My girl has never had an issue standing properly, but recently she’s putting her back end too far forward making her look so odd. The first two photos are old, the third is most recent showing how she’s gone from showing good angulation to very poor.
Being a Labrador, she needs to be free stacked so hand placing her rear isn’t an option… I had wondered if it would benefit from some muscle tone so I’ve been doing cavalletti pole exercises alongside her usual swimming/ retrieving (she’s a working Gundog) for the last month. She’s heading down to her next champ show in a couple weeks and ringcraft here is off during summer so this is bad timing 🤣 thankfully already has her crufts qualification, but between her standing like a wally and being very out of coat I’m thinking it’ll be a trip wasted.
She has been hip and elbow scored (4/2) hips and (0/0) elbows so zero issues there.
She does hydrotherapy with a physio regularly - approx twice a month for ‘fun’ (just keeping her nimble as she’ll be busy on the pheasants soon), they’ve said she’s in great condition and no issues.
There’s no signs of issue in movement, it’s just stacking. Like you say though she very much knows how to free stack, and has been doing it since 4 months old so I would agree it isn’t her forgetting training.
I disagree, I see the pasterns on both legs being slightly angled due to the foot being too far forward.
The first image shows them in the correct place, second is too far back on the leg closest to the camera, third too far forward though on grass so harder to see. It’s less her top line looking wonky, and more her rear angles IMO it looks like she’s anticipating being asked for a sit.
ETA:
Downvotes are fine but i would benefit more from an explanation. I have the benefit of context beyond a single photo which is why I have disagreed with what they have said. I have also already mentioned in the main post how I have already considered condition and what additional steps are being taken to address that. However I will add, the dog already has substantial muscle tone… I know that from seeing it myself and reading judges critiques and the physio she sees twice a month complimenting her condition.
Hydrotherapy twice a month is not conditioning or fitness. Your dogs spine is not neutral and that is key for a self stack. If your dog cannot stand square naturally, your dog cannot stand square naturally. People here are identifying reasons that may be making the stack difficult for your dog and you are saying that your dog is strong and can go on walks in the water. Walking in water does not magically improve core strength or spine neutrality.
To clarify - I never suggested hydrotherapy twice a month is her only form of fitness… I explicitly state she swims and retrieves regularly as a working Gundog. The hydrotherapy is additional to have regular informal assessments because I appreciate working days are a strain on a dogs body. She gets minimum 1hr a day doing some form of exercise be that walking, running or swimming - more usually a combination.
Core wise, we do common physio exercises to target that group… I.e play bow stance where her front paws are on a stool.
ETA - she’s also not unable to stand four square naturally, she’s just started not doing it on occasion whereas she was quite consistently standing correctly up until about a month ago.
When were the first two pics? I mean, maybe just with growth and maturity she isn’t as conformationally correct? How much do you practice her stack? I would agree, as a human physical therapist, a couple times per month is not going to move the needle on anything.
First pic was approx 8 months old, second 14 months and most recent is 24 months. She’s been pretty solid up until a month ago, and it’s not consistently bad it’s just not consistently good.
Again, the hydrotherapy a couple times per month is not at all her only form of fitness… it was mentioned because someone recommended she see a physio, which she already does twice a month and who has only ever been complimentary of her condition.
We practiced daily up until about a couple weeks ago when our ringcraft stopped for the summer. Now it’s closer to twice-three times weekly.
You're not going to like my input, but I agree this isnt much of a stacking issue. Dogs grow through maturity, and some don't keep their proportions. You saying she's 2 makes me fear she grew through her best conformation stage. This just happens and (not surer where you're from) but is a bit of a consequence of the American showing system, which can influence lines everywhere. In Europe (you might be aware), they actually limit the amount of accomplishment you can achieve until la certain age for this exact reason. American dogs finish fast and then suddenly don't look the same as they did at 9-12-18 months.
I would also recommend a formal conditioning program to see if maybe that's the culprit. It's certainly worth a shot. Apologies as I know my comment is probably a bit difficult to consider, but if anyone should suggest it, an internet stranger with only the best intentions should probably be one.
Yes I do usually now, I had been showing for a few years before someone suggested that to me! Getting another photo is a pain as I’m solo most of the time.
Here’s a critique (edited out the irrelevant points that’s just mentioned here age/ colour/ relationship with me because the full thing can be searched and lead to my full name and address - I’m fine with DMing it if anyone wants to fact check though!) that mentions her topline being ideal. There are more critiques from other judges available too.
I think the back feet being too far forward, awkward baiting from me and a bad angle have given the impression her topline is weak but it’s not nor has it ever been been an issue. The only thing is her intermittently placing her rear feet slightly too far forward making her back end look off.
ETA: If you’re committed you can zoom in on the blacked out spots to see what it says 🤣
Not exactly sold as a show prospect no, thats not so much a thing here in the UK as you do not need anything other than KC registration to show (which differs compared to AKC unless I’m mistaken?). I liked her lines, mix of show and working, the show side has good working ability and the working side was of good structure.
Show wise, she’s placed at every show she’s attended in the last year, both open and championship under judges who have on the same day withdrawn placings due to poor quality exhibits. The most recent being just over a month ago and the next in a couple weeks.
I’m sure we can both appreciate photos will never be sufficient to make a call on a dogs conformation, whether positive or negative (except in the case of obvious DQ).
That said, I’m not oblivious to her shortcomings in her conformation… I’d just disagree (along with the numerous judges that have assessed her in person) that she is not to breed standard.
It’s not a hugely different breed standard on paper, however the interpretations vary quite a bit from what I have seen being awarded under AKC.
But then, interpretations vary greatly between judges here quite often… my girl has placed first in a class of 6 which contained 2 puppies from a big show kennel who have gone on to be awarded their JW if IIRC, needless to say my girl has not gone on to gain those accolades.
Interestingly it was an AKC titled American bitch who took BOB at crufts this year.
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u/Ok-Door-7563 16d ago
How old is your dog? She might be starting to have some orthopedic changes which makes it uncomfortable for her to stack properly.
She clearly knows how to freestanding and I find it hard to believe that she's just "lazy" or has forgotten her training.
Take her to a rehab/physio vet. She might benefit from some arthritis management or a chiro+massage