Free Stacking

SparkyTansy · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 3:19 am Post subject: Free Stacking

Hi there
Has anyone been successful in training their weim to freestack for the ring?
I am trying with Ari but if anyone has any tips of tricks to share it'd be appreciated!
This is Ari free stacking (shame it is at the wrong angle)

And this is Ari with a free stacked front, but I stacked her rear...

ange165 · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 5:45 am Post subject:

I have nothing to contribute apart from the fact you have a damn good looking girl!!! Smile

PamK · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:28 am Post subject:

Maybe we can trade? Derek free stacks but doesn't let us hand stack without a TON of work.

I know its my fault. He is my first ever dog and I have no clue. My weim club calls him my learning dog.

weimdawgs · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:32 am Post subject:

I don't know about the stacking, but she is G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S!!!!!!

BEANSnBERRY · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:50 am Post subject:

She's really beautiful!! Smile

I'm with Pam, unfortunately. Logan freestacks, most of the time, he allows a hands-stack but he gets all funny and his tail wilts. Sad

Dogs.

For free-stacking I learned to use a phrase, "stand" and to stand in front of the dog, I use one finger out (pointing off in some other direction) for him to know to pause, as long as that finger is out STAND STILL. I trained him to that by closing my fist and immediately rewarding him and giving him his release command. I'd have him hold it till I thought he'd break then break him first. If he did break first, no treat, re-stack. So I'd do that, but stand in front of him then bait him forward on the front, if necessary till his front was right, one step at a time so his hind was in the proper position, I'd then give a "YES!" (or click) and treat him, keep him there, command "Stand!" ... "YES!" and treat. I didn't start pushing free stacks till he had a bit of muscle memory from the handstacks. So I'd do a lot of hand stacks and have them hold the pose for as long as you can proclaiming their beauty and handing out treats freely. I'd hold it 30-60 seconds... release, do it again maybe 3 -4 times in a row, make it fun, lots of treats... and then be done for the day.

I practice free stacking mutliple times a day now... very briefly, I ask for a stand, using my hand as I normally do. Assisting him into a stack if necessary (baiting forward)... and then YES! treat.... and that's it. I practice like that throughout the day, sometimes I ask for a sit or a down to get a treat, sometimes I ask for a freestack. Also, you want to set her up for success in the beginning make sure you go from free easy movement into a stack, not from a sit or something where it's less likely she'll get her hind behind her in correct position and her front aligned.

At least this is how I was taught to do it. others swear by stack stands, I'm sure they work, too.

But, I'm pretty new, too. Just what my classes taught me.

anne · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 12:33 pm Post subject:

Teach your dog "step" (forward) and "back" (step back) and then treat per described by BnB when their feet are in the correct position.

Be sure you practice in front of a mirror so you know what she looks like to the judge and also so you have a view from your closeness to the dog of what she should look like when she looks right in the mirror.

Use the bait to get the head in the right position as well.

SparkyTansy · Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 9:16 pm Post subject:

Thanks for all your tips and lovely comments on my girl all!!
Those are definitely tips i am going to try out!! At the moment, as she is only (nearly) 10 months, we are really trying to find our feet and I don't want to ruin the fun for her in the ring...
Being a small city with a very small showing community, it isn't as cut throat as some places, so i feel as though i have some time to get her right and still have her enjoy the ring.
She used to hand stack quite well, but lately she really doesn't stand nicely into her front, so have been trying to at least free stack her front... that way, she is standing comfortably.
When we practise we do reward before she breaks, but the fist release is a great tip. I haven't taught her forward/back either... if she doesn't get her feet right, i tap the foot that is incorrect and when she puts it in the right pos she is rewarded. I am currently not doing anything with her rear just yet, because i want 100% front correct first.

BluesandBoots · Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 11:52 pm Post subject:

Hmmmm ST, maybe you could train Eli for me! Smile

weiz4eva · Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 2:28 am Post subject: Re: Free Stacking