I used to show a Cavalier King Charles and trained him to stack within about a week - He just seemed to be able to do it naturally.

So I'm a little unsure as to how to teach Maisie to stack for the ring - When she stands still she stands square but she drops her tail to be level with her back rather than holding it nicely, and she loves to twist on the end of the lead!

I've tried hand stacking her first off, but she just trys to turn and lick my other hand - Treats and toys arent as interesting as my hand apparently!

Any advice? It doesnt have to be perfect, I just like to do the local shows and like my dogs to look their best!

__________________

These are walkers. LOL I love a free stacked dog so we teach them with bait in the kitchen. The second they free stack when we make the noise, they get a bit. It doesn't take long to get them free stacking and holding that stack, tail wagging, for that chicken. That's the start. Then if I have one that drops the tail when too still too long (and that can be in seconds), they free stack, tail wag, walk a step or two, free stack again, repeat until time to move forward in the ring. You don't have to keep your dog perfectly still like a statue. I know judges who will dump you just for that. They are supposed to have a terrier like attitude, which means they are busy little dogs, not picture pefect still. You can get the stack and then move the dog to get the tail back, most of the time, once that first step is taken, the tail comes back up. Then you stack again. You'll notice that technique at the locals shows now that you know what to look for. It happens in small breeds alot because we have the room to move them. Can't really do that with a Dane. LOL

Good luck. I'm sure you'll get it down no time.

__________________