The Doggy Treadmill Trend

[foggydogs]

In class the other night Desiree had left an exercise ladder out on the floor. A like minded classmate and I immediately started running footwork drills while we were waiting for our turns. Exercise ladders are one of my all time favorite workouts, a lot of fun can be had. The goal is to always come up with some crazy footwork pattern that the

Comments

[sclmarm]

I was wondering about all the ball/peanut/pod/treadmill conditioning instead of getting the dog outside. I guess I go the other way. My dogs get lots of off leash walking/trotting/cantering up and down hills and various surfaces. Beep loves to jump across some giant ditches banking off the banks so he can come back across to get the Noodle, just cause he can. When they trot diagonally to tall fescue rows it works like a ladder :)

I've been on the huffing and puffing side of running an agility course. Don't want to go back! Six days a week my dogs and I are out walking:) 860 miles and counting since 9-14!

Jealous of your backsides! I really need to work on those!

[foggydogs]

You are one of my biggest inspirations! I think your lifestyle transformation has been astounding.

[sclmarm]

Thanks! It's been a journey, and one that I've been very thankful that I started on. I hope it helps get other people moving:)

[feedpolly]

Kona and Merlin look great!

I had a similar conversation about the treadmill trend with a friend during a 10mi hike last weekend. After my rant she pointed out that in many states it so snowy and cold during the winter that the treadmill is the only alternative for keeping dogs fit (if not their handlers, although they could get on it too). She has a point. I love living in California where even in the worst weather I am happy to take my dogs out for a walk.

[foggydogs]

I agree, inclement weather is an entirely different story. But in the PNW? There are only a couple of days each year when it is too icy to get outside. Otherwise, goretex was invented for a reason :)

[feedpolly]

Ah, I didn't realize there was a local trend in the PNW. It's not so prevalent in CA so far as I'm aware (but I do see on FB that it is becoming popular in the US). It's probably heading to CA next!

[hycaliber]

On one of the FitPaw videos they say there's a 160lb weight limit on the treadmill. That eliminates many people!

[moodypdx]

I LOVE ladder agility drills, they remind me of hopscotch and I LOVED hopscotch;) I think I still have a huge chunk of child left in me

[foggydogs]

I'll start bringing the ladder to seminars and trials. We can do our own hopscotch challenge! I'm certain we won't get yelled at for anything :)

Seems the all of the focus in on doggy fitness right now. I think a lot of teams would benefit from the handlers being more fit. For some reason it is politically ok to say "your dog needs core strength" but it isn't ok to say "you need more core strength."

[moodypdx]

I have no problem telling my students:) I'm nice about it, but balance and being able to move are so important in being able to cue properly.

[foggydogs]

I'm sure your classes are "safe zones" though, and your students know that you have their best interests at heart.

[agilepawz]

I hate running outside in the cold. I'll say it again....I REALLY hate running outside in the cold. Actually I just hate cold period. It's 10::47am on Saturday morning and I'm under a heavy blanket on the couch because I'm COLD. I have a treadmill, cross trainer and a spin bike in my basement that are well used

[foggydogs]

Yet another reason to move back here :)

[biggmellon]

snowshoes are awesome, and you burn more calories in the cold;)

It took me awhile but I finally figured out that I was the half of the agility team in need of the physical conditioning, it's not like I ever had to wait for Ricky to catch up to me...it used to make me sigh that all of my agility photos of him his head is turned around looking back wondering where the heck I am as he takes that last jump.

[foggydogs]

..and now you can outrun your dogs, or pretty close to it :)

[biggmellon]

ha, true! Some days I actually run half my miles on the treadmill so Emily doesn't have to do so many miles :)