I have a gorgeous show puppy, 6 months old but he does "crab" How can I stop this?

Just to check I was right in what is 'crabbing' (I think we call it 'sidewinding' in our breed?) I found this article which may help. http://www.cantonpomeranians.com/stories/38476    I think the only thing you can do is not to go straight away, or too, the judge but rather do a slight 'curve' to minimise what the dog is doing.   A knowing judge will know what you are doing and why however - especially a breeder/handler judge!!    There is normally a constructional problem that causes this!!

or it can be a habit or stage of unbalanced growth

If it is a habit rather than a construction problem then you could try putting two chairs at opposite ends of the garden with a tub of treats on each, trot to one give a treat, turn and go straight to the next. I found this helped an enthusiastic Mummys boy look straight ahead rather than up at me, he eventually got the hang of looking ahead and moving in a straight line :-)

Years ago we had a puppy who did this one night at ringcraft, someone suggested walking her close to a wall, anyway to cut a long story short, with her it was just a phase and she soon grew out of it.

> walking her close to a wall,

This would be my suggestion :)

Thanks for your suggestions....brilliant

I have a Boston Terrier who crabs. She does it when I look down at her to watch how she is moving she tries to look at my face and this throws her gait out. If I move her without looking at her she does move much better. It can be worth experimenting with the speed you move at and also how you hold the lead as all these things can affect how a dog moves. The problem with moving by a barrier of some kind is that  you have to move away at some point and then the dog often just goes back to crabbing.

The problem with moving by a barrier of some kind is that  you have to move away at some point and then the dog often just goes back to crabbing.

Exactly, especially if this is a construction problem!!   Sorry to be neg. but we had one, otherwise a lovely girl, who did this, all her life and despite all my best efforts.   As I say, you can help by not going straight away and too the judge when you move him.   And yes, to the speed you move at too.   It's darned frustrating when the dog is otherwise nice but sometimes the 'rose coloured specs' have to come off......?

Commonest reasons for 'crabbing' ...Too short backed, over angulated behind or an imbalance of front and rear angles can all contribute
to over reaching from behind and/or insufficient reach from in front.
The rear tracks up too far and would hit the forelimbs so dog moves on two tracks.
Growth spurts can also have short term effects on reach and drive on one plane but if it persists it is anatomical faults.

> walking her close to a wall,
>

This does work, if it is purely a habit. I have had experience of it. As others have said, if it is poor construction, it cant be fixed.

Often puppies are 'bum high' so their back legs have grown faster than their front ones . . . . so longer legs at back can collide with the front  ones hence puppy crabbing. My puppies always grow out of it once they have balanced up.

He moves beautifully when not on a lead, but buggers it at ringcraft.