Learning to Stack?

jlynnholt · #1 08-01-2005, 01:06 PM

This has had to be the hardest thing for me to teach Pimp or maybe I am just doing it wrong. What are the basics to learning to stack? Someone please help!!!

Kerry Jane · #2 08-01-2005, 04:57 PM

Well, it is hard to explain in words - it is much simpler to see it done. If you can get to a show (or your local kennel club or boxer club or a conformation class) near you I would really recommend it so that someone can actually show you.
However, I have a description in a book - and you may want to try this with a mirror so you can see what your dog looks like.
Walk the dog into a stand position. Grasp the left front leg by the elbow with your left hand and set it down straight so that the paw points forward and the foreleg is perpendicular to the ground. Next do the same thing with the right leg - and you want the 2 legs to be parallel. You want the front legs under the dog in a straight line. Run your hand down the dog's back to the left leg. Grasp the leg around the knee and move it into position. Then do the right leg. Again you want both back legs to be parallel with one another.
Then try bait the dog with some food - generally up and forward will bring the dog forward and arch their neck. Once you have this look in the mirror and see what your dog looks like - it may be that now that your dog is leaning forward that you find you have stacked the back legs too far back.

i don't know whether this will help any. Best option would be to find someone who can show you how. Good luck!

jlynnholt · #3 08-01-2005, 05:13 PM

Thanks that did help however he never stays still. he always tries to walk or move. i did talk to a local kennel club and they have free or very inexpensive teachers that show you how do work with the dog to show. So i am think I am going to take them up on that offer.

Kerry Jane · #4 08-02-2005, 06:06 AM

Teach him a stand-stay, just like you would teach a sit-stay or a down-stay. Put him in the stand position and then click and treat (if you train with a clicker - if not just treat). I would start slowly and only expect him to stand for a second to start with and then free him, and gradually build up until he is able to stay in that position for longer. He should get the idea that he gets the treat when he is standing in that position and not moving.
But, it is a great idea to take some classes. I hope you have fun with them.

JulieM · #5 08-02-2005, 08:42 AM

A few good articles online about show/stack training:
http://nipissingkennelclub.com/showtrain1.htm
http://www.dragonflyllama.com/%20DOG...confstack.html

(And one on gaiting, for good measure

)
http://www.dragonflyllama.com/%20DOG.../confgait.html

Erik & Beth · #6 08-15-2005, 10:16 PM

You might want to try a product called stand stay stilts. Our breeder had one and it helped us with our oldest dog. Basically they stand on stilts that are only a few inches tall, but it kept our puppy from moving her feet. We could position her how we wanted and she would stay. It takes a lot of reinforcement and a lot of the other techniques too, don't get me wrong, but they definitely helped.