How do you teach your dogs to "Stack"?

How do you teach your dogs to "Stack"?

Just curious, how do you teach a dog to stack up for the judges?

I am self-declared newbie in conformation and would like to do better this year. Aside from getting someone else to show my dogs I also want to know how to "teach" my dogs to "look" their best for the judges. Usually, my dogs pay no mind to the judge and only concentrate on trying to get at the dogs on either side of them......I do not reprimand them for following their nature but.......how do I win ribbons if the dogs do not stay still and stack for the judges?

 

Re: How do you teach your dogs to "Stack"?

Are you going to do UKC or ADBA? Or both? ADBA is easy going UKC I recommend finding a training school and take a few classes. It's really hard to explain in a post.

 

Re: How do you teach your dogs to "Stack"?

There are things on the Akc site about stacking your dog. There is actually a platform of sorts that consists of 2x4's front and rear that is spaced a certain amount of inches apart that you can teach your dog to stand on. I have never used one but it looks easy to make and seems like a good tool for training. This way your dog will learn to free stack on his own.
I taught mine by getting him to stand naturally and using my body telling him to step forward or go backwards. Using a forward motion and the word back or a come here motion with my hand and saying step. Some dogs will let you handle their legs better than others. My female doesn't care for me positioning her legs. My male doesn't mind. One of the best ways for you to practice is go to a place that has a lot of glass in the front of the building so you can see yourselves and practice stacking your dog there. That way you can see if you are accomplishing what you want. You want to make sure the front legs are even with each other and the same in the rear. Being careful not to stretch him out too far. It need to look natural. You can also hide any minor faults your dog has then too. If they are out at the elbows, you turn the front leg out somewhat to keep the elbow close to the body. If he is hocky in the rear you want to grasp the leg at the joint and turn it out slightly as you set the foot down.
Akc really has some good handling tips.

 

Re: How do you teach your dogs to "Stack"?

Here are a few tips that may help.
http://www.ehow.com/how_2192003_stack-dog-show-ring.html
I have also seen equipment used for this purpose. It's for pups mainly I think. It's like two pieces of wood that will slide back and forth on some kind of bars. The pups feet are placed on them and then the wood is moved out from the dog placing his feet in the stack position. I don't know what it is called but have seen it used in show rings.


Edit: You beat me to it brat pack.

 

Re: How do you teach your dogs to "Stack"?

Rocky mi amigo.

You do not need to be as concerned with stacking as you would be if...you were showing AKC, UKC, and most others.

Some judges like active dogs in the ring. Even had one say that he loved how firery Liberty was acting. I never really ever taught the whole stacking ordeal. We usually just use the stay command, and she falls into a decent stance. Most all judges during Handlers metting prior to show, explain how they prefer people to show their dogs in the ring. From my own exp. and from what i have been told, most judges just need the dog to stay somewhat still to get a look. IMO the individual walkout to the middle is more important. The dog in motion.

Let me know what shows you heading to this year, i owe you a lacrosse ball. Maybe, we can all get the grill going again.

 

Re: How do you teach your dogs to "Stack"?

Type in dog stacking box and it will pull up several examples. I have never used it, usually do it by hand. It looks neat though.
I know adba rules in the ring are different but I prefer my dogs to act a certain way no matter where they are. Although I must admit that the last fun show we went to they acted the fool like most of the rest of the dogs. Fun was in the air I guess!

 

Re: How do you teach your dogs to "Stack"?

Thank you guys for your help. I just want to prevent going POSTAL on the judge and club members...:o

Bullydogs might remember how upset I felt after traveling hundreds of miles, paying entrance fees up the wassu, dealing with hot Virginia temperatures, and I happened to be tire (no sleep) and moody. Granted, my dogs were not in top form since two were too young (IMO) and other too old to really work hard. I also do get bothered (some) to see a pattern (at least in my eyes) of club members getting the wins on a consistent matter. Heck, the club officers and members might just be that good at shaping and showing their dogs.....I just see patterns.

Anyway, I am going to the ADBA NJ show for sure. I am not too sure about attending the NC show in early May. I have never travelled that far before...lol....my previous "distance record" was travelling to the Virgina show.

If anyone would like to provide more thoughts and suggestions, feel free to do so. I am sure there is at least one more person here that is as clueless as me in regards to conformation showing.:cool:

If I go to NC, I will need someone to show my dogs......hint, hint.


LMAO @ Bullydogs, man, you finally found out what type of ball that was....lmao.....Sssssh, it was suppose to be a seeecret man...lol

 

Re: How do you teach your dogs to "Stack"?

Well if he is pulling over to the other dogs dont worry about it Rock, He is stacked LOL! Nah, I messing wit ya, This is ya boy HHH, Bojack. Seems like those were taken already. Peace Bro talk to you this weekend. BC

 

Re: How do you teach your dogs to "Stack"?

Rock I am worried about the same thing. I am trying to go in Hemi's mouth (show teeth). I have been praticing but it is hard though with a dog that is going nuts.. It is going to be funny

 

Re: How do you teach your dogs to "Stack"?

Yeah, Virginia was hot as heck, and tons of ticks in the area. I remember pulling like 5 off of AMP. The longer trips are tough, atleast for me...i am a city boy...used to everything being right down the block. If you do decide to go to the NC show let me know, i think you will do just fine handling...however, if you freeze up:eek:, i got somebody lined up for ya. Heck, its all in good fun.

Went to _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 's sports store the other day and seen a bag of those bad boys. Never bought anything since.

 

Re: How do you teach your dogs to "Stack"?

The ADBA judges are all over the place, some want to see dogs full of fire, others might expect you to stack.

I'm just happy if I can keep Amp from trying to lay down and nap, she hates to show.

 

Re: How do you teach your dogs to "Stack"?

LOL! I know what you mean B. My dog hates it when I check his mouth/teeth. Try to hold him tight between your legs, get a grip of his upper & lower jaw & hope for the best (gotta be quick). Example below....

Mel

 

Re: How do you teach your dogs to "Stack"?

this is free stacking right?

 

Re: How do you teach your dogs to "Stack"?

No - he looks like he's getting ready to lunge.
Don't worry so much about stacking in the ADBA - the judge needs a few seconds to see what he needs to see.
Mainly you want to keep the dogs side view to the judge. Different things work for different dogs and it's your job to figure it out. Got one that stands on his hind legs - try leaning back and down on the leash. Feet out of position? Take a step forward. Head hanging down - pick up on the leash. Front feet out of position - pick up on the leash and set the front feet back down. Also watch the ground where you are standing for hills and dips. Got one that's wild as hell and won't stand still? Try grabbing a hold of their balls for a few seconds, lol.
Got seven champs (one soon to be grand champ fingers crossed) here and not a one was "taught" to stack.

Showing the teeth - ugh! I have a wildside sorrells dog that you just have to grab a hold of the skin under his chin and hold on as tight as you can or he will shake his head away.

Perfect natural puppy stack


Back legs stretched to far out


One back leg to far forward - take a step


Pretty good one


Back legs too far out



Be cautious about messing with them too much - can shut them down and ruin the fun.

Come to the NC show in May - we can practice before the show, lol!

 

Re: How do you teach your dogs to "Stack"?

Dtwo- If I could, I would have given you 10 "thanks" for your post above.

 

Re: How do you teach your dogs to "Stack"?

Oh no prob - you are welcome!
Pictures are always worth a thousand words.

 

Re: How do you teach your dogs to "Stack"?

I think stacking a bulldog in a show ring should be just as illegal as fighting them. A bulldog is suppose to be intense why change that. I do like to see a well behaved bulldog but a bulldog will stand pefectly still around stange animals it is no longer a bulldog in my opinion. Obedience training is great for these dogs but a dog that will stand still around other animals is just not a bulldog. I have dogs that will heal sit roll over and shake all off leash and actually play with certain other bulldogs in a confined area but put them in a show ring and they go ape shit maybe it is just me and my bad training practices but a Mid Florida Member wrote a very informative artical about bulldogs being bulldogs in the show ring and the history and all of it.

 

Re: How do you teach your dogs to "Stack"?

There's a lot of people out there right now wanting to change the image and behavior of our breed. My advice to them would be to find a different breed if they don't like this one! These dogs are well conditioned athletics that will succeed at any challenge placed before them. I love them just the way they are.

Some of the pictures shown above were from a Mid Florida fun show. Hope you can bring that nice looking dog back out again...this coming Saturday, March 21st.

We love these dogs just they way they are and will continue to offer a venue where their beauty, strength and grace can be displayed.

On the stacking question, a very good friend recommended I use a large mirror leaned up against a wall. Instead of looking down over the dog to see his positioning it is much easier to look straight into a mirror. You can easily step the dog into in a nice stance and develop a feel for it.