Size of dumbbells?

**IdahoLabs** · 10-17-2010, 05:13 PM

How do you decide what size dumbbell to get for a dog?

**Belles mom** · 10-17-2010, 07:42 PM

The bit length should be teh wide of your dog's muzzle. Best way is to have the dog take a dowel rod in it's mouth, just behind the canines. Mark with a marker where the lips come to rest on the dowel. With that (or another) dowel, the canines should just barely overlap for the correct bit diameter. The Bell height when placed just behind the canines should come just to the end of the nose. This allows for the dog to pick up the dumbell cleanly without hitting it's nose. That being said, Hoss takes a bigger Bell diameter than what would be considered ideal, so that he does not cigar it. Works for him. So, there are individual preferences. Wood or plastic? Beveled corners or square? Low, medium or high rise in the bell?

**IdahoLabs** · 10-17-2010, 10:19 PM

So what would you start with... as far as wood/plastic, corners, height, etc? is there a type that makes for a good starting point without having to buy two dozen different ones to figure out what the dog likes best? LOL.

Thanks-

**Belles mom** · 10-17-2010, 11:43 PM

I have lots of dumbells! Plastic tends to bounce less on the thick padded floors (most typically found in obedience clubs that hold shows). If your dog is a chomper, the wood ones *can* exacerbate that issue. Wood ones tend to be lighter, I have a pretty big plastic dumbell for Hoss and you could kill someone with it! Medium rise works for most dogs (Low rise for Bulldog types, High rise for long nosed breeds). Check out J and dog supplies and Max 200. I think I have heard people say that the folks at Max 200 will help you fit your dog to a dumbell. This place has some cool dumbells Custom Obed. Dumbbells

**windycanyon** · 10-18-2010, 12:38 PM

If you want a cheap, yet good product, go to Omaha Vaccine (the store part goes by PetSuppliesDelivered). They have 2 sizes-- medium that fits my young labs < 6mos just fine: Pet Supplies Delivered / Omaha Vaccine | Training Dumbells and larger that fits my adults: Pet Supplies Delivered / Omaha Vaccine | Training Dumbells. I always fill out my orders to maximize my value for shipping w/ these since friends always seem to need a dumbbell.