how to correct your gsd to trot while walking? - Page 1

I have a 3 year old male and a 6 months old female and they love to pace! We have been training them for a long time and it just doesn't seem to work. When they walk, they pace, and we have to pick them up by the collar and they would trot for a few seconds and change back to pacing. They trot at fast speed, but is there a way to correct them to trot while walking? Is there a way to break this bad habit?

Thanks
Solvanna

Go faster.

My 14mo girl paced too and I had to get her to trot for a conformation show.  I had a friend run in front of her teasing her with a ball while another friend ran behind holding her leash and I commanded "trot" from the center of the field.  (I had my friends help me because I'm too old & fat to run very far.)  I also took a long line and lunged her around me as I commanded "trot".  If she paced I would snatch her and tell her no.  It didn't take long and she figured it out and now she knows what I want and will do it all the time...she rarely paces unless she's tired.  It took some effort, especially on my friend's part but it was worth it.  I love to watch my girl trot.  Good luck with yours!
Deb

Keith is right, some dogs (and horses) tend to pace at slow speeds, or when tired. Pick up the pace and they will trot instead.

As Keith said, go faster. German Shepherds like to move out. Some dogs are more comfortable pacing when breaking from a walk at slow speeds.  It could be due to conformation,  and especielly with your older dog, a well ingrained habit at this point. Also, with a dog that paces, starting out slow is asking for them to pace. If you can't tell a pace from a trot yourself when first starting the trot, have someone to help by watching you gait your dogs.

Thanks for the advice. (: Yes i do realise that when i jog or fast walk, they will gait. But one thing im so curious about is, i was at Australia few weeks ago and i was there for a gsd specialty show, all the gsd's trot while they walk. And so i was wondering that is there a way to correct mine to tort while they walk. so is it just a habit that could be broken?

A dog that has the drive from behind and collects himself up into the collar, can trot at a slow pace. I think it's mostly how a dog is built. A longer backed dog and one that is not balanced between rear and front, will have trouble getting under himself and trotting right out of a walk when slow. But again, GSD's are supposed to move out at an extended trot, not be collected up when gaiting. A bitch I have will trot slowly, but she's a working line dog, and is coupled shorter than a typical show dog. She also has a lot of drive and it doesn't take much to get her rear under her when she's on a collar -- or not - she will easily trot at a slow pace, when off lead too & stalking up to a squirrel, for example.

Anyway,  I wouldn't set a goal for a slow, collected trot. It's not what you want for showing. Move faster right from the outset. If you are serious about showing, attending a handling class will help greatly. There might be things you are doing that are not helping your dog(s) and an experienced person can tell you how much improvement to expect.

Hi This may help - either start swimming - the dogs cannot pace in the water. Use a bike with the older dog start fast so the dog does not pace at all then after a session or two start to slow the bike down gradually until you are achieving the gait at a walk.  With your younger girl you can use the bike on a grass surface or get some-one to run with her. the same principle applies.  it is just persiverence on your part. We do it here most of the time especially with our imports as it seems to be the norm for the dog to pace. You do need a good handler.  Then I ride the bike in front of the dog.  Aim for a short course first even a hundred metres then stop.  It will work but you just have to keep doing it. ( I live in Oz)

I pick up my pace a bit, jiggle the lead and tell them "hup-hup" and when the gait changes I praise. So I agree, speed it up.