Walk it out
It's that time of year. It is barely light out when I leave for work and pitch dark when I get home. And it's miserably cold.
I use a treadmill and a bike trainer to get in my miles. It's not great but it gets it done.
Several years ago I started having my dogs also run on the treadmill. I think I first started after seeing Cesar Millan use one with dogs. As he noted, walking on the treadmill is not only physically good for them, it's mentally challenging, which is also good for them.
My sweet Archer was the king of the treadmill. He loved it! Once he learned to use it, we would head down to the basement and he would run over and jump right on, anxiously waiting for us to start it. We would set it at a fairly brisk pace and he would happily run while we lifted weights or rode our bikes.
Sisko was introduced to the treadmill and used it, but in the last couple of years we haven't had him on it since he's so mellow he doesn't really need to burn energy.
Booker on the other hand.... if he goes even 2 days without some intense exercise, he is just a terror.
This week we had 3 days of pouring cold rain. I got home from work and after I ran a few miles, I put Booker's collar on and leashed him up and led him on to the treadmill. I stood directly next to him and started it up - at .05 MPH.
Like every other dog I have trained to use the treadmill, he absolutely freaked out. As I held his leash keeping him there and encouraging him, he panicked.
I hate, hate, hate causing fear in my babies, but, as the saying goes, " The only way out is through."
So I held him there until he stopped freaking out and started walking. I turned it up to a whole 2 MPH and was able to drape the leash over the cup holders and step back and he walked on.
Yay!
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