Can someone tell me what stacking or free stacking mean when showing

Stacking means physically placing your dog in the position you think will exhibit him to the best and often maintaining that physical contact to keep him there. I think free stacking would more usually be called free standing where the dog is allowed to stand naturally held only by his lead although a great deal of training may go into him doing that naturally :-)

Golden retriever stacked.

Golden retriever free standing.

Free stacking tends to be the term used in the USA, in the UK it is called Free standing.

In my breed it is very much frowned upon to 'Stack' the dogs in the UK, but is the norm in the USA.

>In my breed it is very much frowned upon to 'Stack' the dogs in the UK, but is the norm in the USA.

Ditto with mine - in fact I don't think it's ever done! I saw someone try it once in the ring and the steward went up and had a quiet word. It was never seen done again!

For me a stacked dog looses all animation, and that taught ready for action look, which I think is vital for my bred and yours.

Someone from a stacked breed had one of ours and insisted on placing it,a nd the result was a lazy looking dog, not what is usual.  Yes they do fidget, but a judge should be able to judge the dog despite that.

I have often wondered if it is something that statyed to be done in breeds with large classes, as they want not to get missed in the final look round,a nd also the judge may have forgotten what they felt and they can make the dog look right on the stand.

With smaller class numbers the judge can remember and has maybe the chance to see the dog enough even if it moves???c