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SZIZLIN VIZSLAS
III.
STACK STATION: REARS
The rear
feet should be positioned slightly wider than the front feet (about one paw
width outside the front feet). The hocks should be straight up and down and
perpendicular to the ground. The feet should be parallel and pointing straight
ahead.
Walk
your dog into a freestack and look at your dog's natural rear. Then, look at
how your dog's rear looks after you finish stacking the front. Some dogs set
their rears naturally. If the dog has its feet in the correct position, don't
touch the rear legs. If the rear feet are not correct, you will need to set
them using one of the methods below.
Setting the Rear feet: Placement Method
You will
use your left hand to set both rear feet. If a dog does not like having its
rear touched, it sometimes helps to gently run your hand down the back saying
STAY before you start. It is particularly important when placing the dog's
rear that your motions be gentle and slow.
You can
either stack the rear from over the dog's back or underneath the dog's
stomach. You should try both methods to see if your dog prefers one method
over the other, and to determine if one is easier/more comfortable for you.
- Keep
control of the dog's collar on the front, being careful not to pull on the
collar which will knock the dog off balance and mess up the front stack.
- Gently
take one hock, pick it up and place it slightly outside the line of the front
foot on the same side. Make sure that the hock and foot are straight. This may
require you to twist the hock slightly if it tends to turn in or out in its
natural position. Slowly say STAY.
- Then,
gently take the other hock and place it parallel with the first hock in the
same position on the other side. Slowly say STAY.
Setting the Rear feet: Lift and Drop Method
Some
dogs don't like having their rears set (particularly if it is a new experience
for them). This method works better for dogs with very strong rears.
- Put
your hand between the dog's rear legs and gently lift the dogs rear off the
ground. Gently pull back, using your fingers to spread the legs to the
appropriate width and set the rear on the ground. Slowly say STAY.
- If the
dog's rear is strong, the rear may set perfectly. Otherwise, you may need to
make some minor alterations using the techniques in the Placement Method.
Some
common mistakes in setting the rear include:
-
Overstretching or understretching the dog's rear. Use the dog's topline as a
check. If the dog's topline is roaching and bunched, you may not have the
hocks placed far enough back. If the dog's topline is sloping, you may have
the hocks placed too far back. Remember, the hocks should be perpendicular to
the ground and the feet should be parallel.
-
Setting the rear with the hocks "hocking in" (or less commonly, hocking out).
Remember, twist the hocks if they are not straight before you place weight on
them.
-
Setting the rear too narrow or too wide or off center. Each foot should be
about a pawprint out of the line of the same side front foot. Proper foot
placement is essential for balance (otherwise, the dog will appear to be
leaning on the handler…probably because the dog IS leaning).
-
Pulling on the collar and throwing the dog off balance. Also, keep you feet
out from under the dog (if your feet are under the dog's body, chances are you
will bump the dog and throw the dog off balance).
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Copyright © 2004 Szizlin Vizslas, Reg. Page Last Updated Thursday, 14 August 2008 All Rights Reserved
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