Jabeepa

Diesel is 15 months and still constantly paces. He paces on and off in our confirmation class, but when he does have a proper gate it is very nice. How do I teach him to stop pacing, so it is one less thing I have to think about in the ring?

In class they said to stop and restart every time he paces, but this does not seem to be helping. I have been practicing on our walks, and the only way I can get him to switch from pacing to a proper gate is by getting him to run and then slow down to a jog. (I know this will not be acceptable in the ring.) I then praise him lots when he starts with a proper gate. Any other ideas?

I was also wondering if this is just him being lazy or is it due to something else, such as poor structure? He usually paces when we go on walks and around the house.

TIA

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Stefanie, Paul, Diesel, and Hemi

RaindanceIGs

With a pacer, when you 'start' to move him, you have to start out moving the speed that you'll be moving with him when he's trotting. If you go gradually from slow, to faster, he'll keep pacing. There's also a way to sort of knock them off balance so they sort of trip (trip isn't the right word) one step and it shifts them to a trot from a pace - hard to explain though without being able to show you - maybe someone else can better explain.

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DobeMom616

Will a ladder help this?

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DobeMom


The reason a dog has so many friends is because he wags his tail instead of his tongue.

Dobelove

Usually a slight collar pop works.

Or slightly bumping them, but a very light bump with your hip/leg to knock them into balance if that makes sence.

Jabeepa

Diesel is pretty stubborn. I try popping his collar and trowing him into balance with a push, but he continues to pace. I do pop his collar towards the side, so maybe I need to try pulling up.

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Stefanie, Paul, Diesel, and Hemi

ellenm

Pull UP for one stride to make him change his gait...then move on. It pops them out of the pace usually. When you are about to start off, pop up, go a stride and check for gait....then move on.

sorthund

I'm wondering if road working (biking) him would help some in addition to the other suggestions?

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"FAILING TO PREPARE IS LIKE PREPARING TO FAIL"
Anonymous

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Adara

When he does trot correctly, name it so he knows what you are asking.

I've seen some handlers. Gently lift the front as they move. It seems to be all the tricks invovle getting them off balance, when they correct they seem to gait, not pace.

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Colleen
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von Cosack Dobermann

Try starting quickly then ease back, also work some pops on the choker and see what his response is. You mentioned your in a conformation class, whats up with your instructor? VON.

Jabeepa

I am hoping biking with him will help with this also. He is only 15 months old, so we are going to wait until he is 18 months.

Von- My confirmation instructor suggests to stop and then start every time he is pacing, but most of the time he just continues to pace.

I like the idea of putting a name to the appropriate gait. He is a smart boy and I think this will defiantly help. I have lot of new things to try.

Thank you everyone for your help!!

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Stefanie, Paul, Diesel, and Hemi