You are all right that he might grow a touch more. His growth plates are closed already but he will definitely fill out (God help me, he's *this* close to putting me on my a** when we hits the tug).

I know I can use cavalettis to teach a trot and put it on command to "trot" but I wonder if that will teach him to ignore the clip altogether to to crab???

Between a crab and a pace, I'll take a crab hands down.

 Quote: Elise Bonder

 Quote: Scott Kapphahn

 Quote: Barbara Schuler

 Quote: Dennis Jones

I tried to teach my dog to crab, but she kept eating the bait and wouldn't stay out of the water

Probably raiding the beer cooler at the same time...

No, that was me, sorry bout that...I owe ya a couple

I have been trying to fix crabbing with THIS one for a while now...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmdIN1dtBZU

Seems to me that your dog is having trouble changing lead leg from a walk to a trot. Try making your first step to fast heel REALLY big and exaggerated. For many dogs it works right away. Then slowly, over time, make the big step back to normal. It forces them to catch up.

At least you have nice enthusiasm!!!

Elise

I am slightly confused as well...I posted a short video of my dog crabbing, is that what you mean by crabbing?

It needs\is being fixed (and not a competition dog, just a nice pet)

Just an example of crabbing, right? Maybe I dont know what I am talking about...

Also, your advice, I am not exactly sure what you mean. Forgive me, I am kinda a new handler.

Yah, at least she has enthusiasm after the issues she came with...I AM glad it is noticable.

Though I would prefer a nice trot to anything else, but I've seen what pacing does to a dog first hand and it's nasty!

My 5yr Malinois female has paced forever. Now she has problems with her back, shoulders, psoas release that can only be managed (can't fix it). Pacing offsets weight unevenly from side to side and puts a lot of pressure on each side as the dog walks.

So ideally I'd prefer my baby to crab just slightly. Many Malinois do it naturally and we just don't ever notice. And it's kind of funny that so many illustrations of trotting out there have front and back legs scissored (so crabbing). Long term, I'm less concerned with the outcome of crabbing that I am pacing.

SCOTT: Your dog is doing lots of different gates (some pace, some trot). Without a slow-mo it's hard to tell if there is crabbing. My gut feeling is that if you walked a touch faster you would get a nice flowing gate. Seems like your walk is a touch too slow for the dog. She is compensating for it by giving choppy steps (she clearly understands heel and is sticking to it even though it doesn't match hers). Add a little speed and she could reach and kick out a little more (so much prettier!). And if you start each heel section with a big step she would likely pop into a trot herself. Hey, just my 2 cents She's got a big smily and clearly enjoys the work, you got the really important part just right!!!

Elise