Critiques/Opinions - Page 1

Hey guys, I'm new to the whole stacking thing. I'm thinking about doing a conformation show (it will be both of our first ones). I'm hoping for critiques and pointers. This is our first time attempting to stack her. She's 20 months.  

 

She is definately young as her structure shows. I do not like her back at all, sorry. I do, however, like her color and head study. She has nice secondary sex characteristics. She has long/weak pasterns with flat front feet. Her rear feet are nice and tight. She is easty/westy, but as her chest drops that may get better. She has long hocks. Her shoulder is a bit straight (I think). But, she will continue to change, so showing is a good thing, just don't get discouraged. It is also great socializing.
All in all, she is pretty, but her back does concern me.
Brandi

to stack a dog you need 3 people

one to hold the dog
one to hold the camera
one infront of the dog to get its attention

try placing her hind leg further back and see what she looks like. maybe 3 to 4 inches.

SitasMom gave you good advice on stacking, I agree with Brandi and here's my critique of her

Black and tan GSD female of nice type, correct proportions, nice pigment, medium size and medium strong. Beautiful head of good size, good planes, good prportions and a beautiful dark mask. Very good earset .
Beautiful neck of good length and good angle to body. A flat withers with a slight drop at its end, Back has a rise in the middle that is a bit higher than the withers, a steep croup of very good length. Good tail and tailset. Good hind angulation, stifle looks slightly short and hock is slightly long, nice tight rear feet. In both pictures she does not stand straight, pasterns are steep and feet slightly flat, front upper arm is slightly short and slightly steep (most GSDs are like that), shoulder blade looks slightly pushed forward. Allover a beautiful young bitch. You need to practice for better stack, as the way you stack her affects how she looks, with a smart stack her back wouldn't look that much roached, her shoulder placement would look better too, plus you can make her stand straight in the front (what is more important actually is walking straight coming and going). Hope that helps

Ibrahim

Thanks guys! Yea I don't know much about stacking, we'll try it again this weekend with 3 people and see if we can't get better results.

you will have to stack and restack and take about a thousand photos.

with each stack place her paws a bit differently. you will have to look at all the photos to see what is best on her.

study the VA dogs and see the different positions they use, each is a tiny bit different depending on conformation.

once she's stretched out just a bit, he top line will look better.

try to stretch her out a little, but also keep her front legs parallel to the ground.....this is where the 3rd person come in.

if she's stretched out, her front lets will not be parallel, so a toy or treat 6 or 12 inches from her nose will cause her to lean foreward which will keep her front correct.

do not pull up on her collar, it doesn't make for a good look. let her hold her head in a natural position. if you want her head a bit higher, use a treat to bait her.

its best to do this when she's hungry and you have high intrest treats (beef or chicken leftovers).

Your dog doesn´t seem to feel comfortable in these pictures.
If teeth, hips, and elbows are okay, no gun shyness, SchH1 title, and she knows how to move, later on she will be a V - candidate on every show.
This paricular female needs to pull forward and down during the stack so she becomes stretched in the back, head down, not up ( put a finger of your right hand in the collar pulling the head down a littlebit ), your left foot should stand behind her right rear leg, at first watch out that her forelegs are straight. The person she loves most of all should always be in front of her, so she will look eager and interested.
We train dogs for shows for months, stacking, walking, gaiting, at least twice a week. It´s hard work, and the best case would be to have the same handler everytime.
You can do some ring training in the club after or before Schutzhund training.
She is worth it, no VA, but V, and with proper training not at the end of the V-ratings.

Forgot to ask - does she have a grey muzzle already or is this only lights?

The muzzle is the lights. Of course I work all day, so most of the pictures are in the afternoon or evening, not the best lights. Thanks guys. I'm studying and starting to just practice stacking in the evenings to see the different positions. Hopefully I can take some better pictures this weekend using 3 people and see what it produces.