I’ve been working on stacking Schumi, and I need some advice. I’ve seen all past pictures and comments from other people, but I can’t seem to get his front quite right. Plus, he’s constantly turning his head to look at me so I’ve been trying to hold out on the treats so he doesn’t do this. Any tips?
I’m hopeless at the front too. The only time he does it even remotely good is if someone can stand in front, or I “free stack” him by leading him with a knife covered in peanut butter, or I throw a squeaky toy in front of him. Otherwise he’s always east/west and I can’t get his legs under him properly (but yet when he stacks naturally – say when he hears a noise – his front is fine).
Carole!…..
“(but yet when he stacks naturally – say when he hears a noise – his front is fine).”
That’s because when Nikon hears a noise, he’s more alert and up on his toes—ready for action! When you are just stacking him (without the noise, lure, etc.,)he really doesn’t care. Nikon is relaxed and could care less about how his legs look. So you need to fire him up a little bit and set him in a stack.
If Nikon can stand naturally and not be east/west, then we need to look at the handler. 🙂
Play with him a little. Get him a little fired up, but don’t overdo it. Then move him around a bit and stop him when looks pretty good. Remember those few steps that you have planned out for your stopping point? Use them to your advantage.
Stacking is boring, so you’ve got to make a little game out of it to keep it interesting. Play, set him up, then release and play. Mix it up a little. Sometime hold the stack for a while, other times just a few seconds. Keep them guessing what is going to happen in the game next.
It takes a bit of practice, but practicing stacking should be more of a fast-paced game than a long boring session of leg placing. When you are in the ring, it will be quick. Eventually that touch on the collar will be the cue to plant those legs and set-up.
Becky, have Joe take pix of you setting up Schumi. Let me see a photo of you fixing his front.