Whenever I post pictures of the dogs practicing for a dog show, I always post pictures of them stacked and of them moving.
Why are these two things so important and why do we practice them?
At a dog show, no matter the breed, the judge must evaluate a dog’s physical soundness. Physical soundness simply means that a dog is put together correctly. A dog that is sound is capable of doing its job, even if its job is an evening walk . An unsound dog is prone to injury, or may break down over time.
First the judge will examine a dog’s structure by actually putting his/her hands on the dog to feel the shape and placement of the dog’s bones and muscles. Structure may vary a bit between the different breeds based on the written breed standard and the purpose the dog was bred for. For example, a dog bred for speed, may be a bit different in structure than a dog bred to retrieve.
This video is helpful to understand the kinds of evaluations a judge might make in the ring. The dog happens to be a Whippet but the process is similar for all breeds. Whippets were bred for speed so they have structural characteristics which allow for that.
In this short video, a judge explains how she judges the structure of a Labrador which varies slightly from the Whippet.
Next the judge will look at movement. A sound dog also has correct movement. Each breed standard specifies the correct gait for the breed. Faults in movement can indicate that there is an issue with the dog’s structure. In order to adequately judge movement, the judge will want to watch a dog coming and going and moving around the ring. The judge has the prime spot to watch movement, and if you are watching a dog move from a spot outside of the ring or on tv, it is sometimes difficult to fully see the dog’s movement.
If you have some time and are interested in learning more about structure and movement how it affects soundness, take a look at this video. It is a little over an hour-long and the video quality is not the greatest, but it is a good basic primer. (Remember, this is one person’s opinion on correct structure and movement.)
A dog’s structure and movement are extremely important as to whether that dog will win in the show ring. While you can’t change either, you can present them in the best way possible. An experienced handler can make a nice dog look great and an inexperienced handler can make a nice dog look less than nice.
It can be difficult to beat a long time breeder or a professional handler in the ring if you are just and occasional exhibitor or a newbie. In some breeds, you have to hire a professional handler to show your dog. (I find that unfortunate but it is the way it is). With Chessies, we are starting to see more handlers on dogs. Amateurs can still place with a nice dog, but you have to do a decent job in the ring. So we practice.
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They are gorgeous! Thanks for posting the YT videos! It’s always interesting to hear a judge’s POV!
Interesting! I went to that Youtube account hoping they have more videos of different dog breeds but looks like no… heehee… Thanks for sharing. 🙂
That is very interesting and we are sure it is quite a sight but being the naughty sort we so wonder what the bloopers look like? Now we blame you for this after the no, clicker story LOL. Have a tremendous Thursday.
Best wishes Molly
Hi Y’all!
My Humans know the importance of conformation. Thoroughbreds’ conformation is all important to its performance. Short coupled horses tend to be better sprinters and a slightly long or straight pastern can lead to early or frequent lameness. Quarter horse breeders look for thoroughbred mares to cross with quarter horse stallions. They look for a particular confirmation type.
Y’all come by now,
Hawk aka BrownDog
Very interesting! I wish I had an hour; but alas a busy day today. Maybe tonight after hubby’s asleep. Thanks for posting!
Great information and videos, I am a newbie and should be practicing more than I do if I ever want to get any wheres. Good luck this weekend.
It’s sadly true, that it is nearly impossible to beat a pro or a handler, but we can live with that fact (even though a little greenfaced lol). I will watch the video tonight, we have to work a lot during the next 3 weeks. It’s not that I would be really BIS ( I’m not strong enough for the great “ring of fire”), but I wish I would get a little bit more attention from the judges , so I think we have to work more to get better and to earn more than a “thanks for the donation” :o( Good luck for the show, all paws and fingers are crossed!
Great post!! Do people use ring results for breeding purposes? By that I mean does a dog that wins its class or best in show have puppies that are more desirable? Is this question making any sense?
I watched the video with the Whippet and it was really interesting!
When I was a tiny pup in England, my breeder had me stacking all the time. I did it for a while when I moved in with Mom, but since I never am showed, we never practiced. When we went to the show last year, that was one thing I refused to do. We should have kept practicing. Practice makes perfect!
We love to watch dog shows thanks for all of the information it’ll help us understand what we’re watching! Love Dolly
Great article! We show as well and are currently training little Siren to stack. She’s trying, lol.
Like Dolly, we like to watch the dog shows as well. I always thought it would be fun to participate too, but I doubt we’ll ever try that. It’s always great to learn new things and understand it better though.
I can see the benefits of a professional handling a newbie dog. But if someone is going to do this a lot, it sounds like a good idea to learn how to do this themselves. Teaching a dog a less formal version of stacking sounds like it could have some benefits outside the ring, too. It is sort of like a really good stay, right? If Maya could do it, it would help her behave when the vet examines her. It could help me help them to pose for photos, too.