elisabeth

I was bored tonight and so I decided to try and stack Stark.

I have no clue what I am doing and I think Stark was just as confused as to what I was *trying* to do him as I was.

Anyone have any good advice, the breed specfic forum I belong too had some great tips but I just can't seem to get the positioning right.

HELP!

Here is what my 1st attempt looked like.... suggestions? Tips? Advice?



And here is the same photo with my suggestions in red. Front legs need to be under him more, the back legs need to be in and the other stretched out and of course his head needs to be turned the right way.



Okay, so HELP!

MySoulmateEmmy

I don't know anything about stacking, sorry

for a first attempt it looks like your are ALREADY close to getting there though.

~MSE

alfi

Indeed for first attempt you are very good!!
Some things you can try that will help with front legs and head: Put his collar as closer to the head as you can...high in the neck (do I make any sense ?) then try to have his leash vertical above his head and apply a little force to make him keep the head in the right position...front legs usually follows this.
Then set his back legs exactly the way you want them...just pull the legs to the right position. He will probably get it all together in the first few times but if not...(I know some gsds can be quite stubborn at times...like my Chopper ) ...work separately for head-front legs and back legs. You can use the "stay" command if he can stay in the exact position at the time you say the command and this will help do it all together.
I hope I've been a little help

elisabeth

Thanks everyone!

Alfi - how's the position on the back legs? Do they need to be stretched more or are they okay? I don't really want an extreme stack but would like them a tad more dramatic.

Mikey

I agree I think it looks great I've 'stacked' horses for halter classes-but they are quite a bit easier

Here's some info I found for you

This one looks graet- has pictures, explanation and different stacking for which lines your working with.
Breed Types & Related Families

Illustrated Standard of the German Shepherd Dog

alfi

Well imo is already quite good ...you can just bring the in-back leg a little more in...if I make sense with this lol and to set the front legs try to pull him up from his chest with your hand.
Oh and make the collar much loose so when you pull the leash vertically there will be space between the neck and the collar then to set the head "push" his nose back with treat until the upper head (about between the ears) touch the stretched collar. ...lol I don't even know if I make any sense at all!

elisabeth

No I get what you mean, no worries.. lol.

His back "in" leg (the one closest to me) should be under him more and the other should be slightly stretched or even pushed in toward me to give a better appearance.

His front legs do need to be brought in more so they are straight.

I know his head is off as well, my cat was meowing behind the table at us and so he kept looking in that direction.

I also want to know how to get rid of that hunched look, I think it's because I am not stretching his shoulders/head/front-end forward?

I will try tonight when I get home from work and have some help.

I would love to get him to stack on command (my goal as soon as I figure out how he needs to stand...lol) which is why I am trying to figure this out. I would also like to get a nice stacked photo of him like I do with Beau.

alfi

IMO if you get the back "in" leg under him more you will get rid of the hunched look.
Generally if you put all these that you thinking together you will have the great look you imagine.
I am not sure if he will stack on command tho
How are you trying to make him stuck? I mean do you move his legs and head with your hands to the right position or just trying to make him do it on his own?
I have tried the second one with no success myself and as soon I did move his legs and head with my hands 4-5 times in a row and using the stay command Chopper got it! ...he needs a little help every time with his back stretched leg tho

elisabeth

Well, first I walk him into a nice stand and tell him to stay. He also knows the "stand" command so I could do both but just give a different command for "stacking".

Anyways, I walk him into a nice stand then tell him to stay. I then place my hand under his chest and kinda lift him into a nice position. Then I move his back legs to where I want them.

I know Beau will stack on command but I am not sure how my Dad got her to do it. She does needs some adjusting with her back leg but not much. I am headed home Friday morning for a few days with all the fur-kids plus my two sisters and her dog so I will try to get my Dad to help me.

Oh, and my Dad made me a bunch of jumps, pause box, and stuff for agility.. yay.. I love Dad's.. lol.

MySoulmateEmmy

I was just abou to comment ask your dad how he did Beau but you said it in your post already :P I can't wait to see Stark working with agility equipment.

~MSE