Treadmills, Slat Mills and Turnspits

The kind of enclosed turnspit, seen above, required a very small dog to run inside the wheel and turn a chain drive going to the fireplace. The chain drive, in turn, turned the meat on the fire and sometimes ran a bellows as well.

Most of the small turnspit dogs were mutts of various types (terriers, small spaniels).

One type of turnspit dog that was "prettied up" for the show ring, however, was the Glen of Imaal terrier. The low carriage of this dog helped it fit inside the wheel.

Larger dog-powered turn mills were possible, but were uncommon. The contraption, above, was one of two different styles created to power a small sewing machine shop in 1888.

More common than wheels or turnspits in which the dogs ran inside a round wheel, were larger canine treadmills or slat mills in which the dog ran on top.

These dog mills were fairly common canine-power sources which could be used in a kitchen to run a butter churn or centrifugal milk separator, or moved outside to the barn in order to run a corn sheller or bean sorter.

Farms that did not have suitably large dogs could substitute a goat or sheep to do the same job.





Of course, slat mills are still around today, albeit now they are simply used to keep large dogs in condition and not to power farms, kitchens, or small machine shops.

Though a slat mill or rug mill (a slat mill that has a carpet-band for traction) can be used to keep a running or bird dog in shape when out of season, most slat and rug mills today are sold to Pit Bull owners (many some of whom are dog fighters). Click here to see several modern offerings, and note the "rape rack" of the type that was used by Michael Vick and his "Bad Newz Kennels."
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