My mums 18 month old setter is really starting to come together (she was often out of proportion as a puppy) but her movement is really not great.  She is completely sound and does a combination of road walking and off lead running - fit as they come (although quite heavily set) but she paces in trot and this makes her bum wiggle and just generally makes her movement look awful.

Is there anything we can do to stop her pacing or if she's still doing it at this age is it too late?

Thanks

Teach her to trot on cue. One of my dogs paces all the time so i taught him to trot. He now trots when in the showring where it matters but still paces everywhere else

It sounds as though she's used to being exercised too slowly. It's worth trying throwing her off balance before starting to move her - turn in a tight circle then immediately set off fast - she should go into a proper trot rather than pacing.

Practice with different speeds. We have two that tend to pace and it can be controlled by adjusting the speed in both of them -both stop pacing when being moved faster.

Can someone explain what " pacing" means

Thanks

Pacing and trot are both 2 beat movements.  BUT - whereas in a trot a dog's legs move on the diagonal (ie; front right & rear left hit the ground, then front left & rear right) - when pacing, the legs on the same side hit the ground (ie; front right and rear right - then front left and rear left).

Pacing is undesirable for showing as it's a very unstable movement and causes the back/hips to roll.  My Vizsla often does it too - no idea why.  If I wanted to train her out of it I would probably trot her over poles and do lots of exercises to make her more aware of her back end.  I would think you could clicker train it too - I'd probably put the 2 different paces on stimulus control (ie; train the dog to do either one when you command it).

I find it often starts as a lazy habit when the pups reach a stage where our walking speed is too slow for them to trot, but faster than their walk.

I did as on poster said trained the trot in my persistent pacer.  Generally you need to give a little lift at the start, and move off fast.  some can pace at speed, so with these you start and if they go wrong you stop go back to the start and say trot and move them at the correct movement from the start.

Another explanation of pacing is imagine a pantomime horse where both people move the leg on the same side forward together.  In a proper trot the legs on each side come together in the middle and apart like scissors, as opposed to follow the leg in front.

Thanks for that, as my dogs are short legged and hairy it would be hard to see but never been told their gait is anything other than normal.

Outside the ring pacing is a normal gate and often used to relax - as in a team of huskies for example - it is however not very attractive to look at and can be a sign of poor conformation so is not ideal in the show ring. If all else fails try moving the dog on the other side, in the right hand but getting the dog off balance usually works a push at the shoulder as you start to move often works but not if your dog is small or the dog may move well but you may have your nose on the floor.

My boy used to do that and I struggled to get him out of it. What worked was at home in the park etc was to pretend you're in the ring and on the move speed up, slow down, speed up and slow down as you go round. For some reason it knocked him out of the lazy habit!!
My boy has excellent movement and now only when he is being a lazy toad when walking does he pace...

It can be useful to try moving in a tightish circle - harder to paste if "bending" - a schooling aid used in horses.  Anyone who has ridden a pacer doing circles will know what I mean.  It is an economical movement for trotting long, fast distances, not good for tight circles/weaving movements, so this may help.

> Thanks for that, as my dogs are short legged and hairy it would be hard to see but never been told their gait is anything other than normal.

You don't have to see the legs to see it - you will notice a pronounced rolling motion.  However, even with a profusely coated breed you cannot mistake it - think of Spotty Dog from the Woodentopsm  - it's a motion a bit like a steam train, if that makes sense.

It's like the way a camel moves, rocking from side to side. Very ugly to watch imo but I've heard it's an economical pace so done to conserve energy?

The Woodentops, you are really showing your age, I used to watch it with my youngest brother, he was 9yrs younger than myself.

I will check out for a rolling in the gait/coat.

Agree with JeanG, starting off quickly stops my girl.

I've been told that having the dog sit before you start gaiting, then getting the dog going quickly will often help with the problem. However, training to trot on queue and roadworking at different speeds can really help as well.

Thanks - I'll give her a go over some trotting poles when they yard dogs are locked up and try some tight circles.  My mum usually shows this dog (as we have dogs in the same class) I do think speed is a big part of it as mum doesn't move as quickly as Misty would like.  Looks like its time for Mum to get out jogging and in the meanwhile I'l practice with her at a faster speed.  I think this is a habit that she has got into but I'm very pleased to hear there is hope.

Thank you for all your advice xx