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by smartguy1469 on 25 May 2008 - 06:05
I have been training for schutzhund for almost two years now and i have always been a lover of the working lines, so i never thought about teaching a stack because i thought that was show line junk. Now i have come to appreciate a good stack. It shows beauty and grace and strength all in one. Can someone please give me advice on how to teach a stack to my dogs. No work has been started with the stack. Thanks.
by tigermouse on 25 May 2008 - 12:05
start by lifting the dogs feet and placing them you need the dog to know that your not going to pull him off balance so just a little movement to start with i always start at the front end and work back use a command whilst doing this and reward if the dog stands still in time bring the feet back into the correct positions but don't rush it
hope this helps (i am fairly new to this stacking busines myself)
by Jyl on 25 May 2008 - 18:05
I hope this will help. This is was I was told by Judy from AltOstland German Shepherds....
To achieve this, I have adopted this strategy, and with great results. 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. Am I making sense here? When you set the rear, set her right rear leg (the one closest to you) with the tips of her toes right under where the tip of her peter should be if she were a male! (She will need this three point stance to balance while you set 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 her proper proportions.This is what it will look like....
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii185/dukenheim/Xena050308.jpg
by Sunsilver on 25 May 2008 - 20:05
That's right, Jyl, if the front legs slope back slightlty, that's called 'bridging' and is considered a faulty stack. (A friend of mine lost points for it in an AKC show!)
I find it helps greatly to have either a treat in your hand, or a toy to get the dog's attention, and get their ears fully erect. AKC shows allow the handlers to use treats (bait) in the ring. I use dried liver, as it's non-messy, and has a good strong odour.
by jc.carroll on 25 May 2008 - 21:05
Somethings that haven't been mentioned yet:
Get him used to having his feet and legs handled. Some dogs are very foot sensitive. I find just rubbing the dog all over, kind of a massage, helps him get comfortable with handling of his legs and feet. Do this when he's sitting next to you, and periodically when you're at work or play. Make it part of his daily routine so he doesn't think anything of it, and do it while he's in a variety of positions so he doesn't think anything by having his feet manipulated.
When he's comfortable with that, you can reposition him in a stand-stay, using the aforementioned methods above.
Once he starts learning that's how he's supposed to stand for examination, he'll start moving into pose on his own, though you will still probably have to readjust him a little.
In the SV circuit, the back pastern should be close to straight up and down, and [in showline GSDs] the underleg should be bent at 45-degree angles formed by the heel, knee, and hip. In woking lines, most have too steep a croup to achieve the 45, but the vertical position of the hock is still ideal.
Trying to stretch out a working dog to mirror the position showline GSD will do him a disservice. Over-extension of the back and hindleg, like bridging, is also an improper stack.
by smartguy1469 on 26 May 2008 - 08:05
Thanks for all your comments so far this is working well.
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