Hi,

When moving my dog in the ring, she spends 80% of the time looking at me rather than where she's going.  She's not usually attentive, and never really looks at me when out for walkies on her normal lead! 

I have never trained her with treats at ringcraft as she is food obsessed and it just leads to leaping about and craziness, so I don't think she's looking for food, though we have done some puppy training etc which was treat orientated.

She move really nicely when not doing this, but obviously, when she's looking at me she tends to move in a crab-like manner.

I thought maybe I was swinging my free arm and she was watching that go back and forth, but even keeping my arm behind my back or by my side she still keeps looking.

Any tips for getting her to look ahead?  :-)

Is she still a youngster Kate and/or new to the ring (whether training or shows)?  Even dogs not baited can be inclined to do this initially - when mine have I put it down to they don't quite understand why I'm jogging along beside them round an area surrounded by other dogs  and turning them at odd angles LOL.  Mine have all settled down and stopped doing it simply when becoming more used to what is expected of them so hopefully your girl will do the same. 

Occasionally we think we've conquered this type of issue at ringcraft and it re-surfaces at their first outdoor show because they're not used to going through the motions on grass (poor choice of words there methinks!) - i.e. they regard grass and outdoor areas to be their regular walk so are looking at us more in confusion as to why they've not been let off lead yet or stopping to play with other doggy chums.

If she should know better by now, i.e. you've been doing this every week for nigh on a year then you may need more practical advice (keeping their attention is my breed's issue rather then deterring it ;) )

HTH, Teri

Strange question but do you look at her when she is moving? 

Try looking up and ahead - you might find that solves it - obviously you need to get someone else to watch her to see if it works LOL!

Hi Teri,

Yes, she is a youngster, and we are both new to this.  Done a handful of shows, and ringcraft has just stated up again this last week after a long summer break, but she was a nightmare last week!  Hopefully once we get back into the swing of ringcraft she'll catch on to what she's supposed to be doing.

Rachel, yes you're right, I probably am looking at her a lot to see if she's doing it!  I will try to focus on looking ahead myself and ask others what she's been up to :-)

Have you ever lunged a horse?

May seem a funny question but I always start mine off on a rather long lead, lunging on a circle and when I feel the dog is steady and leaning slightly out of the circle (and not into me) I start to make a straight line. If they come into me I resart the circle again. Try it - it sort of throws them out.
This has the added advantage of deciding what gap between yourself and the dog you want when moving in the ring.  
I add the command "away" to this action which makes the dog leave a good gap when moving. If you are teaching the sendaway (in obedience or trials) use a different word although I use GO for the sendaway.... sorry I'm waffling :-)

To save me re writing, if you refer to my reply in the 'Crabbing' form it might be useful