Instructions for a dog treadmill. IPO Dog training. Passing tests for the RKF diploma

In principle, if the owner is unable, due to time or health, to “trot” with the dog
on a leash around the neighborhood, that should be great.
But the question is - how correctly are they used?
And is it possible to use them for good and without harm to health?

In order not to seem like an ardent opponent of paths, I would like to initially say: I have a path at home, it’s in the middle
my living room, complete with dog beds and houses, and my dogs exercise in it, but thoughtfully and very carefully.
The treadmill is a sword with two edges. And the edge of “danger” is much sharper than the edge of benefit.
Benefits of the track:
-not everyone and we don’t always have the time or opportunity to walk the dog enough. But the dog needs a sufficient amount of movement and physical activity. Sufficient does not mean that you should make an athlete out of a dog.
Overloading is even more harmful than underloading. But a dog needs movement and some physical activity in order to be balanced and happy. Dog at complete lack or lack of walks makes you nervous and not happy.

As an example: I have 9 dogs, and although I live in a house with a garden, dogs naturally do not run or walk in the garden. They either do their business there or lie around exploring the surroundings. Therefore, walks are definitely necessary. But the laws and life in Belgium are such that we can only walk our dogs on leashes; in Belgium there are practically no publicly accessible forests or fields where you can let dogs run. They rarely run in the fields or in the forest or at sea. Dogs go hunting separately, but this is also not all year round. This gives us the situation that my dogs only walk on leashes. Walking 7 dogs on leashes is not always possible. If my pack of 9 dogs has not received enough exercise, then they simply begin to be unhappy, they have too much unspent energy, they begin to be nervous or overly active at home, which does not make life easier for them or us -
their leaders. In this regard, I use the treadmill as a small additional exercise 2-3 times a week.
If I had the opportunity to walk my dogs without leashes every day in the forest or in the park, for half an hour - an hour a day, plus the necessary and correct loads on a leash - I wouldn't use a treadmill.

What harm can a track cause if used incorrectly and unprofessionally?
If we're talking about physical health:
-heart problems
-musculoskeletal injuries- musculoskeletal system
-spinal problems
Problems with the spine, such as spondylosis, this moment an incredibly common problem, osteochondrosis, and many more different others. Why can’t you use a treadmill if you have a problem with your spine? Because due to the fact that the track has a measured width, the dog, when moving on the track, not only loads the joints significantly more than when trotting even on asphalt (due to the fact that the track moves underfoot, but the asphalt does not ), but you also load the dog’s spine, which leads to back compression and even more spondylosis. (When a dog is forced to run along a measured track, it strains its muscles too much and goes out of balance in the body, which leads to curvature of the spine, unnecessary stress on the spine, displaced discs, etc.) Why not if you have heart problems?
Because the track is a much greater load on the body than trotting on the ground, firstly for many reasons:
1 - the dog cannot choose a convenient and comfortable pace for it.
We choose the pace.
2 - the pace of the trot is the same all the time, which does not happen when trotting on the ground. The dog on the ground changes its pace.
Even if it is invisible to our eyes or little noticeable, the pace when trotting on the ground is not exactly the same as on the track.
3 - the dog cannot stop on the path or show us in some very clear way that it needs to stop.
And many of us, unfortunately, even if they see and understand that the dog wants to stop, they will not stop the path - deciding
that the dog is just being lazy. Secondly, the track cannot be used for cores because indoors the dog does not get enough oxygen when working on the path - unless of course the path is installed in the garden on fresh air or next to a window with a door (for example, I have a walkway next to a ceiling-to-floor window with a sliding door.
And no matter what the season, this door is completely open during classes. The door size is 2.50 meters high and 5 meters wide.)
The path can spoil the movements, again in connection with the above regarding the width of the canvas, and the fact that the “floor” moves under your feet. If the dog is incorrectly trained to work on the track, if the owner forced it to trot too early,
Without teaching it to walk completely comfortably and in a balanced manner along the path, the dog’s movements will become stiff, without reach, heavy and vertical relative to the floor, instead of the horizontal ones needed for most breeds.
We must remember that a dog is not a person. Dogs are much wiser than us, dogs are much better “people” than us, but dogs are different. If for us a path is just a path, then for a dog the fact that the floor moves under his feet is an anti-natural situation. And the dog needs for a long time in order to come to terms with this fact and begin to move freely and uninhibitedly.
For most breeds, the track is contraindicated until 18 months.. Why? Because most breeds grow up to 18 months, not only that, there are quite a few breeds that grow up to 3 years. And putting a dog that is in a period of growth is not only unsafe but also simply disastrous in my opinion. Why? Because during the period of growth, when everything is still changing and growing, any microtrauma, any too much or incorrect load can turn into an incorrigible drama for life.
If we are talking about the beauty and correctness of a dog’s movements:
-the path can completely ruin the dog’s movements. It is impossible to correct this problem later.
- the track should not be used for “staging movement”.
Having said all this, we see that the track cannot be used as a complete alternative to movement - walking, and cannot be used to stage movements. Therefore, unless you have really deep knowledge of using the track -
then you shouldn't use it. If you want to take your dog to a center where there is a track before you allow him to exercise
with your dog, ask the trainer if he has an appropriate diploma indicating that he has completed training courses to become a trainer of this kind. If such a diploma is not available, then I would not give my dog ​​into the hands of this trainer. Never in my life.
If you want to train your dog on the track yourself, here are a few things to always remember.
The path must be long enough. For example, for a Retriever - the track must be at least 2.20 long .
Anything shorter is very dangerous. How to accustom a dog to the path and safe schemes for working on the paths.
The first thing to remember: on the track can only work absolutely healthy dog .
If the dog had or has heart problems, any problems with the musculoskeletal system or the spine, the dog cannot be put on the track. Also, if your dog has a bad trot in the ring, don't assume that a track trot will fix or improve it. Trotting is done outdoors, on dirt, not on a track.
The first month of working on the track - we are just accustoming the dog to the track, and this means we exercise every day, but very little. The dog must love the track, it must want to run and exercise on it.
And our job is to make sure that it is, first and foremost, a pleasure for them. Otherwise, the benefit that the track has is completely lost and only the dangers of its use remain.
Until the dog itself, with pleasure and desire and obvious joy, runs onto the path, looking forward to the start of classes, we cannot transfer the dog to a trot or a fast walk.
We must continue to do everything we can at a slow pace to get the dog to "get the hang of it." You cannot force a dog on the track, you cannot force it.
All methods when putting a harness on a dog and tying it to the walls of the path, or when several people pull on a leash or push it under the butt are not acceptable when using the path. This is simply dangerous for the dog's health. We initially have to spend a lot of energy, patience and ingenuity to make any dog ​​love the track. If the dog doesn’t like the path, we will only cause harm. Often incorrigible. The first 3 days, or as long as the dog needs it - but not earlier than after 3 days, work with the dog on the track for a very tasty treat at an initial speed of no more than 1 km per hour. When the dog is completely comfortable on the track at this speed, the speed can be increased to a very slow walk. For the first 2-3 weeks, you cannot use the treadmill for more than 2-4 minutes.

Using the down-up and trot functions.
Most tracks have an up and down function. Only after 2-3 weeks of using the treadmill at a very slow pace can we start using the up and down function. We use the up-down function only by increasing the slope of the path by 1% per day or until the dog walks at a slow pace and is completely comfortable. When starting classes using the “up - down” functions, we start with 1-2 minutes and over 2-3 weeks we bring it to no more than 10 minutes. That is, it turns out that adding the first 2-3 weeks of training to the treadmill and 2-3 weeks of training to the “up-down” function, the dog can work on the treadmill at a slow pace for a maximum of 10 minutes a day. Never use the up or down function for more than 3-5 minutes per lesson . When the dog is completely comfortable with the up and down function at a slow walk, we can increase the speed at a fast walk. By the end of 4 weeks of brisk training, the maximum the dog can spend on the treadmill is 30 minutes a day. Of these, the dog can walk up or down for a maximum of 3-5 minutes. Only after 4 weeks of fast walking can we transfer the dog to a trot. After 6 weeks of starting trotting, the maximum possible time is trotting on a track for 20 minutes.
Never force your dog to trot for more than 20 minutes. In this case, the possible maximum use of the function up or down is 3-5 minutes. And in any case, the maximum time a dog spends on the track is 30 minutes.

You should also remember that muscles should be warmed up before training and cooled down after training..
This means that when our dog is already walking at a brisk pace or trotting, the first 2 minutes of training should always be a warm-up - when the dog is walking at a slow pace, and the last 2 minutes of class are also always at a slow pace.
Never force the dog and monitor its condition. If the dog moves near the back end of the track, it means that he is tired, or the pace of the track is too fast. Immediately reduce the pace of the track. If the dog runs behind the track with his head down, immediately reduce the pace of the track to a slow walk, let the dog walk 100 meters at a slow pace and finish the training. On the day when the dog worked on the track, the walk should be halved. Also, I think everyone understands that you should not use the treadmill for puppies under 18 months and use the treadmill with extreme caution for older dogs. With any other use of the track, the track will cause a lot of damage. Therefore, I advise you to use the treadmill with extreme caution or not use it at all if you are not confident in your knowledge or the professionalism of the trainer. I have an extremely negative attitude towards the use of tracks in Russian halls
(may those users who may have gyms forgive me.) In my opinion, in Russia, gyms with paths are just good and profitable business, which has very little to do with knowledge of a dog's anatomy, physical needs and track use. Gym owners buy tracks and, without undergoing any training, put dogs on the tracks. Often, too often, unfortunately, this ends in drama. If you want to use the advantages of using paths with safety for health, it is better to either purchase your own path (now there is official distributor English tracks Fit For Life, which I use and consider the best at the moment), or try to learn how to use the treadmill yourself and train your dog on the treadmill in the gym yourself, unless of course the gym has the correct treadmill format for your breed.

cynologist Tamara Heiremans-Ignatieva, Fine Art Rudgieri kennel, Belgium, consultant to the Bioradix corporation.

A sign of modernity is a busy person who is constantly behind schedule. And if he is the owner of a dog, then this results in a lack of motor activity for his pet.

At the same time, some dog breeds are extremely important for daily intensive training. This primarily applies to hunting and service breeds. Canine hypodynamia is manifested by a violation metabolic processes, and this means problems with joints and heart. Suffering and nervous system, and reproductive function dogs.

A good solution to the problem could be a special treadmill for dogs.. With its help, the dog can be ensured regular activity and maintaining good physical shape, regardless of the owner’s busy schedule, as well as weather conditions.

In addition, a treadmill helps in rehabilitation or surgery when there is a need for movement, but long walks are not yet possible.

Types of treadmills for dogs

Based on the type of motion of the belt and, accordingly, the internal structure, treadmills are divided into two main classes: electrical and mechanical.

The mechanical track is driven by the force of the dog's muscles. To increase or decrease the level of load in such simulators, the angle of inclination of the belt changes. There is a variant of a mechanical treadmill in which the load is changed using special magnets.

Mechanical tracks are inexpensive, but not universal and are suitable for working dogs who are training their sledding skills. Or for hunting dogs who need to run a lot.

Benefits of Electric Treadmills for Dogs

In an electric treadmill, the belt is driven by an electric motor.

• Thanks to electronic speed control, the dog can be provided with a load on such a track different intensity. The speed on it can be reached up to 15 km per hour.
• Such cardio equipment is equipped with a display that displays: workout time, distance traveled, current speed, number of calories burned and other parameters.
• This is especially valuable if the task is to lose weight using a treadmill. excess weight dogs, as well as in preparation for sports competitions.
• In addition, dogs, like people, tend to be lazy. And if on the street a dog next to a bicycle can happily run for an hour, then on a treadmill, in a relaxing atmosphere at home, within twenty minutes it will pretend to be mortally tired. The display will allow you to objectively assess the load and condition of the animal.
• Electric treadmills have a running belt length of approximately 120 cm and are comfortable for even the largest dogs. After training, the treadmill can be folded compactly.

How to train a dog to use a treadmill?

To prevent the dog from being afraid of the simulator, it must be involved in the initial assembly of this strange and unidentified object. , you need to assemble the simulator while playing with your pet, showing its safety.

Only after the dog gets used to the very presence of the track can it be turned on to the most low speed. The dog needs to be seated in front of the running track, from its other end, as if on a conveyor belt, launching pieces of treats. Gradually you need to increase the speed of the belt, feeding your pet.

> Instructions for the dog treadmill

This instruction is the most general for all types of treadmills (intended for people) and is supplemented with new points for use
for training dogs.

Attention!
Before you start exercising, consult your doctor.

Important Precautions When Using the Treadmill

• Do not start exercising on the treadmill without reading the instructions.
• Before each workout, check that the nuts and bolts on the treadmill are securely tightened.
• For safety reasons, keep small children away from the machine.
  Don't let them exercise without adult supervision.
• Never leave your dog unattended on the treadmill. And during the training period, always be there.
• Do not feed your dog before running on the treadmill! Enough time must pass after feeding, as the load on the heart increases sharply. In addition, there is a high risk of volvulus in the dog.
• Do not use a jerk chain or parforce under any circumstances!
  The dog must be wearing a soft leather collar so that you can control its position on the treadmill.
• Position the machine so that there is enough free space in front of it. Don't ask your dog to run into the wall. There should be enough space behind the treadmill. The distance from walls, furniture and other obstacles should be at least a meter in case the dog falls.
  IN otherwise Serious injuries to the animal cannot be ruled out.
• Never tie your dog by its leash to the handrails of the treadmill - it's dangerous! To control your dog, the leash must be in your hand.
• Before getting on the treadmill, do five minutes of stretching exercises. At the end of your workout, do not stop abruptly, but gradually slow down for about five minutes until your breathing returns to normal. This fully applies to dogs.
• While exercising on the treadmill, try to breathe evenly, speeding up your breathing only as your speed increases. Don't hold your breath while exercising
• After a certain amount of time, you can train on the treadmill continuously for 30 minutes, but for beginners, it is recommended that you start out by training for a few minutes at a slow pace twice a week.
  Then, once you get used to the treadmill, gradually increase the number of workouts to 4-5 per week. For dogs, stick to the above.
• You should rest a day or two between workouts. This rest is necessary for your muscles to prepare for a new, even greater load. Never forget about stretching exercises - they speed up blood circulation in a timely manner, delivering more oxygen to the muscles.
• Before running on the treadmill, remove jewelry such as rings, necklaces, bracelets and brooches.
• Always train in athletic shoes and clothing. Do not wear clothing that is too loose or drooping, which could get caught on the machine or surrounding objects during exercise.
• Follow

IN modern world Not only people, but also their pets suffer from physical inactivity, that is, lack of physical activity. They are becoming increasingly common for dogs. Let's figure out how justified their use for training animals is.

Why do you need a treadmill?

By virtue of various reasons many owners cannot provide their dog with sufficient motor activity. Sometimes a person himself cannot take long walks due to health conditions or simply does not want to go outside due to bad weather.

If your pet doesn’t run much, then he is at risk of being overweight, decreased body tone, metabolic disorders, muscle atrophy, problems with cardiovascular system And musculoskeletal system. In addition, a dog that is bored begins to throw out its accumulated energy at home - it plays around, demolishes things, spoils them, and chews them. To avoid negative consequences Treadmills for dogs will help.

What benefits can exercise on a simulator bring? Treadmills for dogs help maintain active, good physical fitness, develop endurance, form beautiful step, which is important at exhibitions. The track is great for rehabilitation after injuries or surgeries.

Mechanical tracks

Dog trainers can be mechanical or electrical. A mechanical treadmill is driven by the force of the runner. The use of simulators of this type causes controversy among owners. Some specialists deliberately use mechanical tracks to provide additional stress and teach the dog to push. This feature makes the mechanical track optimal choice for training sled dogs.

However, many owners believe that a mechanical simulator is not so convenient, since it is more difficult to teach the animal to use it. In addition, it is difficult to accelerate on mechanics, although on magnetic mechanical tracks you can adjust the load level.

Electric tracks

The electric treadmill is driven by a motor. Even budget options have an electronic display that displays the current speed, distance traveled, and training time. It is important that the length of the running belt is sufficient so that the dog can completely throw out its paw.

If inexpensive treadmills are short, the animal will have to mince in small steps. Human trainers may not be suitable large dogs due to the length of the canvas. Devices intended for animals are sold in pet stores.

An electric treadmill can allow your dog to reach speeds of up to 12 km/h. IN major cities These simulators are installed in handling rooms and pet centers. There you can also use the services of an instructor who will help the owner and dog master the track.

How to teach a dog to run on a trainer

You shouldn’t expect your dog to learn how to use the exercise machine right away. How to accustom a dog to a treadmill so that it is not afraid and understands what is required of it? Please be patient. Give the animal the opportunity to explore the simulator, sniff it, walk on the surface, lie on it. Lure your dog onto the path with a treat.

The next stage is getting acquainted with the moving simulator. Place your pet nearby and turn on the treadmill at the lowest speed. Let the dog get used to it. You can place treats on the moving surface.

If the dog behaves calmly, then take him on a leash and lead him to the path so that he is on the canvas. Reassure her, praise her, walk next to her. Hold the leash tightly so that the pet does not get scared and escape, otherwise injury may occur. Don't rush, increase your speed gradually. At first, workouts should be short, 3-5 minutes.

How to do a workout

Before starting training, become familiar with the controls of the simulator and read the instructions. Start at low speed. Hold your dog by the leash and give the command “near.” She should not spin around, play around, or play. To make it easier for your dog to get used to the training, first walk in place so that it seems like you are walking next to him.

Increase the speed gradually, building up to running over several weeks, that is, 5-6 km/h for medium-sized dogs. While the dog is learning and is not used to the treadmill, be prepared to stop the exercise machine at any time. Even inexpensive treadmills have an emergency shutdown button or safety key.

At the end of the workout, reduce the speed to minimum and stop the treadmill completely, giving the command “near.” Let the dog sit. After this, you can give the command “walk” and reward the dog with a treat. It is important that your pet does not leave the exercise machine without a command and never does this while moving.

Disadvantages of working on a simulator

Treadmills for dogs are becoming increasingly popular, but there are both supporters and opponents of their use. The benefits of the simulator are obvious - it makes it possible to give the animal good physical activity when the owner cannot provide sufficient walking.

But what do opponents of the use of exercise machines say? Puppies and dogs that have problems with the heart, spine, or musculoskeletal system should not exercise on a treadmill. During training, the animal cannot choose the pace that suits it. A dog on a walk changes its running speed, its movements are varied, the load is natural, all muscle groups are involved.

The dog cannot stop on the path if he feels unwell, tired or has injured his paw. He also cannot clearly indicate that a pause is necessary, since he is forced to run at a given pace. Some paths are fenced with a net, and the dog simply cannot leave the distance without human help. Unscrupulous owners can tie the leash to the simulator, holding the dog.

During training, you need to constantly be close to the dog; you cannot leave it alone. The window or door to the street must be open.

A treadmill can be a great way to exercise your dog, but it will never replace regular walks in the fresh air. This tool must be used thoughtfully and carefully, only then will it benefit the animal.

I decided to write this article a long time ago. Many people, having seen a photo of Syoma on a treadmill, ask how I managed to train the dog, what kind of track it is, what method we use, etc. And I always tell everyone our story of learning and working on a treadmill.

Here's my story:

We had a path even before Syoma arrived. We bought it for ourselves. The track is called "Pro Supra EXER", as far as I remember, the manufacturer is Taiwan. There’s nothing special about it: it’s electric, measures heart rate, counts kilometers traveled and calories burned, in general, an ordinary treadmill.

We bought it because we wanted to stay in good physical shape. Of course, we ran around for the first week, but then it became uninteresting, and laziness just took over. This wonderful unit would have remained with us for another hundred years or would have been sold if Syoma had not grown up.

Once I climbed onto some pit bull website and saw how they train dogs on treadmills (by the way, they train on mechanical tracks, and there is a completely different training system and other loads), I read that training on treadmills develops the heart and lungs of dogs , and of course muscles. And then I thought, why not our dogs develop in this direction.

Sema was probably about 5 months old when we turned on the track in front of him for the first time. I must say that when turned on, it makes quite a lot of noise. We thought the puppy would be scared, but no, Syoma walked around her from all sides, sniffed her and... lost interest. The first lesson was over. Then we repeatedly turned on the track in front of him for 2-3 minutes just to work. We did this somehow unconsciously, then we didn’t even think that in fact we probably approached the process of training the dog to the path very competently. The next stage was teaching the puppy to sit quietly on a non-working treadmill (hereinafter referred to as TD). Sema also passed this exam with excellent marks. Then, out of curiosity, we started doing simple commands like “sit” and “lie down” on the database, which still did not turn on. When Semka was probably 6 months old, we decided to see if he would go to the turned-on track. There was no talk of any kind of training back then. After all, the dog was still a puppy, and fragile joints should not be subjected to stress.

So the path was turned on, and Sema was invited to walk along it (the speed was set to the lowest, such that a person would walk along it at a very slow pace). Syoma didn’t go, we were a little disappointed and left the dog alone for probably a week. And then they tried again, this time for a delicious cookie. Syoma thought and walked around the path and took a piece from the other side. Probably at this stage we made some kind of mistake, but we did not understand what was going on. As a result, the track was turned off again and they learned to walk and quickly run onto it for a piece of treat. We learned. We turn it on - it doesn’t work again. Then we abandoned this business altogether, probably for 6-8 months.

And when Sema turned about a little over a year old, for some reason they decided to try again. And this time not for a treat, but for a toy. And then we were amazed. The dog itself, with great pleasure, entered the working path and, having taken a few steps, having obtained a toy, jumped off on the other side!

We repeated this trick several times and after a few days Sema could slowly walk along the working path, and great pleasure was written on his face. Well, of course, we did not skimp on praise. Gradually, Syoma began to run freely on the track, not even for a reward in the form of a toy, but simply for his own pleasure. I thought it would be nice to have some kind of training system that would help better development dogs. And then I decided to find more information about how to properly train a dog.

Unfortunately, I didn’t find anything regarding training on a treadmill. But I found many opponents of such “torture” of the poor animal. This was incomprehensible to me, because the dog runs around with pleasure, there were no ties or grueling training on our part. What is the mockery?

And then I came across the book “American Staffordshire Trier”, author S.A. Uspenskaya. This book has a section called “show training,” which describes a system for training a dog to develop the correct movements. True, developing such movements is recommended by “trotting” behind a bicycle. This is certainly true, but in our city there is simply no place to ride a bicycle with a dog, and we only go to the village on weekends. But I still decided to try to apply the specified training scheme, only in relation to the treadmill.

The author recommends starting with 15 minutes, after 5-7 days increasing the time by 2-5 minutes, depending on the dog’s fatigue. A maximum route of 2-3 km is recommended for heavy dogs and 5 km for the lungs. Best chart 4 days of work and one day of rest.

So it was necessary to establish at what speed the dog would “trot” along the database and how long it would take to run 15 km at this speed. It turned out that at a light trot, a rather slow dog runs at a speed of 8.5 km/h, and at this speed it runs 2-2.5 km in 10 minutes. That's how we started doing it. I must say that at times I wanted to increase the dog’s speed, because he was running quite slowly. But we didn't do that. Maximum speed my track is 11 km/h. Then we found out that Sema can trot at this speed, that is, he does not go into a gallop at any speed of the track.

So in 2 weeks regular training With the described regime, the dog began to look different. I want to immediately dispel the opinion that running pumps up muscles, no, it doesn’t. The dog simply becomes more toned, the layer of fat disappears and all the muscles look more prominent, the dog begins to look like a bodybuilder. Muscles appeared that we didn’t even suspect we had. But I specifically weighed Sema and measured it, and the mass did not increase. To increase mass, you need to use power loads, dragging a tire or chain, swimming, running in deep snow, etc.

I also want to say that not every dog ​​will like the path. We tried to teach Hard to run too, it would be more beneficial for him to exercise, because he has always been a little fat, loves to eat deliciously and sleep sweetly on the couch... this lifestyle leaves its mark on his sides. But Hard initially refused to run. At first he was just afraid, we didn’t force him, we thought he’d get used to it. But no, moreover, when Sema is running, we are forced to cover Hard, because he literally pulls Sema off the path by the collar :-)

But Syoma loves these activities very much and runs with great pleasure. Sometimes you just have to turn it off and drag him away by force, that’s how he likes it. It’s probably like swimming, you can’t drag one dog in, you can’t pull out the other.

I would also like to say that my way of training a dog to the track and the training system is only my way. I don’t claim to be the ultimate truth, I’m just sharing my experience and I hope it will be useful to someone.

We did not set ourselves the goal of achieving some stunning results. The main thing for me is the health of my dogs, their joy, their happiness.

TRAINING DOGS ON TEACHING TRAILS.

TRAINING A DOG TO WORK ON A SIMULATOR.

So you've purchased a treadmill. Unpack it with your dog. Let her also take an indirect part in its assembly: she will sniff and study everything. Set up the treadmill in a well-ventilated room, running in the center of the room or towards the exit. The simulator should just stand in the corner for several days so that the dog gets used to the new interior. Feed your dog by placing the food bowl on the canvas. Then turn the machine on idle several times at minimum speed so that the dog gets used to the noise. Place pieces of treats on the running surface and let your dog “catch” them. Praise and encourage your dog more. This adaptation should last 4-5 days and only then can you begin direct training.

1. To begin with, trim your dog’s nails short so that he doesn’t scratch the canvas when running.
2. Put your dog on a soft, wide collar and a short leash.
3. At the command “Near”, move onto the canvas from the back side. Praise, give a treat.
4. Standing to the side of the dog (leash in hand), turn on the machine at the lowest speed. If the dog starts nervous - calm in a confident voice, order: “Nearby”; if necessary, you can hold the dog with your hand by the body or by the collar.
5. After about 1 minute of running, turn off the machine and give the command “Sit”. Praise, give a treat.
6. Remove the dog from the path using the “Near” command. Release with the command “Walk”.

You need to train in this mode for several days so as not to cause negative emotions in relation to the classes. Under no circumstances should you force a dog to run, give a full load at once, even if the dog is not afraid of the exercise machine, or allow the dog to jump off the track without permission without the command “Nearby. Go for a walk."

Here are a few

general rules for working on treadmills for all dogs.

1. The dog being trained must be absolutely healthy. Even before purchasing Using a treadmill, it is advisable to show the dog to a veterinarian; perhaps there will be no need to purchase a treadmill at all.
2. Before each lesson, the dog must be given a good walk.
3. Any training should begin with a minimum speed, gradually increasing it during the session, and finish the exercise again with a minimum (“step”) load so that the dog “cools down”.
4. The load should increase very gradually, smoothly, by increasing running speed, exercise time, distance, inclination of the belt, running in a weighted collar (for well-trained dogs).
5. During training, you should not leave your dog unattended; you should always have clean, fresh food nearby. cool water to periodically water the dog.
6. It is recommended to carry out running training no more than 2-3 times a week, the maximum training duration is 20-30 minutes.
7. Before the race, the dog must be hungry; after training, you can feed it no earlier than 2 hours later. During the training period, you need to increase the quality of feed.
8. If the dog sticks out its tongue while working and its tip becomes too wide and curled, the dog should be removed from the track.
9. If after training the dog looks tired, it means that the load given is too high for it.
10. A gentle load should be given to dogs who have recovered from illness, as well as after forced breaks in training.

You need to be very careful when using a treadmill for puppies and young dogs, and it is better to avoid such training altogether if you do not have enough experience in this matter, and wait until the dog is at least one year old.

In conclusion, I would like to note: if the dog’s training to work on a treadmill went correctly and the training process goes smoothly, dogs adore these activities!

We wish you and your pets success!

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Read the article carefully

We can talk a lot about how smart our pets are, how active they are and how they love to “master” our things in their own way, especially while we are not in the apartment, of course, but, as a rule, there is no point in doing this. Dogs respond well to training, they love to move, they love to achieve results, they love to learn something new, so it’s worth trying to approach the matter with the utmost seriousness and responsibility.

One of the owners, who was able to train his dog Dino to run on a treadmill, shared his tips on how each of you can do this.

He made a list of 8 points.

1. Start training your pet to the simulator while it is turned off.
Take your dog on a leash and lead it to the running surface. Give the dog time to get comfortable, sniff and explore the path, as dogs usually do with unusual objects.

Then say the phrase “treadmill”, emphasizing with intonation that it is a good thing. Praise your dog for learning the exercise machine. Be sure to repeat the dog’s name and the phrase “treadmill” often so that he remembers what it’s called.

2. Step away from the path with your dog for a couple of minutes, come back and repeat. Repeat this for several days, without starting the treadmill, until you are sure that your dog is no longer afraid of it.

3. As soon as you realize that the dog is approaching the path without fear and hardly studies it, put it on the leash again and get on the treadmill with your dog, and then get off. Praise the dog even more this time.
Repeat this part of the training until the dog stops hesitating before entering the treadmill. Remember that you can use all the tricks to lure him onto the track, but never try to force him to do it.

4. Once your dog has learned to stand steadily on the off-trail,

try turning it on at the lowest available speed.

The dog can start up even from the noise of the car turning on, not to mention the fact that the path begins to move under its paws. Try to redirect the animal’s attention to yourself, show with all your appearance how you walk calmly and confidently, that you are absolutely not worried about what is happening and want your dog to do the same. If your dog is used to obeying you, then he will try to overcome his fear and will definitely catch the rhythm of the movement.

Gradually, you can try to move off the path and give your dog more space. Under no circumstances go far! Stand right there with the leash in one hand and encourage the dog with all your appearance. In your other hand you can hold something tasty and give it to the dog from time to time, extending your hand to the beginning of the path so that the dog runs there and does not trail at the end of the path. The “donkey chasing a carrot” principle comes into play. On the one hand, the animal itself already likes to run like this, but on the other hand, it does not quite understand what is happening and why it needs to be done. A small prize, in the form of his favorite treat, will create the motivation he needs. Don't forget to praise your pet.

5. If your dog jumps off the canvas, as soon as it starts to move, take it with your hands and lift it back, only gently and carefully, do not scold it, so as not to perpetuate the negative feelings. In this case, stay with him on the treadmill longer to let him get comfortable. Then ask someone else to help you with the “bait”, which should be held in front, as described above.
Make sure that the track runs consistently at the lowest speeds during this stage.

6. After you have successfully completed steps 4 and 5 several times different days, you can begin to gradually increase speed. Closely monitor all movements of your pet while he is on the treadmill.

7. At the beginning of training, The dog must be on a leash at all times. Remove it only when you notice that the dog is running enthusiastically and confidently. You can try to do this unnoticed. Don't forget to give treats and praise heavily.

8. Give your dog the opportunity to independently achieve some results, do not force him, if something goes wrong. Reduce the speed if he suddenly begins to lag and increase it if he is obviously lazy, but in fact he can do more. The first workouts should be no more than 5 minutes, then try to increase it to 20. Before jogging, it is better to warm up. Try to take your dog out for a run regularly rather than occasionally to get used to the machinery. Be sure to let the animal move if it’s raining or other bad weather outside and you can’t walk outside, but don’t replace walks in the fresh air with running on a treadmill if it’s sunny and dry outside - the dog may think that this is a form of punishment, and not a pleasure and will be reluctant to run further. Emphasize all the advantages of running on the track with your entire appearance and your dog will always be happy to join you in training. By doing this, you will help each other maintain excellent physical shape. It's more fun together!