So, still working with my 4 month old on stacking, he has been here 3 weeks now, so maybe i should've been working on it more but there is a lot to work on in general household things when any dog, let alone a pup, comes home :)

If I move a paw, he pivots around completely or just puts it back right away, so what we've been doing is working on a solid stay in a general stand position. He self stacks pretty well after all so all that generally needs to be altered is a back leg or two. So he will now stop and solidly stay for me for a few seconds, working up to maybe 30 seconds, as i dont want to bore him.

We start ringcraft tomorrow.

All tips greatly appreciated!

Someone at Ringcraft will be able to see which is the best way to correct the problem and having several handlers present means you will see different ways of getting the same outcome.

Good Luck with your classes.

Here's hoping! I haven't experienced this issue before with unease around paw/leg movement but he is also the first pup i've trained for the ring. I guess it's  just a weird feeling for the little guy!

Having a reasonable natural stack, and stay (for 30 seconds you lucky person, I'm lucky to get 10 with any of mine).

I would be happy with that at this point, unless the legs are seriously out (when i woudl just circle and move back into a self stack).

I wouldn't go any further at ringcraft until he gets used to the handling by a judge part.

Well, that is with just him and I in say the kitchen, or the back garden. I'm sure when we're in a room full of dogs I'll be lucky to get ANYTHING! the back legs are out, and let down his overall appearance but he allowed me to move them a few minutes ago, i let him chew the treat and move a leg at the same time. progress!:)

At that age I'd be happy with any old stand too, I don't start worrying about getting the legs perfect until they have some idea what 'stand' means. Try handling his legs at other times, like when he's lying on the sofa having a cuddle, so he's generally used to have you touch him anywhere. :-)

Ok, great, thanks. I think I have seen so many photos of puppies at shows stacking and moving like dreamy adults that I thought I was actually miles behind, maybe I'm not!!

Not at all! Puppies should be acting like puppies at that age. The ones who act like adults at 6 months are usually completely burned-out and tired of showing by the time they've matured. The most important thing at this age (besides getting down the absolute basics of showing) is for the puppy to be having fun. I usually like to work on getting my puppies to just plain stand before worrying about the rest. That being said, at random times throughout the day I grab some treats and just start playing with ears and feet, moving legs, checking teeth, etc. By the time I actually start working on stacking them, they're so used to having their legs moved that it's not an issue.

Great, thank you. What we're working on is completely non-invasive, just a simple stay, and a treat, for varied amounts of times. I check his teeth regularly but while we're on the sofa, or before dinner or something. I'm glad i'm on the right track!

Don't overdo it though - easily done.

Ok, great, thanks. I think I have seen so many photos of puppies at shows stacking and moving like dreamy adults that I thought I was actually miles behind, maybe I'm not!!

Dont forget it may have taken a few photos to get one of the pup standing nicely and it may have only been for a split second. Also if its the pups first show they may not be acting like they normaly do. My girls was like that, her first day of ringcraft she did everything perfectly, stood like a statue and moved perfectly and everyone was soo impressed. Her second class she was sitting and then rolling around the floor chewing the lead instead of standing and hanging off the back of my leg while moving lol She did the same for her first show, behaved perfectly and her right up said how well schooled she was lol

I just started rewarding any stand and would throw some standing in our daily training sessions, nothing long and kept it fun. Also once a week i would stand her on a table out side to get a pic of her. ringcraft once a week. She now pritty much stands herself but we do still get a pesky leg sticking out every so often.

work on he getting use to been touch by other people, ears, month, down the neck, shoulds, frount legs, along back, inbetween back legs and tail.
At frist get him use you standing his frount legs in the right place. With his back legs don't worry at frist but don't over strich them he is a baby and got alot of growing to do.

Thanks all, we had our first ringcraft class together and he enjoyed meeting 20 other dogs of variable size and age and breed, varied people etc. He did not stand much if at all, but we did not press it, i just wanted him to enjoy the experience of the class. he did move well however so all good. he does not like people checking his teeth and will wrench his head away and i think his teething at the moment makes it worse, but all in all, a good experience :)

My bitch had the perfect free stand down from a very young age, about three months. For about two seconds! She was and still is, at almost 11 months, such a very naughty puppy in the ring. It just takes time, work on her being happy in the ring and happy to be with you. I don't doubt my bitch will always play up but she's having a good time and that's what's important. Sometimes you see puppies in the ring and they're being slapped or jerked or shouted at because they're playing up and those are the ones that are perfectly behaved as puppies but have zero gumption and enthusiasm. I'm sure you'd rather have a spirited puppy than one that hates being in the ring. Every judge I've showed under when my bitch has been particularly naughty has liked her for it and told me to enjoy the puppy days; after all, they only happen once.

Agree totally and if you don't insist on perfect behaviour you will get a dog who always enjoys showing. My nearly 8 year old girl is still thrilled to be in the show ring and loves every minute of it, in fact she shows better at her second class of the day as she is a bit overexcited in the first class sometimes. :-) I remember a judge commenting on it 3 years ago now, how wonderful it was to see a 5 year old dog loving it so much.

Sometimes I look at my puppy and wish I could enjoy it as much as she is!! But the nerves get in the way!

Im the same as GldensNScotties, i do it randomly throughout the day with treats. When i first started showing someone told me to count to ten, it did help alot.