How do you teach the correct stack position?? - Page 1

Hi Everyone,

I would like to learn how to put Cisco (5 1/2mo old) into the proper stack position.
What is the proper leg position? Explanation with illustrations would be great.
Do you give a command, then place the dogs legs into position, or vice versa?
What command word do you use to cue the dog to get into the stack position?
Do you start on the, front or back first, or place all legs?
Do you help them keep their legs in the proper position with your body? (I've seen a lot of pictures with the handlers foot placed behind the forward rear leg.)

Thanks for your advice it is greatly appreciated.

C

This is how I was taught...

Always stack the FRONT first, and intentionally just a little too far UNDER the body.  This way, when you set the back left leg to the rear, it will pull the front legs into the proper position!  If you set the front legs straight to begin with, when you set the rear legs, it pulls the body back, but leaves the front feet in their original position, but moves the forearms back, creating the improper angle.  When you set the rear, set his/her right rear leg (the one closest to you) with the tips of his/her toes right under where the tip of her peter should be if he/she is a male!  (He/She will need this three point stance to balance while you set his/her last leg) Then set the left hind leg last- bring it back far enough from the body that the lower leg from the point of the hock to the pastern is pretty much straight up and down. Doing this you will be able to see a much nicer topline, and it will accentuate a nice croup and tail set, as well as give an accurate idea of his/her proper proportions.

 clc29...Post pics of your stacked little guy when you get them...: )

The proper stack position varies dog to dog.  A really good handler knows how to stack a dog so that it shows off the strengths and hopefully doesn't call more attention to the dog's weaknesses (faults really can't be masked with a stack, but they shouldn't be exaggerated).  How exactly a dog should be placed really depends on that dog's angles, the shape/ratio of the dog, etc.

The general rule is that the front legs should be perpendicular to the ground.  In the rear, the left leg would be set "square" (perpendicular to the ground) and the right leg would be pulled under.  How far exactly depends on the dog and his angles.  As a general rule, I usually align it with the left knee or the tip of the penis.

Like Jyl said I always set the front first.  I prefer to just walk the dog into the stack rather than setting the front (unless it's a puppy with little ring training or leash training).  If you need to adjust the front, lift the leg above the elbow, not any lower.  That's probably one big mistake a lot of people make, grabbing a dog's pastern or foot and then throwing the shoulder angle off.

I just like my stacks to look natural and balanced.  I want it to look as if the dog walked into a stack and was not placed.  In fact some of my best "stack" pics are when I was doing the stand-out-of-motion exercise with my dog.  I won't stack my dog so that he looks different than if he stops on his own.

Unless the dog is trained really well to free-stack (stack himself) and carries his head high all the time, you usually get the best result with other people helping.  When I want to take a good stack pic alone, I setup my camera and put a remote in my pocket.  I stack my dog and then toss a toy or food out in front, slightly toward the camera and use the remote to snap.  If I have people to help, then I usually do the camera, have one friend stack the dog and another friend stand in front and call his name or wave a toy.  I have one dog that stacks very nice every time without any "help" from toys or other people, but another dog that always looks slouched in front and disinterested unless I get help.  Sometimes at first it's better to leave a leash on and actually have the dog leaning forward slightly.  If your stack isn't that good and then you tell your dog to "stay" and drop the leash, the dog will probably slouch or "bridge" (bad front/shoulder angle) or the expression won't look alert or the ears won't be up.

I got this pic of my working line puppy a few weeks ago.  A friend stacked him for me (he is able to hold a stay so she can back out of the picture) and another friend stood in front with his tug toy.  I also like the mouth to be open or relaxed, I think it shows off the head better and shows more expression.

Yes please share!!

Here is the stack that I did a week ago of my female.. that Kim (Justk9s took)... Kim and I have spent MANY hours taking pictures of our dogs stacked.. I think this is something that should be taught to the dog whether you plan to do the Breed Survey or not..