Glossary

Stack

The standing pose a show dog holds so a judge can see its structure, set by the handler (hand stack) or held by the dog on its own (free stack).

Also called: stacking, hand stacking, free stacking, show stance, stacked

To stack a dog is to pose it standing still so the judge can evaluate its outline. The legs are placed squarely under the body, the back and tail are positioned as the breed standard describes and the head is held up. A hand stack means the handler places each foot and holds the dog in position, common for terriers. A free stack, or free stand, means the dog is trained to stand by itself on a loose lead and look alert, often used with bait to hold its attention.

Stacking lets the judge see features such as the angle of the hock, the line of the back and the height at the withers. It is a basic skill in conformation and in junior showmanship.

A stack is only a show pose. It is not a command that pet owners need to teach, though some like it for photographs.

Last reviewed November 8, 2026

In the index now

Related terms

Conformation A dog show event in which each purebred dog is judged on how closely its structure and movement match its written breed standard. Hock The joint on a dog's hind leg between the lower thigh and the foot, roughly the equivalent of a human ankle, used in judging structure and movement. Withers The ridge between a dog's shoulder blades at the base of the neck, the standard point from which a dog's height is measured. Junior showmanship A show competition for young handlers in which the person, not the dog, is judged on how well they present and handle a dog.