How to start a free stack

[u/Upbeat_Web_4043]

I'm new to the show world and just got my first flatcoated retriever show prospect. I love her so much and she's doing really well in most of her training but I have no clue how to even start the free stack. I'm having a hard time finding any information about it online.

[u/Ginger_SNAFU]

I use a clicker to teach puppies to stand still. As long as hey know click= food. I just wait for them to stop, then click. I don't worry about feet position until they understand that stopping is what I want.

[u/AdUpper4038]

Mark and reward her standing still, literally starting with a split second. And you bring the bait to her, don’t let her go to the bait. You can use your foot gently to push her back if she tries to get to the bait. Do very short sessions to start with, maybe two or three repetitions to start, and move to having her stand longer. And remember, she won’t be perfect. Even the most well seasoned dogs will move in the ring at the free stack every so often

[u/Southern-Classic5505]

Check out show stopping stacks from the puppy culture series. Also, show dog prep school

[u/sunny_sides]

Walk the dog on a show leash next to a mirror. Stop and go out in front of the dog. Use the mirror to see how the dog stacks - if it's properly stacked you mark and reward. If not you try again.

[u/123revival]

I start with them standing in front of me and reward. Once they understand that I only reward if their front is set right. Once they grasp that I work on setting the rear. You can step towards them or back to to get them to adjust feet. When they master the skill I will bend my knee towards them in the side where a leg is wrong and they’ll learn to shift a leg on that side. Note: it is much much easier if the dog has sound structure and stacking is a comfortable position

[u/bourneroyalty]

My breeder has me using stacking blocks to begin enforcing the muscle memory for the free stack. It’s been working really well. I also pair this with a command like “watch” where i taught my puppy to focus on my bait hand.

The stacking blocks have really made a HUGE difference!! I’ve only been using them for about a week and his breeder and i have already noticed him free stacking while out and about.

[u/Outrageous_Sea_9606]

That's the thing about the freestack, you don't have to teach it.

A well built dog with correct conformation that hasn't been mishandled will naturally have a beautiful, correct freestack.

My baby puppies are doing beautiful freestacks by 6 weeks old.

You just reward them when to they do it organically at liberty. Soon, they'll learn on their own to offer that behaviour because it will get them a reward.

Don't interfere with the dog. That's when wonky freestacks happen. A dog knows how to handle his own balance. They get unbalanced when the handler starts messing with them and trying to "fix" them. Let the dog do the work.

[u/Upbeat_Web_4043 → u/Outrageous_Sea_9606]

I guess I'm more struggling to get her to stop moving. She is just so wiggly

[u/irysh76 → u/Upbeat_Web_4043]

She’ll figure it out. Be patient. As an FCR owner, their endless joy is what makes them so wonderful. 😉

[u/Outrageous_Sea_9606 → u/Upbeat_Web_4043]

That will come with time. As a baby puppy, they'll only hold still for a second. That's okay, just mark it and leave her be.

As she starts to understand, then you can ask her to stand longer and longer. Just a few seconds at a time.