Stacking 101

[bullyBug]

So this is my first miserable attempt at stacking. I know his front is way off. Any other tips or advise? It's SO much harder than it looks. (Particularly with an A.D.D puppy ) I think I need some sort of diagram I can mimic.

He's at the bootyliciuos stage right now.

 

[AKBull]

He's got a big butt and I cannot lie! Sorry, I couldn't resist.

I don't know how to stack a dog, but I will be paying attention to learn.

 

[bullyBug]

Lol, it was a toss up between bootylicious and sir mix a lot when I was posting.

 

[Smart_Family]

I don't know either but found this in a google search http://www.patchworkshepherds.com/how_to_stack_a_gsd . And now I've got Baby Got Back stuck in my head haha.

 

[bullyBug]

Thanks smart.

GSD stacking is just so extreme that I'm not sure how much help it will be. There has to be a mastiffy one like that somewhere online. Off to flex my google muscles...

---------- Post added at 07:59 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:45 PM ----------

Awesome link Ak!! Thank yoU!! I THINK they'll be super helpful! (I can watch, but not hear videos at work. haha)

 

[bullyBug]

Dude, I just ate your reply. What the??

 

[AKBull]

LOL You must have gotten the link before I deleted it! I didn't see any techniques in there?

---------- Post added at 04:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:02 PM ----------

Ah, I was skimming and missed, you know, reading things.

http://www.gunslingermastiffs.com/mastiffpuppydogshowtraining.htm

 

[AKBull]

Ah, I was skimming and missed, you know, reading things.

http://www.gunslingermastiffs.com/mastiffpuppydogshowtraining.htm

 

[bullyBug]

That was quite the mind...freak. Thanks for reposting!

 

[BlackShadowCaneCorso]

When stacking he is supposed to be as square as possible to show his correct structure. Puppies are always a pain to work with and sometimes they grow out of it and other times they don't Judges know to look past the growing pains that these large breeds go through to see what the end result should be.

Here is a pic of Danae doing a natural stack when a neighbour came out, her front could have been a little more square on but over all it is a nice stack. If you have some extra tasty treats or a toy that can capture their attention it can help to use it to square them up too. The easiest way to to take them to a handling class where they can get hands on training but you can also prep them by having people they aren't familiar with go over your dog while you are at his head to get him used to a judges hands being all over him.

 

[Cody]

I would go to a handling class and have a professional show you the correct way to stack your dog.
Most places have drop in class's. You can do an online search in your area or ask some breeders who show.
You want to start off getting the placement of your dog correct so that they quickly learn where there feet are to be. That way when you give them the command they can walk into the stack automatically
It depends on the breed as to where and how the stack should place the body. The Corso for example is to be a rectangular dog, longer then tall. The top line should be level when stacked, and the rear hocks should be parallel to the ground.
However depending on what breed is what is correct, I believe that I was told here that the rear on a Fila should be slightly elevated. Where a boxer, for example, the rear is lower, so the top line is a gradual slope to the rear.
This site has some training videos at the bottom of the page, good luck.
http://www.gunslingermastiffs.com/mastiffpuppydogshowtraining.htm

 

[bullyBug]

Thank you both! I did locate a handling class in the area, and they do have drop ins. We are starting a formal obedience class on Saturday and I'd like to get a tad more control before doing the drop in. I'm just looking for some tips that I can use for practice before we show up and maybe avoid looking totally clueless.

 

[chuckorlando]

HAHAHAHAHAHA. I bout came out the chair laughing at that. Beautiful dog

So this is my first miserable attempt at stacking. I know his front is way off. Any other tips or advise? It's SO much harder than it looks. (Particularly with an A.D.D puppy ) I think I need some sort of diagram I can mimic.

He's at the bootyliciuos stage right now.

 

[angelbears]

Some dogs love the ring and others hate it. More than anything practice, practice, practice. I think you off to a good start.

 

[Oak Hill Farm]

Oh the joys of stacking! My hardest thing was getting him not to sit A slim show lead with proper head carriage will help him in the front while stacking. Classes will help immensely!

 

[ruby55]

When you're stacking your dog, he should appear to be a square on a square on a square -body, head,muzzle. His forelegs should be straight down. rear legs kicked out. One thing you can work on right away is concentration. He should be totally tuned in to you. Also look at your dog from above; are his forelegs straight? feet pointed to the front? His topline should be level. Of course right now that's impossible, but when he straightens out it's something to strive for. If his topline is too high, kick his rear legs out more. Looking at the picture, he's A framed; his forelegs should be straight down.
The judge will be touching him - looking at his teeth & jaw, possibly pushing on his back end, raising his tail, etc. Exposing your puppy to as many strangers as possible touching him is a good idea, all the while you trying to keep his attention & holding his position.
If you're still having problems after classes, there are some little tricks that professional handlers use to help get them & keep them on a good stack. Nothing cruel; just a little boost.
Also keep in mind that puppy matches are more for experience than anything. They're great fun, watching these babies prancing & dancing. Showing dogs can be a lot of fun & you'll make a lot of friends.

 

[northernmastiff]

When I used to show labs, we worked on having the dog go into a natural stack on his/her own so we had to do as little manipulation of the dog as possible. By the time the dogs were 8 months of age, they could often hit that stack perfectly. (Of course, the teen years hit after that and all that beautiful natural staking went to pot over that time.) To do it, I used to have the dog stand when I would give him a special treat. I would use the word, stack when I did it and would guide the dog into the position, once in the position, head facing forward with the food, I would say, good stack, and treat. Every time, didn't matter if I was cooking and giving him a little tidbit or if I was training for it, I would do the stack. It got to the point that I could tap the dog's leg if it was not in the right position and the dog would move it into place (usually, unless he was being a stubborn SOB). It worked really well but you have to get the dog into the right position, which isn't easy the first few times.

Can't add much more to the tips than what was already offered. Oh, if you can, have someone else handle the dog while you watch. It may not seem like a big thing but the first dog I ever showed was so bonded to me that I had to handle her solely. I forgot to switch off dogs with people in the class. Not a huge problem but there were a few times when I couldn't show the dog myself and the dog would not behave in the ring. She was so focused on where I was (or wasn't) that she wouldn't listen to the handler, wouldn't stack and wouldn't do anything. Actually, she was the reason why I ended up in the ring, I had to go in just to handle her. My original plan was to train the dog and then give her to a handler to show her...but you know how it is...the best laid plans of mice and men.

 

[ruby55]

BullyBug: Were you able to make that drop in class? If so how did it go?

 

[reina]

This is a picture I took of a dog a couple years ago. My angle isn't the best but I thought using someone else's pic and then putting red lines all over it wouldn't be the best idea.

-In a correct stack, the middle of the front leg should line up with the beginning of the neck beyond the wither. (I'm a bit off in the angle department so on the pic the red line isn't on the beginning of the neck.)

-The hind metatarsal should be 90 degrees to the ground (straight down).

-The white line indicates how when the front legs are straight and pulled under, the shoulder layback is at a perfect 45 degree angle (usually the angle people would call "well laid back" or "good layback" of the shoulder)

-The thicker red line shows how the prosternum (pointy part of the chest) and the hip joint are straight across from each other in a well proportioned dog stacked well.

You can only pull the legs back so far to straighten the topline until the legs just look over stretched. Fiddle around with it, use lots of treats. If you can get a big mirror and place it against the wall, that is great practice!

Hope this helps.
Dog is RoxEdge's All Fired Up

 

[bullyBug]

Thank you for the tips everyone. I hope I can get Mason to where I just tap his leg and he goes into a stack!

I've been working on having my friends go over him, check his teeth, etc while I'm at his head. He does like to melt into the ground for pats so that's something we need to work on. We had or first formal obedience class today. I told the trainer about my intention to show him and she said she'll modify his training so he doesn't auto-sit. I'm waiting until he's a bit more focused around other dogs and a bit better at stays before doing the drop in. Hopefully that will happen in the next couple of sessions.

That diagram is great, thank you!