesn't fit into your life right now. Not fair to him or you, if no time for him.

[Bluepit50]

Ha! The exact same thing happened to me on Monday. I got a treadmill and started my dogs on it. My female enjoys hard work and loved it right away. My male however would freak out and jump away from it as soon as it started moving. It took 3 days for him to get use to it. He would not stay on it for nothing in the world. I put a harness on him and grabbed the top of his harness and held him on the treadmill while puting it on a slow speed. Once he saw that he could'nt run off it he started walking. Once he got the hang of it I put it faster and let go. Since its going faster he more interested in keeping up rather then jumping off. After 3 days he now goes on and runs by himself! It was hard at first but I was just stern with my voice and everything went smooth after that. :)

[msheely]

No, i dont think your being an ass. when i got him he was in a bad situation. Like not being fed bad. And i had a different job. Now it just seems like i spend all my time worrying about the dog spending all day in the crate. And your right its not fair to him or me. Maybe having a yard will help. I really hope i can get him on the treadmill. Ill keep trying. I also dont think i could give him up. I wouldnt want him to end up in the wrong hands again.

[Defend2DaEnd]

If you feel you have to give him up make sure he goes to a Pit Bull Rescue. That way they know who has him and what kind of hands he is in. Also, take something the dog is totally in love with (food or toy) place him on the treadmill with the object a little above his head and the mill off. Then turn it on slow praise him when he does good. That is how I got Halo on mine but it is manual. Oh yea it might help for him to see you on it. That way he figures it doesn't hurt.

[mike333]

If you feel you have to give him up make sure he goes to a Pit Bull Rescue. That way they know who has him and what kind of hands he is in. Also, take something the dog is totally in love with (food or toy) place him on the treadmill with the object a little above his head and the mill off. Then turn it on slow praise him when he does good. That is how I got Halo on mine but it is manual. Oh yea it might help for him to see you on it. That way he figures it doesn't hurt.Yeah,me too after I started running on it my dog jumped up on it & knocked me off.Now evertime she see's it she goes crazy for it.You might wanna try that.

[msheely]

well feel a little better today. put a harness on the dog and my roommate sat in front of the mill and held some raw meat while i stood on the rails and held the dog in place started the mill slow got him going and now he will run. i have to hold him on but for his first day im satisfied.

[scratchin dog]

I have the same problem with getting my dog on the mill. The first time he got up on the mill he was ok until it started to move, then he freaked out. So now Ive been going real slow coaxing him up there with steak. If your dog has a good prey drive you may want to try a flirtpole too. Its cheap and you can make it yourself. If you can get him to chase it for 20-30 mins a day or every other day he will be too tired to eat your DVDs.

[RHI]

Thats great you got him to use the treadmill...just a thought, we put a leash going across the top , from one bar to the other, then a leash coming down that you would hook to the harness....same way as other mills ......I like it because I can do whatever (in the room) and watch them at the same time, might like to try after he gets more used to it...anyway, hopefully now he'll get some of that energy out......

[msheely]

tried the leash thing. works great. i think he finally starting to get the hang of it. he did half a mile today. im searching now to find out what the proper speed and time i should use. i dont want to overtrain but i also want him to get the most out of it.

[14rock]

tried the leash thing. works great. i think he finally starting to get the hang of it. he did half a mile today. im searching now to find out what the proper speed and time i should use. i dont want to overtrain but i also want him to get the most out of it.
Just take it slow so his pads can toughen up and you dont set yourself back with an injury. Congratulations you got the dog to like it.....make both of your lives a bit less stressful im sure!

[msheely]

way less stressful. so much easier to work him on a mill then spend hours walking him around. im working nights starting tonight so it will allow more time to spend with my dog. im gonna post pics as soon as my roomate brings home dig camera.

[El Mexicano]

is this an electrick treadmill???

[msheely]

yep, it was given to me. real nice too. it has preset programs. incline. tracks distance, time, calories.

[El Mexicano]

u need to watch ur dog real good whneu sing one of those,u could rip his pads off real easy

[savage]

if it were me i would not be starting a dog out on a electric mill.it is a new experience for a dog to get on any mill let alone a electric one.i would put the electric mill up and get a decent carpet mill.at least then you havn't got the noise of the thing frightening him while he is still green on running a mill.and you haven't got the sudden start when you turn it on.where as a good carpet mill will turn when your dog walks

[msheely]

yeah theres no way i would let him run on it by himself. too risky. i watch him the whole time. i want to rig the automatic kill card somehow. so i dont have to hold the stop button. maybe fishing line or something like that.

Wow, i just got my 100th post woohoooo.

[RHI]

tried the leash thing. works great. i think he finally starting to get the hang of it. he did half a mile today. im searching now to find out what the proper speed and time i should use. i dont want to overtrain but i also want him to get the most out of it.
I'm glad, just keep an eye on his pads because of the rougher surface and make sure to gradually increase times until he gets in alittle better shape and his pads are better conditioned , odviously if he starts to get tired, you don't want him starting to drag his feet or trying to stop, that could really tear his pads, you'll have to use your best judgement.........hope all continues to go well.

[msheely]

yeah im trying to start him slow. the belt on this treadmill isnt that rough at all. but im still watching the whole time.

[RHI]

thats good, you would be suprised though, they can tear pretty good if your not careful, especially since the belts moving.....glad alls going good

[msheely]

oh i believe you. yeah its been much better. the dog has been great the last couple days. i think he just needed some stimulation. im glad i didnt throw in the towel

[14rock]

oh i believe you. yeah its been much better. the dog has been great the last couple days. i think he just needed some stimulation. im glad i didnt throw in the towel
Thats great, I wish all new APBT owners had half as much guts as their dog to stick with it until the end, instead its too hard, takes too much time, isnt cool anymore,etc. so they tuck tail and jump the box. Thankfully, you stuck it out and I think you will be more than happy you made the right decision!

[SWAMPER]

just turn it on with him in the same room and he may just get used to the noise etc......

THATS THE TICKET..........................

[SouthernDixie]

There is this stuff I have called PadGuard. I spray it on their feet whenever we go out on walks. It helps protect their pads. You could try getting something like that.

Your dog is probably chewing everything because of separation anxiety or just being bored. Make sure when you leave (if he's still getting out of the crate) that you leave all sorts of toys laying out around the house. Try zip-tying your crate shut on top, that helps them from escaping that way. Maybe leave a radio on or TV wherever you crate him at, that can make them feel easier hearing people's voices. Good luck and hope the treadmill continues to work. Oh and if he is still leery of the treadmill, pet it. I know it sounds dumb. Tell the treadmill how good and nice it is in the babyish voice you got- just like you'd do to the dog for being good. I had to do that with my hairdryer and nail clippers but it worked. Might not on such a big thing, but giving it a shot wouldn't hurt.

[msheely]

well, its kinda weird now. he will run for a while and then when he starts to get a little tired he just stops. i think hes worried he wont be able to get stop. i dont know its still working. his pads arent getting rough just very smooth. Do you guys think i should use some kind of oil. Im going to rest him for a couple days. The area around his pads is getting red and it looks like its kinda painfull. So im going to take like two or three days off and see if they look any better. but on a side note since he started running and im working a different shift he hasnt destroyed anything and he hasnt peed or pooped in the house. so let me know what you guys think about the oils. if i should use some and if so which ones to use.

[RHI]

Well, he probably is alittle soare since he is not yet in condition or his pads either......I would give him a few days off, actually after that, I would try either only putting him on the treadmill every other day, or, 2 days on, 1 day off etc. We never use anything to get pads in condition, just gradually increase times etc. ....have'nt tried but, they also have products called,
corona hoof cream or, Tuff pad that are supposed to help protect and help condition pads also.....

[SouthernDixie]

Or!! You could get some cute little shoes with little bows!!! ....JK!

Yea the stuff you can get to spray on their pads protects pretty well. We use it before walks. Her pads used to be so dry and cracked but since I've been using PadGuard, it's helped out a lot. It's just a touch hard to get off of yourself so if you don't want sticky, stinky hands, be careful! :)

[msheely]

hmm doggie nikes. sounds like a winner to me. maybe even some shoxs. i wonder what size he wears.