Hi

I have been showing my Saint for 6 months or so, he is just over 2yrs old, well it seems silly but I had to show him the opposite way to what I usually do as at the weekend we were at an open show and the rings were uphill, it seemed a bit tricky to start with but managed it, after looking at the pics my god he looks so much better, I feel a bit strange if I were to start stacking him the opposite way to all the other dogs, but I have seen other people do it with their dogs so why not???

does anyone else do it and can offer any advice to me

thanks in advance

Vicki

All bar one of mine are shown 'tuther way round' and that would be every dog if the ground incline dictated it.

Hi Vicki,

Stack the way you feel most comfortable.  I have always shown the opposite way to most people because that feels the best way for me.  I show Irish Setters although only in a fun capacity now but a few years ago I was at an open show & the judge asked all the other exhibitors (well okay there was only 8 of us) to turn their dogs round so we were all facing the same way. I got looks that could have killed.  I won the class but I heard people saying it was because I knew the judge otherwise he would have made me turn.  I honesty did not know the judge.  I did offer to show the other way (I can but it feels strange) but he said no.

Dogs always look better if you are showing up a hill and not down as a lot of people seem to do because of they way they stack.  If I had to show the "other" way I would quickly go round the other side of my dog set her up and then come back again. 

Good luck Vicki whichever way you show.

This is where the free standing dogs win hands down :-p All you do is stand in front of them :-D

In my breed we show with the best side towards the judge, it depends on the tail set and curl. Sometimes a judge will want you to turn it round for them to go over (no idea why) but they do ask, you can return to showing the best side when back in the line.

It is up to the handler to show their exhibit at its best so go ahead and do just that.

I don't think there is any hard and fast rule.. but I was once told.. when a judge is 1st walking down the line.. never present the dogs backside , which is why most dogs are presented facing up the line..

but when presenting for hands on.. I don't see that it matter which way you stand/stack.. If the judge is not happy, she/he can ask you to face your dog the other way.. and it does happen.. Ollie still had a huge scar on his leg from his cancer ops.. and I stood him facing this away from the judge, she asked me to turn him around, I did, and he gained his stud book no. that day too :-)

Thanks everyone for all your replies, very interesting to hear other peoples views on it.

His markings are the reason for stacking the opposite side, his leg looks more angulated on the new side due to more white on his leg and the line of brown down his face makes his stop look better, on the "normal" side he looks long in muzzle and a bit straight in stifle, it is amazing what a difference it makes.  I will try to upload a couple of photos to show

I will definitely be giving it a go, obviously he will have to be moved on the "normal" side and when he has been gone over by the judge, but in the final line up be stacking him the other side

Thanks once again

Vicki
before, sorry for bad pic, only one I could find quickly!
[url=]/Users/babervic/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Originals/2010/crufts 2010 working day/DSC_0031.JPG[/url]

and then new way
/Users/babervic/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Originals/2010/dorset county/DSC_0048.JPG

pics won't work :0(, will try again later

I've been working on stacking in the opposite direction at ringcraft, it feels so awkward!

Something we had to do a few weeks ago, and we all nearly came a cropper, was to do a triangle in the opposite direction! Not neccesarily required in the show ring but shows how much the dog gets into the habit of something and isn't listening to you at all!

Actually there is nothing to stop you moving a dog in the right hand should you wish, when asked to do a triangle you just ask the judge is they mind your moving the other way round, they will not, it is more of a problem if you are asked to do a circuit round to the end of the line mind you.

To move in the right hand is a good way to stop a dog crabbing and all you need is confidence to show your dog at its best.

The only thing I don't like is when they are close to you and the dogs are eyeballing each other.  i don't think that's fair.  Maybe go to the end of the lineup, but agaain not fair for the handler.

You show the dog on its best side, i keep meaning to check mine.  I think I look best straight on (the belly look flatter lol).

> The only thing I don't like is when they are close to you and the dogs are eyeballing each other.

You can easily stand in the dogs lien of sight to prevent this, easiest with freestanding dogs of course as you stand in front of them.

I'm not left handed but I stack the other way - although he stacks both ways as my daughter for handling stacks him normally!

I started stacking the opp. way after I broke my wrist and just find it so much easier!

I think in some breeds they stack for markings etc. with a Gordon its certainly doesn't make any difference - not sure how much difference it makes to a judge when one or two are stacked differently to the others!

I must admit I don't practice stacking normally but probably should as with hills like you say sometimes its necessary!

Oh Kay - that's interesting about not showing the dogs backside - never thought of that!  Must try and stack normally again but not sure my wrist would cope!

Never had an issue with eyeballing (not directed at you Kay! but another comment).  But then Connors in his own world mostly!

We have lots of people in our breed that stand their dogs the other way round, usually this has to do with better spotting on that side and EVERYONE wants the judge to see their dogs "best" side so can't see it would be a problem for you to do this with your boy. You might even find that other people will follow suit if they think theirs looks better too....just do it and see, you won't be breaking any rules and the judge will prob just tell you if they want you to turn.
Paula

>> The only thing I don't like is when they are close to you and the dogs are eyeballing each other.

> You can easily stand in the dogs lien of sight to prevent this, easiest with freestanding dogs of course as you stand in front of them.

I'm small breed so crouched behind.  Definitly no problems if you're stood in front of your dog.  We have someone who stack different ans she get very close which upsets the dog.  Apperently its bad manners to ask her to leave a gap as someone found out.

If someone too close in this instance I would move to the end of the line.

I have a couple which I show the wrong way round due to their markings and you're well within your rights to do so as that is how to show off your boy's best side! 

I don't mind a jot which way people stand their dogs as a handler or a judge, what does annoy me is -
a) when the person next to you takes in a tennis ball and has to throw it up and down the whole time except when the judge is looking (usually mine has lost his marbles by that point)
b) runs up your bum when you're going round the ring as if trying to suggest their dog outmoves yours grrrr
c) the bitch in front of you in the group ring is sooo in season that she is standing for your dog

Many more I expect but the those 3 all happened at the last 2 champ shows I was at....

The only thing you may find is judges who insist you turn your dog around which can be a bit annoying but I guess understandable if the table is one of those long tressle tables (not a prob for you though ;o))

I also find as someone said above I think that if I move him on my right instead of left (when doing the up and down) you can stand him the way you want for the judge at the end that much easier, hope that makes sense...

HTH

Here he is stacked as normal

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v661/montybaber/DSC_0114.jpg[/IMG]

And the new side which I prefer

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v661/montybaber/DSC_0048.jpg[/IMG]

Agree with your remarks Molezak - never had any problems in the breed ring but in AV and group etc I too have found:-

You leave a large gap so you do not interfere with the exhibit in front and then someone decides to fill the gap and then glares at you when your lad puts his nose where all right thinking dogs would.

or :-

Knowing your exhibit is young and not too stable, you enter the ring first and stand at the front of the line trying to get your exhibits attention when a gundog handler enters the ring and decides to stand in front of you backing his in-season bitch's backside with in inches of your exhibits nose, not satisfied with that he then lifts the tail. And did he help me remove my young dog from  his exhibits back, did he hell, he complained to the judge who then also glared at me - bitch won BIS something the handler must have been desperate to do.

Yes I agree, he looks a lot better stacked the opposite way. You go for it and don't let anyone put you off showing your dog to his best, after all you know your dog better than anyone else and if he looks better standing different to all the others then so what. he may even take the judges attraction as he will also stand out!!

I too vote for the head to the left stack.

Not that I know a lot about St Bernards, he does look better in pic 2 but I think that he does just look better, not sure whether it's necessarily because of the way round you are standing him.. sorry to be awkward! 

His hind angulation looks better in pic 2, but I don't know your breed....

Maybe we should have a "critique my dog" board on this forum!  I'd def make use of it especially with puppies I'm trying to choose between lol!

> b) runs up your bum when you're going round the ring as if trying to suggest their dog outmoves yours grrrr
>

Had this happen to me this year in the challenge, to be honest the fault is at the judge for not stopping that person from running, he clearly said "give your selves plenty of room" TWICE but she still did it & he judge let her continue to run up my dogs bum.
I took it as a compliment though, she knew my dog stood a chance of getting the ticket so did what she could to stop him.

so irratating though isn't it?  I find myself jostling with everyone else before we go in for the class to make sure we're not going to be directly in front of 'said person' lol!

VERY VERY irratating!
I know exactly who to stand by in my class but unfortunatly have no choice in the challenge.
Luckily last weekend they had OD lined up first & LD (me) behind etc down to puppies last, however at the show it first happened at they had puppies first so LD was infront of OD who was last (if that makes sense)

Yep makes sense, feel like saying to the judge sometimes "can I stand over there as such and such is such an annoying pain in the a**!"

I'm amazed that judges sometimes don't see it and actually do take the bait (i.e. think that that dog must be a better mover).. but it's also good when it backfires on them and they don't win!

I had someone run into the back of my dog at my first ch show ever, they knew this and wondered if they were 'playing' the game. As it was i had been made aware that people aren't always very fair at ch shows. I actually stopped dead twice in the ring and turned and glared at said handler, the judge saw and she never actually got placed.

I almost moved out of a line up before and to the back, wish I had now as it was at Crufts and both dogs either side of me were playing up and this unsettled my boy, who then wouldn't perform(he was enjoying himself though :-D), this though wasn't done on purpose, just dogs being dogs.

Luckily my new puppy has her annoying facial splodge on the 'off' side or I would be showing her the opposite from normal! I would love a 'critique your dog' page on here, I know 4 weeks is too young to be certain but I'm so green at breeding I would love some experts to have a look. I've managed to get a couple of acquaintances to have a look either at her or at pictures, but it's so handy to have more input!

When you go to a show you are there to show your dog to its best advantage.  If you think your dog looks better the 'other way' then you show him that way.  I did this with my first LM bitch, her 'offside' markings - to me - made her neck look even longer & her hindquarters appear more angulated.    I tried it at Crufts in 1994 for the first time & she won PGB!

Curtis, my male, is always shown the other way round as I think his 'normal' side markings make him look front heavy.   All judges, bar one, have coped with him being shown this way & his litter sister is shown the same way too and she's got 7 CC's!

The opposite can be true when the judge insists on putting you dog with breeds much slower than yours and even if you give yourself space your soon up their bum.

My Jozi has always been a nightmare for trying to overtake the dog in front, so I always tried to be first in line.

Also sometimes the dog in front is just slooow ;)

  the judge insists on putting you dog with breeds much slower than yours

Think this happens a good deal with our breed Barbara, because they are not very tall I think some all round judges expect them to move like the whippets, although I notice that some of them are being moved faster now,  there is no way you can show your movement if they can only move at the speed of a miniature dachshund.

Problem is you hold back waiting for enough space and the judge will turn round and wave you on so you have no choice but to take off and then stop and wait again.

With my bitch I have no hard and fast side of stacking her. Depends on my mood, her mood or the lie of the ground! With my boy though, he'll only stand one way round and sulks if he has to stand the other!

> Think this happens a good deal with our breed Barbara, because they are not very tall I think some all round judges expect them to move like the whippets, although I notice that some of them are being moved faster now,  there is no way you can show your movement if they can only move at the speed of a miniature dachshund.
>

Whippets are moved at a faster pace than you might think(depending on the owners capabilities) we too get put with breeds that are slow moving!!

Have noticed that of late Whippets are being moved quicker but the handler will usually walk rather than run, in our breed most run except me who walks. :-)

Agree you do get lumped together with the other table hounds and you too move a good deal quicker than some of them. Most judges will split an AV class by table and floor assessed dogs but some use size and that does cause problems.

I was being judged in an open show for BOB with another exhibit who was in front of me. I generally talk to my dog or chirp her along when showing. The other dog was in front of me and kept trying to turn around the owner just stopped and comented for the judge to hear "if you're going to make stupid noises just go in front of me!" The judge intervened and asked me to go in front you could tell he was annoyed at her, we went about half way round the ring and he gave me BOB, well she stormed out of the ring in a temper muttering under her breath! I think it was sour grapes as her dog had just got his crown and BOB at Crufts the week before!!!