Alright...tear 'em up. This is Bryco this evening working on his table manners I know not to use this lead in show, but its fun for me for practice! He is almost 19 weeks now, 2.4 lbs.

I feel like I am doing something wrong on the front half?











That's all for now...I do feel though lol...that we've made quite the improvement since...(esp since I was doing it to the wrong side then...but his angulation is ironing itself out a little, I think , it was off a bit in these earlier pics)





Any comments are welcome...I'm new at everything, so any words of advice or help are appreciated He's learning this is fun, and is being much more cooperative, as you can see, there is no treat shoved in his face anymore.

__________________

Thank you Jan & Chico!!

He's having his major puppy nakeds ATM lol. Also please ignore my horrendous PJ colours.

Edited to add...his topline is level, but a lot of times, when I'm stacking him, he kinda cinches it up...which makes it look like the first few pictures. I also can't seem to get his front feet to do what I want...I get the back ones right, but then the fronts there's just no winning...anything I can do to stop the cinching, or do we just need more practice?

__________________

Thank you Jan & Chico!!

I'm not very good at this, the only thing i could add is that you should try to support his tail up not hold it up. Thats what i was told anyway!! He looks good tho, cant believe how much hes changing. Such a sweetie pie x

__________________
~Rachel~




http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref...&id=1095682714

He looks much better in the last two pics. In the first ones, you have his front out too far. His front legs need to drop down straight from his shoulders, so you have him stacked with his front too far out. But you corrected it in the last couple, so it's all good. He's turning out sooooooooooo cute!!

Remember to practice on the ground too and use a mirror so you can see what the judge does. Also a video camera is great also to critique yourself. Once you get him on the table, get used to setting him up quickly so you're not fussing with him when the judge turns to take a look. First impressions count so get that topline straight.

Also, get him used to being stacked and then having strangers go over him. Take him everywhere you can and socialize. Get people to go over him everywhere you go.

When you have his lead on when he's on the table, flip it over your shoulders so that it's out of the way and make sure you bait him 'straight on' so that he's not got his head way back looking up. Also practice on having him stay in position while you take your hands off him and have him look at you without moving. Just a few seconds to start.

You're doing great!

__________________

"Having heard all of this, you may choose to look the other way.....
but you can never say again that you did not know." William Wilberforce 1759-1833

When i went to ring craft (show raining classes) i was told the easiest way to stack a small dog on a table was to lift it up of the table with both your hands, one on its bum and one on its front. The front hand has to have some fingers going through the front legs and the front of the body has to be lower than the back. Since the dog is lifted up off the table it will straighten out its two front legs. When the front legs are straight put the front half of the dog down. Then follow with the back half. I hope that made sense. I will try take some photos for you or a video so you know what i mean and so that you could try it with Bryco to see if it works for you.

__________________

Here are some pics i just took of Layla. They arnt very good as she wasnt cooperating because i had disturbed her when she was sunbathing
Also she isnt totally to standards so just ignore that, shes the best i have to demonstrate with & im not the best of stackers
Anyways they will hopefully give you a little bit better of an idea of what i was trying to describe above even thought the pics arnt very good.

Step one: Lift dog off table, front of body lower than back.


Step two: Place front paws down onto table. Still holding back end up.


Step three: Place back paws down.


Step four: Minor adjustments - Adjust anything you arnt happy (feet - you could move them slightly) with and support tail up. If you arnt happy at all start again.


At first Bryco might stuggle a bit because he isnt used to being held at an angle so just hold him there until he calms down, then place legs on table etc. (it normally isnt long before they calm down and get used to it)
To help with the front legs you could also stack near the edge of a table because then he knows if he steps forward he might fall off.

Heres a video that i found on youtube of a boy stacking a smooth coat chihuahua. You may prefer his method better.

Good luck with Bryco, hes looking really good.


Edit: Your going to have to bear with me, photobucket isnt working properly argh!

__________________

He really has changed the most in the past 2ish weeks, he lost a lot of his puppy fluffy, his torso lengthened, a few adult teeth are peeking through, he's getting a little personality, and has grown like a weed lately (and finally!!). His tail is definitely his most problem area lol.

Phew. Thanks! LOL I know we have so much work to do and some of it I just can't see yet, so advice is great. Esp. the part about what his front end should be doing.

I've tried this technique before and he just goes tiddly wink crazy. Maybe my problem is I'm not giving him time to calm down mid-air. I definitely need to figure out what should be done though to get those front feet in the correct position so will try the lettign him calm down...thank you for the pictures!

__________________

Thank you Jan & Chico!!

Like said earlier last pics of the latest ones is the best. if need be cans same height can be used or tape lines and have him stand on those also what was said a mirror is your best friend I also used camera taking pics and seeing my mistakes. Now on the tail issue I know his curls up but let him try to have it up with out you holding it ears and tail up and attention on what you want him to do if he doesn't hold tail up then put over his back but not straight up. front feet straight down and back slightly out but you can also straight open hand should place on butt towards down to table. pratice this for 15 mins a day with lots of praise. just advice to help

you are both doing GREAT and more often you practice the better one day stack next bait next gait so on.