Hi anyone got any ideas how to stop my 2yr old Bernese from creeping forward while in a stand. She free stands nicely but will creep forward one foot at a time. I do bait her but not excessively and she just keeps inching forward unless I actually hold a piece of bait right under her nose, then she nibbles and pulls at it and spoils her outline. I would like to stand her and step away a little bit to give the judges a chance to look at her properly but its no good she just creeps. She is not nervous at all and is very happy to be Gone Over! I have tried all ways to stop her and as usual at home she stands like a rock! don't they all?
If I don't bait her she will stand with her head down and look fed up and she still creeps, as soon as we are on the move she executes a happy free flowing gait and she loves to go to shows and knows as soon as I touch my show bag that a trip is in the offing, she rushes out to the car and is very excited, she sits and takes everything in at a show and has a great time but Oh how I wish she would just stand still. I never give her the bait untill she has sttod still even for just a few seconds but to no avail she keeps doing it? Any ideas?

I have a 7 year old champion bitch that is a past master this.  The only thing I find that works is to step forward towards them to make them back up, but they will only creep forward again.  sometimes putting your knee forward works, but to be honest I can't get her to stand back for long.  You could try turning you back on her when she does it when practising at home and say no treat, and then only give the bait once she is standing t the distance you want.  You will probably find as I have done that in the ring she knows she can get away with it as you haven't the time often to insist.

Thanks for your reply Brainless I may try stepping towards her it might help, good to know you made your bitch up even with this problem, Mine has he JW and ShCm and a rec cc so there is hope for her yet then??

I put my foot near her front feet, then lean my body back a bit and only give little bits of bait at a time telling them to wait while I break the bait off. Eventually you can (or maybe able to!) make the time in between the baiting draw out slightly.  They don't get the bait until they wait. I always try not to be giving them the food while the judge is looking straight at them.  I find this works but it takes time and patience until they know they won't get it until they wait. But you always get one pushy one don't you.

Have you thought about using a clicker to teach her to stand still?  Try it a training classes if you go or out on a walk and even before you go in the ring.  i have seen people use them whilst showing but that has been whilst moving so not off putting to other dogs?  Might be worth trying to get one that isn't too loud.

Jill

I do use a klicker but she knows this means a treat and wiould start to drool if I left it too long before giving her it, don't really want a drooly dog for the judge. I will try the stepping up to her though might help who knows?

what about training (with clicker or other) to walk backwards on a command like back-up, then if she creeps  you can give the command which will walk her back to 4 square and then bait.

What a good idea I am on the case, one backwards walking dog coming up, no seriously this may just be the thing to crack it. If I train her to a competly new command it might just work. Thanks