I've always wanted to know how to get my GSD to set like he's supposed to.  He's 9 mo. old.  I know that they are the only dog breed that sets rather than stacks.  Any tips on how to draw that rear leg back?

Thanks.

firstly setting up and stacking are the same.  I would advise you find a ringcraft where they knnow about GSD's or you go to see someone in GSD's to get them to show you, the simple thing is you pick the legs up and put them down in the position you want but it's hard to explain and I can't remember which leg is forwards and which is back! :D

A well constructed dog should be standing correctly before it's 9 months old. The show stance is always with the rear leg  on the judges side out backwarxds & the one on the handlers side forward into the classic GSD stance. You should not have to place a GSDs legs & the dog should be walked into the correct position or even better trained to poise itself. My pet hate as a qualified GSD judge is to see a GSD hanving to be manhandled into the show stance. They should be shown free standing

I used to get a friend to quietly call my puppies in training so that they posied themselves & at the same time I would get them a stand command. By the time they were in the ring they could walk themselves into the show stance on command without outside attraction

Thank you very much on your tips.  This is the first time I have ever had to do this, we are still not sure if we are going to show him, but I thought it would be good to do it anyway.  Since we have only been to obedience class at Landheim, we haven't been to any show classes.  So, just to make sure, you said that he should be able to walk right into the stance? Any more tips would be greatly appreciated. =3

I used treats and the command "forward" to train my girl to walk into the stand.  I would get her to go forward one step at a time until she was in the correct position, then give her a treat.  It works much better than "placing" the legs, which IMO gives an unatural looking stance.

Sarah.

Thank you very much.  I tried this, and it seems to be working a bit.  So, I'll work with him much more and hopefully he'll get it.  Thanks for your help!