Man, this is so hard with seeing the dog, how it's been during prior training and without me asking you about 100 questions.....
In general:
When we have a hot/fast dog we need to do everything more slowly, take are time, speak softly/slowly so they don't get even more jacked up on our energy [sorry to be artsy].
If all the training is correct up to the FTP point but the dog is just cautiously slow, here's how I proceed.
With dogs that are slower/cautious/nervous/etc. we can be a lot more animated in out demeanor. I've found in general men have a harder time be animated 'cheerleaders' for their dogs.....it's just not macho/manly/etc. I guess and men tend to be more emotionally reserved. Many dogs like this respond well when we are much more enthusiastic/animated.
I always try to keep this type of dog moving......as it returns from the back pile I resend quickly from either position [cast/side] and try to to let the dog know I'm excited about its work by being animated with my voice. I cue verbally starting with running [not FTP] to the pile and really try to let the dog [any dog] knowing through the inflection in my voice I'm excited that he's looking at the pile and about to be sent. My cues are: "Sit, dead," [get them looking correctly then] "goodgoodgood...that's it!" hand goes down and then "back!"
You can try intermixing marked pile sends every 3-4 sends too, just try to make it more of an exciting game then 'work' before FTP.
I'll force em still in the cheerleader mode but making sure I slow down enough so they have their thinking caps securely on. If they aren't running well to the pile at this point I remain upbeat and let they chips fall where they may. FTP is the last of the big three yard work pressure areas [CC and FF the other two] and some dogs just don't go hard during FTP...you need to watch for the correct response to your forcing and I will force to get them out of a trot but I don't force for speed in general. Speed might be a result of force but not my objective.
I always force from the cast position first and with some slower/sensitive dogs it can help to start closer to the pile. ....most will speed up when nicked. Not all though..............
Of course collar intensity is important and you may need to move around a little bit to see what you get from different levels/durations. I've had some dogs poke on momentary but fly on continuous and just the opposite.
I don't "stick to pile" anymore with any dog. [anarchy, I know]
If the FTP trips are really slowing your dog down I we have to look at the dogs understanding of collar pressure.
You can't go wrong with running to a pile for a while again, work to get his enthusiasm up and again, watch that your is up too. None of this cheer-leading means the dog doesn't get forced, it has to, but many dogs benefit from a non-mechanical demeanor on our part.
