Rushing ahead.... LOTS of advice wanted please

Ok here's one for ya.

As most know my two are trained to heel, ringcraft trained etc, BUT just more recently, I have been having issues with my Bitch, as she was out of the show ring for almost a year.

I have kept up training, but not as much as usual, and it seems she has taken it upon herself to rush more than usual, when I am now trotting her up.

(She is fine health wise, no issues there, feeding fine, fine in herself, it didnt start anywhere near a season or tragic event, and her eating/feeding/drinking habits are unchanged, I've even told her to lay off the whisky !) Phew

Now, it doesn't seem to matter how I approach this 'alien' problem, she always seems to want to rush ahead of me, even when I have treats on offer, and she will stop dead, if she remotely thinks she's gonna get one

SO, any miracle ideas, on how I can slow her back down, to the nice gentle trot she had before for showing ?

ANY and ALL opinions welcome and I will throw large amounts of tomatoes at anyone whom doesn't play nice

Have you tried starting her off walking then speeding it up gradually?
If she is stopping for the treat, I wouldn't give her it until you want to stop. Gradually increase the distance you trot her for when you're training, so you can get her as far as you need to (if you see what I mean) so start off with a few paces...stop and treat. Double it...stop and treat. Build it all up slowly.
Do you use a clicker (gosh that's becoming my mantra....)
I have been using one with the teenage mutant (I was a clicker virgin til then) and they are brill. You are able to mark the correct behaviour at the precise moment you want it...so that could help too.


Did I play nice cos I don't like tomatoes, but would gladly accept a jaffa cake.

At our ringcraft, if a dog is moving too fast they ask for the dog (and handler) to complete the circuit at a walk. Once the dog is walking nicely the handler can jog gently but if the dog tries to rush ahead they go back to a walk.

Does this only happen at ringcraft? Have you tried jogging with her next to you out on a walk? What is she like then?

Failing that - just tell everyone you want to show her American style

Well I quite like tomatoes but would prefer a Jaffa Cake

You can have the tomato...the jaffa cakes are mine...

As others have advised. Take the training back to the beginning so to speak. I had to pull my boy out for three months due to an injury. He went back in the ring and was a little eager shall we say, so I just went back to his ringcraft and took it slow.
My boy still has a habit of sometimes taking off and leaving me behind so what I did was do a series of quick turns and changing of sides so he then picks up on where I am and where he should be. Maybe easier with my bc compared to a Mal, but it'll get her thinking again where she should be and to pay more attention to where you are.

I would say you can't possibly eat a whole pack but I know that would be a lie

I'm trying to work out how you managed to mix up the words of my post when putting it in bold - Jaffa tomatoes, now theres a thought

Yes you played great ............ Jaffa cakes on the way

No, I tried clicker, and failed miserably. My fault entirely. My timing was rubbish, she was getting confused (as was I) and I kept forgetting the damned thing

Although I'm thinking more about maybe trying it again, if all else fails

I'll have none left to bribe with at this rate

Ah, I already stop and do turns, but changing sides is not something Ive tried before Will definitely give that a go. God I'll give anythin a go if it will slow her down, I'm starting to grow an arm like Popeye

From reading your post, it sounds as though she could be associating the word 'steady' with charging off. Does she pay any attention to the command inside?

I would work on jogging with her indoors where she is steadier then introduce a new word and praise when she responds. Then when you are out practice and see if it makes a difference.

Unfortunately we don't have enough indoor space to do it, it was only when we were going to dog club, that we had the opportunity, so the only option is outside now

I've also just realised that the title of this thread 'should' read as "Rushing Ahead"................. NOT - "Rushing Head" people will probably think I've been sniffing glue