Examples of Confirmation - Page 7

Rei · 11-08-2012, 08:12 PM

No problem, it helped me a lot as well. I have a lot of appreciation for the experts of this board and the knowledge they share with us.

The pictures are taken a month or two apart, he probably lost 3 to 5 lbs of fat maximum. The difference is not so much the weight loss as it is the weight loss + loss of undercoat + stance/posture combination. In the first (before) picture, we were strolling along the open field and I grabbed him on whim for a stack as a part of our morning routine. He was very relaxed, bored, and accustomed to holding the stack for me. In the second picture, he was stacked and then I pretended there was a cat around (with a "hey kitty!" cue) so he was tensed, alert, and on a look out for a cat.

But spotting that is also a matter of being able to pick out that the individual parts of his structure and conformation and seeing that they have not changed as much as they have become differently presented. Xeph on this board had pointed out that while he lost substance between the first and second stacks (which I good naturedly complained about), he also shows off his high withers better and presents an overall smoother picture once he became more alert.

The fact that his mouth is closed also makes a difference between the two stacks - he does not have as strong of a head as I would like, but when his mouth is open his secondary sex characteristics appear sufficient. When his mouth is closed, he appears, in my opinion, ,to have a bit of a bitch head. Love my dog, though. I do still find him well balanced enough for me, and his structure certainly can keep up with his mental stamina and drive.

GsdLoverr729 · 11-08-2012, 08:20 PM

I wish I could get another critique on Koda, in a better stack and maybe when her posture/expression are more confident. But I only have one recent pic that matches that a bit

And I do see, looking over her stacks, that a couple where she is "smiling" make her head seem more masculine LOL

Rei · 11-08-2012, 08:44 PM

Well, I post critique threads like nobody's business. I think everyone must be sick of them by now

We practice stacking as a part of our routine morning walk. Sometimes I can get a good shot and sometimes I won't. It's been 3 1/2 years of practice and it's still a matter of luck.

GsdLoverr729 · 11-08-2012, 08:48 PM

My two biggest issues: Getting her hock at a 90 degree angle (I always over-extend for some reason), and getting her to look interested as I move away. Usually she gives me an irritated or pitiful face >.>
I got a great stack today when she knew I didn't have my phone or camera

Rei · 11-08-2012, 09:19 PM

That's usually how it goes - awesome stack, perfect representation of my dog's structure, reaching for the camera before I miss it and... oh, wait, I don't even have it on hand. Thanks, Dog!

The alert expression is the most difficult for me. I only figured out the "hey, kitty!" trick a little over a month ago. A great on watch expression, but I know he'll hold the stay. It is usually easier if you have a helper to take the picture while you catch the dog's attention (as qbchottu recommended to me before). I know others who have thrown paper bags or toys in front of the dog for their attention. I usually use his Bad Cuz or a Wubba, although treats will work if I am going for a series of pictures (I just continuously chuck hotdog pieces in front of him the moment he loses interest).

GsdLoverr729 · 11-08-2012, 09:22 PM

I'll definitely try, when Matt returns from Conn., to get him to help me out (: Maybe I can get one using someone else or a toy/stick/food before then. Great idea!!!

qbchottu · 11-08-2012, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rei

Absolutely gorgeous. How could I have missed this one?? That weight suits him so much better - I am so happy with his defined waist. He is maturing. It is noticeable. Beautiful!!

Rei · 11-08-2012, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GsdLoverr729

I'll definitely try, when Matt returns from Conn., to get him to help me out (: Maybe I can get one using someone else or a toy/stick/food before then. Great idea!!!

Best of luck! I try to reel friends in to help out occasionally. They usually wonder what in the world is going on, and just finally decide that I'm flat out crazy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by qbchottu

Absolutely gorgeous. How could I have missed this one?? That weight suits him so much better - I am so happy with his defined waist. He is maturing. It is noticeable. Beautiful!!

Thank you very much, that means a lot to me! I was also just thrilled to have him back in shape again. I have a lot of appreciation for dogs in good physical condition (especially considering the health benefits), so it felt good to flip back to the past pictures and see that. And luckily, it is fairly easy to maintain that once we get him to the point.

It surprises me how much he continues to change in maturity. I thought he was done at 2 years, but the difference in the last year (between ages 2 and 3) was astounding. I have no doubt that he'll continue to change, even at 3 1/2. No complaints here!

GsdLoverr729 · 11-09-2012, 06:53 PM

LOL! Luckily, my two best friends each own a shepherd. And they understand my OCD nature completely. One has a working line, the other has an ASL.
So we all work together on our stacking, learning about the sports, learning conformation, etc. One of them would like to get involved in SchH or SaR (I want to try SchH sooo badly!), so we both obsess over that. And my friend with the showline is more on the conformation/show side of learning.

Sooo never alone :3
Matt, however, thinks I'm a lunatic

Xeph · 11-09-2012, 06:54 PM

You know how I feel about Trent

HE has a beautifully high wither. Your stacks have also improved greatly in the time you've had him.

He is a wonderful representative of the breed

11-08-2012, 08:12 PM	#61 (permalink)
Rei Elite Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Beaverton, Oregon Posts: 1,075	No problem, it helped me a lot as well. I have a lot of appreciation for the experts of this board and the knowledge they share with us. The pictures are taken a month or two apart, he probably lost 3 to 5 lbs of fat maximum. The difference is not so much the weight loss as it is the weight loss + loss of undercoat + stance/posture combination. In the first (before) picture, we were strolling along the open field and I grabbed him on whim for a stack as a part of our morning routine. He was very relaxed, bored, and accustomed to holding the stack for me. In the second picture, he was stacked and then I pretended there was a cat around (with a "hey kitty!" cue) so he was tensed, alert, and on a look out for a cat. But spotting that is also a matter of being able to pick out that the individual parts of his structure and conformation and seeing that they have not changed as much as they have become differently presented. Xeph on this board had pointed out that while he lost substance between the first and second stacks (which I good naturedly complained about), he also shows off his high withers better and presents an overall smoother picture once he became more alert. The fact that his mouth is closed also makes a difference between the two stacks - he does not have as strong of a head as I would like, but when his mouth is open his secondary sex characteristics appear sufficient. When his mouth is closed, he appears, in my opinion, ,to have a bit of a bitch head. Love my dog, though. I do still find him well balanced enough for me, and his structure certainly can keep up with his mental stamina and drive. __________________ Trent - 2/20/09 German Shepherd Dog Bree - 2/11/08 Tuxedo DLH Cat Raina - 8/12/11 Black Smoke DLH Cat Last edited by Rei; 11-08-2012 at 08:14 PM.

11-08-2012, 08:20 PM	#62 (permalink)
GsdLoverr729 Knighted Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: North Ga, USA Posts: 3,179	I wish I could get another critique on Koda, in a better stack and maybe when her posture/expression are more confident. But I only have one recent pic that matches that a bit And I do see, looking over her stacks, that a couple where she is "smiling" make her head seem more masculine LOL __________________ Kymmey http://KaohzandKumatz.yolasite.com Mom To~ Dakoda (b/t GSD), Simi (b/w DSH), Nashoba (sable GSD)

11-08-2012, 08:44 PM	#63 (permalink)
Rei Elite Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Beaverton, Oregon Posts: 1,075	Well, I post critique threads like nobody's business. I think everyone must be sick of them by now We practice stacking as a part of our routine morning walk. Sometimes I can get a good shot and sometimes I won't. It's been 3 1/2 years of practice and it's still a matter of luck. __________________ Trent - 2/20/09 German Shepherd Dog Bree - 2/11/08 Tuxedo DLH Cat Raina - 8/12/11 Black Smoke DLH Cat

11-08-2012, 08:48 PM	#64 (permalink)
GsdLoverr729 Knighted Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: North Ga, USA Posts: 3,179	My two biggest issues: Getting her hock at a 90 degree angle (I always over-extend for some reason), and getting her to look interested as I move away. Usually she gives me an irritated or pitiful face >.> I got a great stack today when she knew I didn't have my phone or camera __________________ Kymmey http://KaohzandKumatz.yolasite.com Mom To~ Dakoda (b/t GSD), Simi (b/w DSH), Nashoba (sable GSD)

11-08-2012, 09:19 PM	#65 (permalink)
Rei Elite Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Beaverton, Oregon Posts: 1,075	That's usually how it goes - awesome stack, perfect representation of my dog's structure, reaching for the camera before I miss it and... oh, wait, I don't even have it on hand. Thanks, Dog! The alert expression is the most difficult for me. I only figured out the "hey, kitty!" trick a little over a month ago. A great on watch expression, but I know he'll hold the stay. It is usually easier if you have a helper to take the picture while you catch the dog's attention (as qbchottu recommended to me before). I know others who have thrown paper bags or toys in front of the dog for their attention. I usually use his Bad Cuz or a Wubba, although treats will work if I am going for a series of pictures (I just continuously chuck hotdog pieces in front of him the moment he loses interest). __________________ Trent - 2/20/09 German Shepherd Dog Bree - 2/11/08 Tuxedo DLH Cat Raina - 8/12/11 Black Smoke DLH Cat

11-08-2012, 09:22 PM	#66 (permalink)
GsdLoverr729 Knighted Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: North Ga, USA Posts: 3,179	I'll definitely try, when Matt returns from Conn., to get him to help me out (: Maybe I can get one using someone else or a toy/stick/food before then. Great idea!!! __________________ Kymmey http://KaohzandKumatz.yolasite.com Mom To~ Dakoda (b/t GSD), Simi (b/w DSH), Nashoba (sable GSD)

11-09-2012, 06:53 PM	#69 (permalink)
GsdLoverr729 Knighted Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: North Ga, USA Posts: 3,179	LOL! Luckily, my two best friends each own a shepherd. And they understand my OCD nature completely. One has a working line, the other has an ASL. So we all work together on our stacking, learning about the sports, learning conformation, etc. One of them would like to get involved in SchH or SaR (I want to try SchH sooo badly!), so we both obsess over that. And my friend with the showline is more on the conformation/show side of learning. Sooo never alone :3 Matt, however, thinks I'm a lunatic __________________ Kymmey http://KaohzandKumatz.yolasite.com Mom To~ Dakoda (b/t GSD), Simi (b/w DSH), Nashoba (sable GSD)

11-09-2012, 06:54 PM	#70 (permalink)
Xeph Crowned Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: New Castle, PA Posts: 5,162	You know how I feel about Trent HE has a beautifully high wither. Your stacks have also improved greatly in the time you've had him. He is a wonderful representative of the breed __________________ Jackie and the Marcato Shepherds (and one cat) Strauss: The service dog Mirada: The Mogwai Wesson: The girl with a boy's name Mahler: The sporty sable Vixie: The plucky show girl Barrett: The Frikken Tikken

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