When a dog is shown before a judge, not only must he show how he moves but he must learn to stand both naturally and when placed in position without moving. This activity is called stacking the dog and it is an art that is learned by the handler and taught to the dog. The purpose of this stance is to allow the judge to see all parts of the dog’s structure to determine if he follows the standard of his breed and also for the judge to lay hands on and examine the dog to feel his bone structure and muscular condition.

The Show Dog usually appears to come to a natural well-balanced halt in front of the judge and this looks effortless. In reality, it is not effortless and usually the handler has spent many hours training the dog to come to this well positioned halt. Each breed has a standard, which defines how the feet and front and rear legs should be structured. When the dog comes to a halt, his front and rear feet should be placed correctly according to the standard for his breed. If his toes are to be pointed to the front, it would be considered a fault for his feet to be splayed outwards. If his rear legs should have straight hocks, it would be a fault for him to have the appearance of cow hocks. Therefore, it is important that the handler train the dog to come to a clean and perfect stop, correctly setting his feet in the proper position so as to show a correct stance. Often the handler needs to mask a fault that a dog may have and often this can be accomplished by training him to come to the right stop. There is no perfect dog, there is an ideal standard by which the dog will be judged.

The Show Dog is trained to come to a natural stack in front of the judge after he has performed the down and back, a pattern in which he is gated away from the judge and back towards the judge, at the end of which he must come to a naturally correct stand without the handler positioning his feet or head in any way. He must also learn to be stacked by having the handler position his feet and head for the examination by the judge. Sometimes, in the case of the smaller dogs, he is stacked on a table for the ease of the examination, so that the judge can get an appropriate picture of the structure of the dog without having to kneel down to see or touch the animal.

The judge must have the dog stand quietly while he performs his examination of the dog. The dog must learn not to flinch or draw away or move his head or feet while the judge runs his hands over his body, looks into his mouth, checks all the structure of the head and neck, shoulders and back and fore and hind legs, feels his muscular condition and, if he is a male, checks whether he has both testicles. All of this is done for the purpose of insuring that the animal is in good physical condition and meets the standard requirements of his breed, for the original purpose of the Dog Show was to determine the best breeding stock. All of the judging at a Dog Show must lead to this final determination of which dog is the best animal for breeding purposes and so all of the presentation of the dog to the judge should allow for this purpose to be accomplished.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Dog Training

If you are lucky enough to get a 7-week-old puppy, there is no excuse for any bad habits to develop over his lifetime. Puppies learn INSTANTLY when they are that young, and if you use the proper training methods, gentle but consistent, he will behave like an angel his whole life through.

The most important training, of course, is housebreaking. Boys are easier than girls because exploring outside is their favorite thing. They just cannot get enough of all the new smells out there!

The main key to housebreaking is watching. Watch your puppy AND the clock. Once every hour is not too often on a day he is active and the weather is good. The younger the pup, the more often he needs to go out, mostly because he is growing so fast. He must drink more water to fuel his metabolism than he does as an adult. Also, since he eats three or four times a day, you know what that means.

Watch him for subtle changes. If he is happily chewing his toy, and gets up suddenly with his nose to the floor, move quickly! He is ready to squat! If he has had a nice nap, get him out of his crate and outside right away. If he has just had a good grooming, it stimulates his circulation and guess what? Time to go out again. And of course after a meal, watch him extra close.

Things to remember:

—Do not punish him for mistakes. They are YOUR fault. Every time you take him out he will go, and praise praise and praise! Happy face, laughter, happy noises! He loves your happy face. When he makes a mistake, your frown and your face turned away from him is all the punishment he needs. He will get the point.

—He is learning English, you must use the same phrases over and over. Good go potty! Hafta go potty? Wanna go potty? He can learn in one afternoon that go potty means a jaunt outside and your happy face. Whatever phrase you choose, stick with it.

—I cannot recommend strongly enough getting a crate. They truly help with all phases of his training. They make him more secure, provide him with his very own private space and a place for him to hide his favorite toys and chewies. This is even more important if you have other adult dogs in the house.

—Be consistent, always be kind and gentle, and be patient as he learns your language, and your puppy will always look forward to his training sessions. Dogs love to work!

D. Witt has shown, bred and trained standard poodles for 25 years. Vets and groomers of her pups send word back of how wonderfully happy and easy to handle they are. Gentle and consistent techniques produce a dog that is well-adjusted, happy and obedient his whole life through. For more on her training techniques, visit http://www.DogTraining15MinsADay.com

Are you ready for a new puppy? When deciding on a new puppy, there are more factors than how much is that doggie in the window. Puppies require commitment, patience, time and money. Each Christmas, doggie sales and adoptions soar! Even though your intentions are good, never surprise someone with a new puppy or dog unless you are positive they want one. Your gift not only brings cute unconditional love, but a commitment including training time and a good amount of money! Fido for Christmas sounds great, but after the holiday, far too many unwanted pets are returned or dumped. So, it’s always a good idea to go over Santa’s head and allow your loved one in on the ownership decision.

There are many other factors to getting a new puppy. How will your new dog affect your existing pets? It’s important to know if your pets have been socialized with other dogs. When choosing a puppy consider your job and other commitments. Dogs are pack animals and need attention as much as food and water. The easiest way to upset your dog and cause permanent damage is to habitually ignore it. The most important time in a puppy’s life is between 3 and 12 weeks. During this time a new puppy learns about you, the house rules and their surroundings. A new puppy that is neglected can become aggressive, so make sure you’re ready to fit them into your life. Make sure you factor in how much time you need to train your new puppy. This is crucial to your future relationship with the dog. Remember, owners that have an unruly pet have no one else to blame but themselves, and most behavior problems are caused by neglect. New Moms and Dads should also consider the cost of a new puppy. As mentioned before, the cost of owning a dog is nothing to ignore. Pet supplies, puppy toys, training, and veterinary care can cost hundreds of dollars each year.

The decision to get a new puppy needs to be well thought out, weighing both the pros and cons. If you choose to accept this mission you will be rewarded more than words could say. Finding the perfect companion is fun and exciting for the whole family. Your furry family member will surely bring you joy, unconditional love and companionship for many years to come.

Grant Carroll proud father of three dogs and co-owner of http://www.littlepamperedpets.com with Dog Clothes and Small Dog Sweaters. Also visit Little Pampered Babies where you can find Baby Clothes and Baby T-Shirts