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Squirrel Cage Treadmills Keeps Dogs Healthy
"Healthy pets get plenty of exercise."
That's the motto of GoPet, an Ephrata, Penn., company that manufactures exercise equipment for dogs. They consider their newest dog-powered tread-wheel a breakthrough in the industry.
"One of the biggest problems with dog exercise equipment is that you have to force
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Squirrel Cage Treadmills Keeps Dogs Healthy LIVESTOCK DOGS 33-1-44 "Healthy pets get plenty of exercise."
That's the motto of GoPet, an Ephrata, Penn., company that manufactures exercise equipment for dogs. They consider their newest dog-powered tread-wheel a breakthrough in the industry.
"One of the biggest problems with dog exercise equipment is that you have to force the dog to use it," says Earl Kauffman, sales manager for GoPet. "Our products give dogs complete freedom of access. They can jump in or out without encumbrance. It's totally voluntary."
The gerbil wheel-like units come in two styles. The free-standing wheel mounts anywhere there's a flat surface to place it. It's 12 in. wide and comes in 36-in. and 48-in. diameters.
The kennel-mounted version is like adding an exercise room to a kennel or doghouse. The dog has free access to it anytime. The tread-wheel is 24 in. wide and comes in 36 and 48-in. dia. models.
The wider model makes it possible for running to be a "social experience" for dogs.
"I've seen up to seven little dogs run together," Kauffman says. "It's really interesting when there is more than one dog in a kennel. They jump in and out like they're playing jump rope."
Dogs should be allowed to figure out how to use the kennel-mounted tread-wheel on their own, he adds. Young dogs pick it up right away; older dogs may take a little longer. They set their own pace walking or running. It's not uncommon for an active dog to tally up to eight miles in a day.
Customers include everyone from pet owners to kennel operators to sporting dog enthusiasts interested in developing muscle tone and endurance.
There are size limitations. In order to get into full gallop, dogs must be no taller than 22 in. to the top of the shoulder and weigh 88 lbs. or less.
The tread-wheels are made of galvanized 12-ga. steel coated with a polyester coating that stretches with temperature changes and cleans up well.
GoPet tread-wheels are available direct from the company's website. They have a 1-year warranty and range in price from $475 to $683.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, GoPet LLC, 2500 Division Highway, Ephrata, Penn. 17522 (ph 717 354-3399; www.gopetusa.com).
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