What are the origins of the different show 'stands'?

Why for instance are some breeds stacked by positioning and holding, whilst others are encouraged to free stand?  Also what is it that the GSD's do - how did that develop and are they the only breed to stand in this way?

Also, if anyone can suggest a good book about the history of dog showing I'd be really grateful.  With the current thread about the changes in breeds it's got me thinking about the genesis and development of showing dogs and I'd love to do some background reading.  Thanks :)

I think that any show stand position is a recreation of how a healthy, well made dog would look if it caught sight of an interesting occurence.

For most breeds that's four square, head up ears in the alert position and, in the case of some breeds an arch to the neck.

How a GSD comes to 'naturally' strike a pose with one hindleg slightly under is probably lost in the mists of time but even in the 1920's they are photographed with a moderate stance which includes one leg under. They are longer than tall, less so these days despite it written in their standard (KC version correct ratio 10 to 9 or 8 and a half),so one may suppose it's to balance a longer topline but dachshunds, bassets annd basset-type continental dogs dont.

Like most things newcomers copy successful handlers and this becomes the norm.....hence the fashion for 'prayer mats' in boxers - to assist the over stretching without rear legs slipping from under them and the stringing of Danes and Dobes to make a crest in the neck.
If one successful handler stood it's dog on it's hind legs to get a CC - then guaranteed to see a rash of 'hind - leggers' the rest of the year  :-)

I think the way dogs are shown and how they became the "norm" in a breed is because thi is how some top dogs where shown to their full potential.

Yet Golden Ret. are both stacked and freestood :)

>If one successful handler stood it's dog on it's hind legs to get a CC - then guaranteed to see a rash of 'hind - leggers' the rest of the year 

is that not similar to the time American Cockers were strung so tightly on the move the front legs barely touched the ground....Nowdays thankfully they are run on loose leads.

> how a healthy, well made dog would look if it caught sight of an interesting occurence.
>

Notice quite often that Zuma will free-stand himself into a 'nearly' show-stance if he is concentrating on something he has spotted when he is off lead on a walk. it is not as extreme as is seen in the ring but it seems to be a natural halt position for him.
Chris

we found that in our breed differnt judges want the dogs stood differently ie eathier side on, 45 degree's, or head on, we would rather stand and run loose but our young bitch plays up so she is strung tight standing

I read somewhere recently that the show stand came from America (where else ;-) ) Photographs were seen of the dogs in the 'stack' stance and it became the norm for dogs to be stacked. What they didn't realise (apparently) was that they were only stacked for the photos, not in the actual ring. Don't know if there is any truth to the story, but it kind of makes sense.

A boxer when stood correctly with good conformation should not need to be 'overstretched'. The rear angulation in Boxers is naturally more obvous when compared to some other breeds with less angulation at the rear, and on some surfaces (in many other breeds too) the rear feet can slip,as most of the dogs body weight is over the front feet, therefore they are more anchored to the ground than the rear. I have known several breeds use non slip mats on carpeted surfaces and leisure centres with polished floors, I encourage people to try them as an option to help dogs stand still at my classes and they frequently work as the dog feels secure. Table dogs are normally supplied with a mat to stand on when on the table, if the mat is not big enough to fit your dog on completely, make sure the rear feet are on the mat and your dog will feel safer and most likely stand firmly.

Not the ones I've seen, though they're not as bad as the terriers! My own Yankee I have to have the collar tucked up just behind the ears, though I can then have the lead just barely taut rather than strung up tightly. I still think gundogs should be shown with their noses stuck to the ground, much more natural! :-D What annoys me is how many Cavalier people string their dogs up nowadays, it's a big chance even in the 7 years I've been showing.

>>is that not similar to the time American Cockers were strung so tightly on the move the front legs barely touched the ground....Nowdays thankfully they are run on loose leads.

lucydogs,

By many years ago I'm talking about 10-12 years!!!!!!

However gundogs should not be run with their heads on the ground!  Setters and Pointers for a start should have their head held high to sniff the air ;)  Infact most setter judges do look for a dog that is sniffing the air on the move :)

Do they? I admit I don't know a lot of the differences between the way various gundogs use their noses, I just know my cocker and other peoples' cockers and springers like to glue their noses to the ground! :-)

Yup spaniels work in undergrowth mostly and work close to the ground, a setter & pointer should use the air to scent the game.  Each subgroup does a different job in a different way. 

Oh yes, I knew there were different subgroups of gundogs, just never researched them to discover different nosework, though I know there is ground scenting and air scenting. :-)