Step 1 - POSITIONING THE DOGS FRONT
First you will place the dog directly in front of you. You will GENTLY place your open hand under the chest. Place hand DIRECTLY behind the front legs firmly but gently. With your other hand hold under the neck at the collar or wherever it gives you the easiest way to support your dog. GENTLY lift dog's front half off the ground. You only have to lift them off the ground a few inches. This will make the dog's front legs drop evenly onto the ground. Gently lower dog to the ground and their front legs should be in the correct position. MINOR corrections may be necessary see step 2.
Step 2 - FIXING MINOR FAULTS OF THE FRONT LEGS
If correction to the front legs is needed follow this step. If correction is not needed you may proceed to next step. To correct minor positioning you may grasp the dogs forearm and lift of the ground. Wherever you place the paw back onto the ground is where the dog should keep it. We do this because you can almost use the dogs paw as a pointer and put it exactly where you want it. We grasp the forearm because it is hard for the dog to reposition their feet when you have a hold of their forearm. This is also the easiest way for a child to position the dog IF dog is too heavy for them to lift. A child can easily position the front end in this manor by doing one leg at a time. NOTE: MAKE SURE DOG IS DIRECTLY OVER THEIR LEGS. WE WANT STRAIGHT LEGS UNDER THE BODY AND A DOGS CHEST WELL OVER THEIR FRONT LEGS.
Step 3 - POSITIONING THE REAR LEG CLOSEST TO YOU
In this step you will take the REAR leg that is closest to you and grasp it by the hock. Gently lift and slide it either forward or backwards. Positioning this leg depends upon where the dog had it when you started this step. You want this foot positioned DIRECTLY below the hip bone. You can feel your dog's hip bone at the end of the back and beginning of the croup. If you position this foot to far forward it will make the dog appear uncomfortable as well as making it look as if the dog stands on its hock rather than foot. THIS IS NOT A NATURAL POSITON FOR THE DOG. If foot is to far back you will not give the viewer a true picture of the dog's angulation. In the GSD's stack we can get a good idea of that dog's movement. This depicts the natural motion of the dogs gait and is the NATURAL stance of the dog. POSITIONING IS VERY IMPORTANT. A well structured dog can look bad with bad positioning.
Step 4 - POSITIONING REAR LEG FACING CAMERA
You want to grasp the rear leg at the hock. GENTLY slide leg back till the hock is at a STRAIGHT 90% angle. This leg is VERY important that it is in the correct position. To far back and it will exaggerate the angulations of the dog as well as be uncomfortable. To far forward and dog will not be able to hold its balance and dog will be uncomfortable. This leg show's you the TRUE position of the dog. It will depict where the foot is at the last moment that it is on the ground while in motion. It will show the dog's TRUE structure IF positioning is correct.
Step 5 - FINAL REPOSITIONING
Check to make sure that dog is still in the stance that you have put him in. If you have done it correctly the dog will not tend to move as this is comfortable as well as natural for them. Of course with the beginner dog they do not know what you are doing or what you expect from them so it may take a few times to make them understand what you want. Also the stubborn or young dog can prove a challenge. Again there is the chance that if you are also a beginner the dog is not stacked correctly and is not comforatable and is moving because of that. It is not always the dog's fault. Once you are happy with the positioning place your hand under the back of the dog's jaw at the point where there neck meets the jaw. You may even pull the collar up to right behind the ears as well as grasp the collar under the jaw and that will give you control of the dog. Next you will pull gently forward to make them stand over their front legs correctly. Also raise the head in the natural alert position. It may help to have someone stand in front of them with a favorite toy. This will get their attention and they will allow you to do almost anything.
Step 6 - FINAL STEP
QUICK TAKE A PICTURE BEFORE THEY MOVE!!!
Repeat as needed. Do not get frustrated as this will take some time for you as well as your dog to understand. PERSEVERANCE IS THE KEY.
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