Stacking a puppy - Page 1

Hey guys,

So, on the classifieds on this website, there are lots of puppies shown in a stack, and I'm just wondering if you guys could share some tips on how to do that.  

The general stuff I know about the GSD stack is that the front legs should be directly beneath them, perpendicular to the ground; the leg furthest from the camera should be directly below the hip (I'm not looking for the type of stack where the hock is lowered pretty close to the ground, just the type where it looks a bit more natural); the leg closest to the camera should be placed behind the dog, with the hock at a 90 degree angle to the ground (again, perpendicular).  

Shelby is a pretty wriggly puppy that normally doesn't even stay still unless she sees a bird in our backyard. I'm just looking to learn how to do a proper stack and so that I can see the type of structure she has.  When she does stack naturally (like when looking at the bird) she looks really good in the chest, legs, and shoulders- but I see one or two points of concern on her topline. I think that if I can get her to hold a stack for long enough to take a picture or two, I'll be able to post them on here and see what people on here think about her lines.

Many thanks!

Natural stacks always look loads better than stacked-stacks. A lot of people will tell you you need 3 people to get a good stack pic - one to stack the dog, one to distract the dog, and one to take the picture. I've done it by myself though, by stacking the dog, telling her "wait" and then going off and taking the picture while she is, say, watching dogs at the dog park, or I'll chuck the frisbee right as I snap the pic. That is how I got these pics... They are not perfect, because I suck at  stacking, but they are stacks. :P

I actually used a remote shutter and a tripod for those.


This one I chucked the frisbee... caught it a bit late, and she stepped forward with her one paw, but...


This was a natural stack I managed to catch. My problem with getting her to do a natural stack, is usually she is focused on me, so if she does do it, I can't see it, let alone get a picture of it.


This is one my dad caught while we were out playing the other day... not perfect by any means, but probably my favorite to date.


This was from that same day - had he taken it a split second later, it would've been about perfect, as she was *just* stepping into the natural stack, and it *imo* looks a lot better than anything I've put her in. The angle on this picture is not perfect either, he needed to be lower, more to her level, but oh well. I'm the photographer, not him. ;)

I'll also say this - try to get them outdoors, if possible, the more natural light, the better, but also try to do it on -for colored dogs especially- an overcast or cloudy day, otherwise her color will show up washed out. It was sunny out during all of those first pics, but cloudy on the last two.

Anyway, that is just a few examples of the different techniques I've used, and the results I've gotten, doing them mostly by myself. I have yet to try the 3-person technique, but for a puppy, that is probably how you'll have to do it... and practice practice practice!

 

http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/forum.read?mnr=655712-need-help-stacking-puppy

http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/forum.read?mnr=265051-stacking-your-dog#269215

Wear your puppy out first :) Then hundreds of photos, possibly more. The best pics have at least 2 people, preferably 3 :) Luck, lots and lots of luck ha ha.



Melissa

A stack is a stack, either the dog is stacked correctly or it's not, so I don't get "natural stacks".  If it looks unnatural, it's probably not a good stack!!

Thanks guys!

VKG, the stacks that I've seen on some GSD's have the one leg pretty low to the ground- I think it's more popular this way at least for some things? Obviously it's up to the handler how they prefer to stack, but personally I think it looks funny. When Shelby stacks herself (a natural stack I guess), I can see that she looks comfortable and is balanced. Since she's wriggly, I don't think that lowering the hock down close to the ground would be conducive to her deciding whether I'm trying to make her sit or stay standing 

Melba, the stack of that puppy is very good, maybe, again MAYBE near hock needs to be placed a bit forward.

Dawulf, that solid black is stunning

Ibrahim

Ibrahim, that is the closest to a perfect stack that I have ever come LOL. Haven't been able to replicate it since :) This one was taken over 2 years ago as he just turned 3 yrs old on the 2nd lol. Luck was with me that day ha ha.

Melissa

For a perfect stack you always need three people -
one stacking the dog
one taking a lot of pictures
and you in front of the dog.
The dog should play a while before taking the pictures because the muzzle should be open in the pic
The collar should be wide, almost not visible on the neck
The head shouldn´t be too high...

 

Thanks Ibrahim.  One of these days I ought to open up a thread to get a more detailed critique of her conformation - she is almost exactly the kind of conformation I like, but I'm curious about what others would say about her too.