Pacing vs Trotting - Page 1

My 9mo girl paces!  She trots on occasion but 95% of the time she paces.  Is there a way to break her of this?  Not that I intend to show her but wouldn't that be considered a fault in the ring?  She looks funny and she doesn't have that fluid, floating movement I like in other GSDs. 
 Appreciate any comments.

Thanks,
Deb

I think by pacing you mean what we have always called camelling when the two legs on one side move forward at the same time? Its OK and common when they are walking but not in fast movement. Quite a few years ago we had a male who would do this and we did manage to virtually cure him of it (though he always lapsed at times). We achieved this by trotting him with a bike using the springer apparatus. We would let him to trot slowly at first, if he started to camel we would correct this by jerking the lead until he started trotting correctly or if necessary by stopping the bike and starting again. Gradually we built up speed. It was quite successful though he was never a fast trotter. Interestingly his son turned out to be one of the best movers in this country and his grandons are almost all excellent in gaiting. Difficult to say what causes them to pace (or camel). I feel it must be something to do with their structure but I am not sure what (eg the son and grandchildren of our male have much better front angulation than he did)- maybe someone else can throw some light on this?

There can be diferent reasons for pacing. It could be a compensatory gait for constructional imbalance, injury or tiredness.  It is said to be a more economical gait at slow speed, than the trot, so possibly just the preferred gait of some dogs.

Thanks oso and pod.

I've noticed her pacing more since she pinched a nerve in her back so maybe it was more comfortable pacing afterwards but I know she can trot...I've seen it.  She has a long back & croup so I guess that might be it too.  Guess I'll have to get her to move out and see which she prefers at a higher speed.  Usually in our back yard she is running full tilt or just pacing along the fence line when she checks her perimeter.  Sure wish she would stick to the trot...it's so much prettier but she's my baby and I love her regardless.

Deb 

I have the same problem with my 18 month old female,she prefers ambling to gaiting.

Weird thing is she gaits brilliant carrying a ball.

Find the speed that gets her to convert from pacing to trotting and work @ keeping that speed when you're practicing with her.  When you see her revert to pacing quickly change direction so that she'll change leads this may get her back on the trot.  Be as consistant as you can NOT to allow the pacing to happen.  It does get to be a habbit and gets harder and harder to break as they get older. My 1st GSD was balanced, but very square (not enough angles @ either end and not long enough for his height) he tended to pace, especially at slower speeds. To break him I had to get the lead out and increase my speed when gaiting him. It was 90% my error, but also due to his conformation.  The more correct the conformation the less tendency to pace.  And yes, it could also be due to an injury, or at least made worse by it.

Good info Windwalker, Thanks!

I had a bitch that paced when she was moving slowly, up the speed and she trotted out with no issue, it was simply a speed thing.

DebiSue,

I'm interjecting a little late............try using a bike.
We teach the young dogs "coordination" by having them gait at a steady pace next to the bike.
You don't need to travel great distances,...you can ride 1/2mile back & forth or around a few city blocks...if she starts to pace,
simply "pull up" on the collar, so her front feet come off ground, just enough to let her catch her stride again.