E MILL KEEPS

[Officially Retired]

Moving your legs at a slow pace is walking, while moving your legs at a fast pace is running. I'm not disputing what's best for the animal. The physical act of running is still the same whether it's on an emill, a slatmill, a carpetmill, jenny, etc. Yes, there is more work involved with some as opposed to the others. No one is disputing that fact.

Well I guess it is time to pull-out the ol' microscope again and examine the concept of running. The original concept of running had to do with going somewhere ... of (as you say) "moving your legs fast" ... but along with this effort came the reality of actually going from Point A to Point B at a fast pace. This involves propelling your full bodyweight forward over the earth against the inertia of gravity.

Treadmill "running" isn't really traveling; therefore it isn't really running. You're "moving your legs" but not like you have to do to run. I suppose it is more properly called "running in place" rather than true running (traveling). The slat mill allows "running in place" to happen when the dog moves the belt; however, when a dog is on an emill the belt moves itself ... so the dog really isn't doing much besides trying to keep his "moving legs" in pace with the moving belt. Of the two exercises, I would say the standard mill more closely replicates true running, doubly-so if the belt doesn't move too freely, but in neither case is the dog actually propelling his full bodyweight forward and traveling.

For these reasons, I think we both agree that neither one provides the overall benefit of legitimate running, which involves more overall effort at maintaining balance, thereby bringing in stabilizer muscles, coordination, etc.

Agreed. There are other variables and factors that come into play when dogs are matched as most winners are simply better than others. I believe it shows all of the things you mentioned along with the keep.

Yep.

In reference to weight pulling, I guess that would depend on how a person goes about doing such a task. There is no work involved in flirtpoling aside from me laughing and snickering at dogs! ATV requires effort in driving and watching the dog, neither of which is forcing the individual to do any work. Either way, it's all a "lazy man's" way of working the dog unless the man is truly working strenuously alongside the animal every step of the way.

Well obviously a man cannot keep pace with a dog, but that doesn't mean the man does absolutely no work at all. In peddling a bike, a man is working. By flirtpoling, sure it is fun, but it is also participation and constant attention in the work. Weightpulling is most definitely the most work (as I prescribe it), consisting of one man behind the dog controlling him and adding/removing weights ... with another running ahead of the dog baiting him with a hide/flirtpole.

All of these require much more effort and commitment than plopping a dog on an emill and setting your watch.

I never said the emill was the best way to condition in general. I was simply pointing out that the ideas revolving around emills and keeps simply aren't all the same. That, in fact, it can be used as a tool to get a dog in shape to win as opposed to just walking which is what seems to be the prevailing idea on how to use an emill for many people.

I didn't mean to imply you thought an emill was best.

However, I personally don't think it is as good as even walking a dog, provided the dog is pulling good in the harness. I guess it would depend on the line/kind of dog, but a naturally long-winded head dog will not benefit at all on an emill compared to other kinds of device.

110% agreement!

Yep.


Jack