changing the stacking pose of the german shepherd?? - Page 21

does it really matter......its not what i want its what the judges and the so called experts want???

Well I do suppose we'd like to see how you would set up YOUR dog since you find the way it is done so incorrect

Beauty does contribute to our visual enjoyment. A good photo and stack presents the "eye of the beholder". It isn't required for a dog to work, but it is a welcome and desired bonus when it is found for so many GSD enthusiasts.

Eddy your example.... I forget which one, exactly....the 1940's dog with the three quarters view, well, you are funny! And you want us to listen to you about how to present a dog to their advantage? Let me ask you, is that your best angle when being photographed? 

Eddy since you aren't willing to elaborate and don't seem to have any experience with it, no it really doesn't matter to me at all since I'm happy to show my working line dogs the same way everyone else shows their dogs.  I've never had trouble getting the ratings and show titles I thought these dogs deserved.

i dont wanna be a troublemaker so i will say this.......................there are good dogs in all the lines.........

i will always be a  GSD fan no matter what.....................just hope we can make them the best they can be........

Many years ago the reason for the "show pose" was to depict the dog supposedly indicating movement while in a still pose.  ecs

someone also told me it was because GSD is longer then tall so that pose made it look better???

JMO  but I have always understood it was a combination of
all those points mentioned, and that is why it has 'stuck';

- yes, the breed naturally stands with one rear leg further forward
than the other, often as not;
- yes, being longer than it is high (though not necessarily as
extremely so, as some would have it !), the dog is better 'balanced'
when in that stance ... which is probably why it often does it naturally;
- it follows that it looks more balanced;
- yes, it helps the judge see more of the dogs angles that way, in one
look;
- yes, there is a degree of indication of what the dogs 'lines' will look
like when it begins moving.

Of course, has been said many many times, that can all be ruined by
a bad stack in the showring that tries to correct a fault or ends up in
a dog too cramped together or too stretched out.

Nice post by Hundmutter.
I found this while checking for errors. 


It Almost looks like he would want to bring a hind leg forward. Has anyone Taken images of GSDs stacked Square with Hocks Perpendicular to the Ground?

Traditionally the AKC GSD was posed that way to accentuate a sloping backline and to demonstrate balanced shoulder layback and rear angulation. Selective breeding for extremes over the years have resulted in a dog that now has a more sloping backline and more angulation on both ends than the first German imports that were seen in the AKC ring. Ergo the show pose has been revised over the years as needed to accomodate those changes.

A good AKC handler will set up a  GSD based on the conformation of the individual dog. In the US we like to see a very strong, flat backline, no dip or roach while standing or moving. We also like a  lot of slope to the backline and heavy angulation on both ends. We think that contributes to a GSD's abilty to cover the most ground in a single stride and to move with its feet close to the ground  while not interferring with one another. It is also what judges have told us we need if we want to win, who doesn't? There should be absolutely no lifting of the front feet and no bending at the elbow. When at full extension, the GSD's front leg must make a straight line from the withers to the pad and the rear leg must drive with an equal amount of force. One should be able to take a photo of a GSD in full stride, use a straight edge and draw a  perfectly straight line from the withers to the center of the foot. Selective breeding for more and more side gait has resulted in  increasing the angulation on both ends and/or lengthening the body

Someone else will have to say why the GSL's and WL's are set up as they are. IMO there is a lot expected of GSL's intended to be titled and to  be competitive in conformation;  getting it all right is a very  big challenge since those breeders needs to not only think of working ability, they also need to produce a dog that looks great. Some with WL's also face the same challenges, trying to retain working ability while breedng a dog that looks good too.