Has anybody used them? What motivation does the dog get to start running on one?

I have often wondered this myself... seems kinda dangerous to me if the dog slipped off or something.

It seems like a lot of cash to spend to be lazy. (JMO) But I suppose if you got the money and don't feel like walking or running with your best bud, this would be the way to go.

I know treadmills are very popular among the dog fighting crowd. From what I heard to motivate the pit bulls they will put a cat in a cage in front of the treadmill for training. I don't know where you live but be careful because in some states a treadmill is considered dog fighting paraphanalia. This is a misdeamenor and if there are any dogs in your house that have any scars or look like they have been in a fight it goes to a felony.

bummer....

I have both a carpet mill and a slat mill
The slat mill sounds like a train when the dogs run it.
My dogs don't need any cats...they just love to work.
As far as mills being dogfighting paraphernalia, I've seen them advertised in Dog World with a pic of a Collie on it...guess you are only a bad guy if you work an APBT on one.

Gunnar

Gunnar, from what I read its the best cardio workout the dog can have. You say your dogs love to work. I just don't understand the theory behind this. The thred is free spinning is that what makes the dog run. Is it that they try to catch their balance so they keep running?Which do you prefer carpet or wood thred.

milt

Although the slat mill spins easily, there is resistance. The carpet mill is much more difficult for the dog to turn.
I use both...carpet for short, sprint type workouts, usually no more than 10-15 min in length. The dog runs this at an all out pace.
I use the slat mill for endurance work, sometimes for up to 90 min if the dog is peaking. During this time I will use a toy every 10 min and get him to really sprint for 15-20 sec. Sort of an interval training type of thing. Everyone has their own way of doing millwork, and I don't reccomend it as a subsitute for outside roadwork, only as a supplement or for variety. Also they are good if you have multiple dogs to work.
The slat mill requires longer for the dog to get used to it. At first you put on the mill's brake, and just let the dog stand and get comfortable. Then over time, you can gradually release it and let him start running.
I start my dogs on the carpet mill, so they know what is going on, before they go on th slat mill.

If anyone is interested, I'll post some links to various builders.

Gunnar

Go ahead and post the links to these tread mills.

I had one back in the early 1980's bought it from the wife of our local judge after her divorce. My dogs loved it. I have no idea why. They would run in and get on the tread mill and bark to get going. It took awhile to figure out when they were finished - I never liked to tied them onto it (always stood by them) and waited for them to be ejected off the back. I was always surprised how far the thing couyld fling them out the back :-) They would get up and bark at it.

What do you do with your dogs that you leave it on the tread mill for 90 minutes, that seems a little long.

Ed I don't think up to 90 minutes would be to much for a well conditioned dog. I'm figuring its anywhere between 6 to 10 miles.

Gunnar, what breed of dogs do you have? The dogs don't try to run off the side of mill? Are there walls on each side to stop them from jumping off?