Why do people recomend a dog does more roadwork.  I have heard people say this when sitting ringside that a dog could do with more road work but why?

To tighten up feet, pasterns, improve muscletone, tighten up a slack topline, take weight off of loaded shoulders etc.

But would they not get the same result letting the dog off for a run? 

You can get the opposite effect on feet and pasterns with free running.

To use all a dogs muscles you should get your dog walking, troting and free running (learnt that from flyball people!)

Roadwork is also to wear down nails and keep them a good length.

It's amazing how much roadwork tones up an animal you think was toned already.  When I can be bothered (!) I roadwalk Mia & Curtis for about half an hour 4-5 times a week in these lovely light evenings, the overall muscle tone is so much better and my dogs do pretty ok for exercise daily.

PS) It also helps your legs & bum too if you walk at a good brisk pace!  ;)

Also it is steady brisk excersise so also helps the dog to move properly in the ring as it is used to going at the correct pace.

When free, my breed at least, spend most of their time mooching,. a few steps this way a few that, a mad dash here a jump there, but not much in the way of stretches of steady movement as wanted in the ring.

Mine get an hour to two hours road work most days and free running about 4 to 7 times a week. 

>Mine get an hour to two hours road work most days

Crumbs you must be fit ;)

Usually go out with my freidn with her baby of 1 year in his pushchair and dobe.  They all do this much though I tend to leave the oldest one of 13 1/2 home some days on our longer walks.  the others of 22months to 10 1/2 years would take as much excersise as you can give them.

So next question would it help improve back end movement? I cant see the connection but have heard this comment passed recently although i must admit next time I keep a puppy I am only going to do roadwork as we have been told the reason our dogs zoom around the ring is because they have never learnt to walk properly on the lead!

It should certainly help them to learn to move at the correct pace if thais is the pace you road walk them at.  Wtih a large breed takes some doing to walk that briskly.  I can just do it with mine keep them trotting the whole time.

My first home bred bitch now 10 1/2 is a terrible pacer, but I have taught her to trot and she never paces in the showring, but as soon as she is off lead she can do it at any speed, and it looks so awful :D

To be honest dogs need both the toning and discipline of the roadwork and the freedom for co-ordination and sheer fun.

Hi Brainless.
My young TT bitch has just started/learnt to pace. she learnt how to do it on our hols 3 weeks ago. I noticed her doing it on the beach, off lead, after we'd been out out for a good long run. Now she keeps doing it, and has started doing it in the ring a bit as well.
any suggestions how to get her to stop pleeease.
I want to nip it in the bud before it gets hold. I notice she does it when on her lead walking by my side. she can pace pretty quickly as well, so going faster doesn't make her break out of it.
In the ring if she knows I have a treat, I can then get her to move correctly. Someone else suggested I turn her quickly in a circle to throw her off balance and move straight out from that. Have you any other ideas that will be long term. It looks awful :(
Thanks Anne

Try moving her on your right side for a wile - the side you wouldn't show her on in the ring,  This normally fools them so they trot and then when you go back to showing swap them back to your left hand side.  And speed up a bit, pacing is a comfortable gait for a dog and speeding them up tends to make hem trot.

I have found going forward with ntheri head up at a fat pace and then slowing down into correct trot soes the trick.

For a dog that can pace fat it is a case of teaching them that you do not want this laziness, as has been said it is a comfortable gait.

To do this use a word like Walk or trot.  Move of briskly, and if they pace go back to the start.  You may find you do this 10 times, but the dog will know that when iut trots you will keep going and of course get lots of praise.

I ahve used both techniques for my old girls, and she quickly learnt to do the correct thing.  At the begininnig if I ever felt her start off wrong I would go back to the start in the ring.

A judge would much rather you realised your dog was wrong after a couple of steps rather than you doing a whole circuit wrong and them either asking you to do it again, or dismissing you in a large class from a placing on poor movement.  Same goes if you ahve a naughty over bouncy pup, go back to the start and they realise being silly will mean repeating it over and over.

Thanks for those pieces of advise. i will def. give them a go. As you say, it is a lazy but comfy way to move, but looks hideous.
Cheers
Anne

Tap the dogs head up before you set off/as you set off.  Try getting the dog to exercise at the correct speed e.g running ro cycling for you!!!!  I have one bitch who I can't take jogging because I can't jog fast enough and I refuse to sprint 5km!!! :D

Also in the ring about turns will bring them out of a pace normally.  This may mean those dredded about turns on the corners of triangles (my pet hate but they do work)

Whats pacing?  I know you probably think I am stupid but I couldnt wait any longer to ask. :)

Many dallies do it (my first encouter I can remember was pebbles!!!!!)

Its when two lwgs on the same side move in the same direction at the same time! Do you get that?  So left side moves, right side moves etc etc etc  It makes a dog 'wobble'!!!!

Dont think mine do but the only thing my dogs can do is move but shall be looking out on Monday! :)  I am sure if Tigger had heard of it she would have found a way to do it just annoy us. ;)