Treadmill Question

[TFX]

Each mill and each dog's approach to the mill is so different that one cannot give a proper response to the question. Monitor the dog, and help him progress incrementally.

I have written numerous pieces on conditioning in the past and do not feel to do so now. Remember the paces of a show and that will guide your training. The paces are PUSH (simulated by resistance and strength training), COAST (simulated moderate paced roadwork, millwork, and other means of aerobic training such as swimming....if the dog likes it) RECOVER (simulated by rest in the workout), and EXPLODE (which is simulated by fast twitch speed training such as flirtpole work).

That is a simplifed explanation of a complex very process. If the work is too one dimensional and does not hit all of these paces, it will be exposed in a show at some point if other factors at play are reasonably equal.

[Oregonbulldog]

Thanks for the reply, you have given me some good ideas.

[sinister]

good breakdown thanks.

[EWO]

depends on the dog. Depends on the mill. If the dog is going all out then his times will be shorter. If the mill is a hard turner (not as free) the lessons will be shorter. There is no way to say 10 minutes here or 20 minutes there. It is as individual as anything in these dogs. I like the shorter bursts, rest and more bursts. I like explosion type work. Going from minimal to half effort to all out everything in the blink of an eye. Stopping or slowing, and then doing it again. EWO

[Frank43]

bump

[EWO]

Here is one we used a number of years ago with some pretty good success.

Remembering the idea is recovery, not so much how much the dog can do but when can he do it again. We don't have innings or rounds or quarters or time outs. Imagine asking Wilie Mays how to rest as he is in the midst of shagging a deep fly ball or asking Ali how to rest in the middle of a 12-15 punch flurry or Usain bolt to rest from 40M to 60M and then compete the last 40M. This stuff is unique. Marathoners don't rest along the way but their events are based on distance, it is fixed. A MMA guy is close in the start-stops, lay around wrestle then burst, but he only has to make it to the end of the round/based on time. Imagine Dana White saying,. "We will ring the bell and one of you will walk out of here......and 2:45 we are still waiting. Apples and oranges.

When the dog is walked out and ready to work place him on the mill. Encourage him to break out to an all out sprint and allowing him to hold that sprint for as long as he will and wait for him to break stride. Once he breaks stride let him slow down for about ten to fifteen seconds and then break him out to an all out sprint for as hard as he will go for as long as he will go. When he breaks stride allow him to slow down for ten to fifteen seconds, then repeat for a third sprint. This is one set.

Take the dog off the mill and walk him out til he recovers. When he has his stuff together put him back on the mill and repeat. When the second set is complete take him off the mill and walk him out til he recovers. From there go with a third set.

Understand each sprint will get shorter and shorter as the dog tires and each recovery walk will get longer and longer. In the beginning the dog might not get three sets. Don't be discouraged by the length of time he sprints nor the time it takes to recover, especially set to set or even day to day. If numbers are going to be used to monitor progress it has to be done weekly. On Day #1 he may run XX amount of time and take YY amount of time to recover. The measurement can be made on Day #8. Compare the first spring on Day #1 to Day #8, the second and third and then the recover times. For all intents and purposes the Day #8 numbers will be better than the Day #1 numbers. The check Day #15 vs. Day #8. Each sprint will get a little longer and each recovery time should get shorter. This is progress.

Once the dog is doing his sprints there is marked improvement add weight on the walk-out recovery, maybe some chains or a small tire. This will teach the dog to recover under load, not excessive load but something a little more than a leisurely walk.

Start each work day with the first set, even on a non-mill day. This allows the dog to spend himself and use the fuel that has been applied. If the dog takes long walks or pulling chains or tires or weight vests will completely fueled and fresh he will build muscle and mass which is hard to feed late on a Saturday night. Any strength work should be on a semi-spent dog.

Rest is the most important part of recovery. If he doesn't meet you every morning all rippin' and raring to go, take the day off.

EWO

[Boa1277]

Thank you for the information, this is really good advice!

[CYJ]

Excellent information EWO. A much more practical use of a tread mill. Cheers

[Hugh Glass]

What's the max time you should have your dog on a treadmill?

Too many variables and considerations to answer with a definite concrete time.

Personally, experience tells me 3 sets of 15 minutes, while encorporated in a balanced and complete program, is enough to run with anyone.

[EWO]

It all depends on the particular mill and the individual dog.

Two different dogs on the same mill will have different results. There is no possible way to tell how much a dog needs prior to starting work. There has never been a written keep that is ideal for every dog. If a person follows a written keep to the T and the dogs reaches peak physical conditioning he should give up the dogs and buy a lottery ticket. He would be that lucky.

The dog has to be read everyday and X amount of minutes today might be right and XX amount of minutes tomorrow might be right. Coming off the mill at the right time is paramount to top flight conditioning. A couple extra minutes here and there does not sound like a lot but it can be the difference between world class condition and flat/no gas left. it can be a very fine line.

EWO