Doggy treadmill of 1930
The June, 1930 issue of Modern Mechanix carried this short article on a "reducing" machine for doggies. It claims to "save wear on husbands."
LinkThe contraption, which was first exhibited at the Los Angeles Dog Show, permits the dog to run for an hour without getting anywhere, and the proud owner may be sure that Fido will not get lost. If a rabbit passes by the dog has a good run while bunny stands around nibbling clover. A flywheel supplies momentum.
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These contraptions, called "slat mills" (or carpet mills if they used a loop of carpet for the running belt) are still in use by agility, flyball, frisbee and schutzhund trainers to keep their dogs fit and in good cardiovascular shape. They're also used a lot by the dog-fighting set, which gives them a bad name, but they are a great way to get a dog exercised if space or weather is an issue, and dogs who are properly trained to used them get really excited about running on them. You can pay $1,500 to $3,000 for a good one.
Was just about to say the same thing. Here's an example of frighteningly fit pit bull on one.
Unlikely human treadmills, they're self-powered, so the dog can stop when ever it wants. We've been thinking of getting one for our Staffordshire Bull Terrier puppy (also named Angus), as 45 minutes of walking a day isn't cutting it (that and we're thinking of showing him).
Here's an example of what you can achieve with a slat mill, a spring pole, and good genetics. Looks scary at first glance until you realize staffords top out at under 40 pounds and are typically friendly to the point of being comical.
I agree, slat mills are great for confined homes or for inclement weather. But because of the dog fighters' insistence on doing what they do, most people reflexively associate these machines with sinister situations.
It does seem like a good idea to track purchases and ownership of these devices similar to guns or autos, simply to discourage the dog fighters even further.
Jane! Stop this crazy thing!