TRAINING
Warning : its easy to overtrain your dog , take it easy...
Q: Aren't TREADMILLS / SPRINGPOLE´s used to get dogs ready to fight?
Many responsible owners utilize treadmills to help get their dogs in tip top shape in places where extreme weather prevents outdoor exercise, or in areas where its impractical to exercise a pit bull off leash. Many who show their dogs in conformation rings or work them in dog sports such as weight pull find this tool an invaluable way to better condition their K9 athlete. Because pit bulls are high energy animals with hardy, athletic builds, responsibly using a treadmill can help them be healthier happier dogs
Always take a long walk to empty your dog before letting him work the springpole, to avoid injuries.
This is my own favourite, and I guess it´s my dog Lillen´s favourite too. When I train him I hang a rope from a tree and attach a cloth or an animal skin at the lover end , another good thing to use is "woll rope" , for good grip and to protect the teeth in best possible way.
At the top u can tie a spring (like the once we keep to secure boats in the dock) they give the dog a slightly better protection to there teeth and back when the dog works the pole.
Be careful not to put the cloth/ rope to high up, the best result will you get if the dog will be able to stand on all four feet while grabbing the skin/cloth / rope. He will also have a better workout , then if he is hanging in the mid-air . I have heard of several dogs loosing grip hanging high up on a springpole, resulting in a broken back and a necessary veterinary visit, we don't want that to happen to our dogs right ?
Here is an example of how it should NOT be .
This dog only trains his jaws , but also runs a risk of getting badly hurt if loosing grip and falling on his back, so lower the rope and let them work with all four feet on ground...In that way he can get a better workout, training his whole body.
Like this !!
My dog just loves to bite TREES , I walk up to a tree , shake it a little while and tells him to attach. Then he jumps it and doesn't give up till he´s torn it to pieces. :-)
His personal record is 17.25 minutes hanging on the pole shaking all the time , this were done free in the air , just for i wanted him to do a long hang test , otherwise he works with all feet on the ground.
The South African record on springpole is 1 hour and 10 minutes in a long hang contest that dogs name was / is Hitler ... hmm ?
Picture of Ceasar (carver dog) in action in Africa - Bloemfontain.
Working on a "kind of" of flirtpole. (pict from Gösta Hagström)
|
If you have a dog that won´t work a mill or has never been on a mill, or if you dont know what his early training has been, you are better off relying on something else , such as road work or spring poling, rather then prolonged running on a mill.
Never run a fat dog on a mill , after proper dieting and hand walking you determinate if he is ready for the traedmill.
Always take your dog for a long walk to empty him before you start and put a hardness on to him, then let him run the mill for aprox. 3 min. The dog will probably wind sprint those three minutes, but don't let that encourage you to work your dog any harder. take him of , walk him till he is cooled down . Each succeeding day you let him run a little bit longer. If he is working particularly well one day , increase his mill time with about 5 min. If he is not , take him of !
Don't work your dog more then 20 min a day, and you should be taking special care to watch for any signs for undue fatigue. If his breathing is abnormally labored or his running is forced , you are better off taking him off the mill , rather then risking to over work him.
Used properly a treadmill is an invaluable piece of training equipment, but it also is the easiest way in the world to overwork a dog. !!!
Wanna order a good slatmill just like the one shown below ?
To order a mill Send mail to: hoek@iweb.co.za
Here is another type of mill , working 2 dogs at Charlie Bench´s Liqurice Kid Kennels.
Wide track -Fast
Short track - Slow / heavy
