Start this on a grooming table. Try to set it up with a mirror right across from you. Put the choke that comes with the arm as high as possible on the neck. Just behind the head and jaw line but in front of the thick neck muscle ridge. That is where the choke collar always belongs even while walking the dog and where you get the best control. Pull the arm up so it is extending his neck. Make sure that his front legs are squarely underneath his shoulders with nice spacing between the front legs. Extend the dog's rear legs. Have the rear legs slightly place behind him so that the top line is nice and flat. Not too extended or it looks like the top line slopes down in the rear. Make sure toes are pointed forward. You may have to turn a foot occasionally. Tickle the tail so it stands up. At first they may tuck their tail down even tightly but this is why you continue to do pull it up. It should stand quite nicely after a bit of practice. Only practice will make it better. I tell them "TAIL UP" in a nice calm voice. Keep your voice calm while doing this a too excited one will break the pup's concentration and he will just start wiggling around too much. If you have a male you must also touch his testicles. A judge will do this when they go over to dog and you do not want it to startle them while in the ring. Look in the mirror to check your progress.

Bait the dog by showing him the bait but only giving it small bits when he is standing well for you. Say "EASY" nice and calmly so that he does not take fingers with the bait. Now try baiting them down that means while neck is extended up pull bait down in front of them so they drop the head a bit. Tell them "STAY" in this position. They should already be learning stay in the down position so they know more or less what it is you want. Then give them a treat and love on them. Then you can use a more excited voice and let them know how pleased you are. We practiced this on the table with them even when they were small pups so it is not so strange for them. Try some photos while they are up on the table in this position it will let you know how you are doing. Be sure to send me some too I can help you see what you need to do.

Now that the dog understands what it is you want him to do stacking on the table, and you now know what you are trying to accomplish you will find it easier to do the same while they are standing on the floor next to you. Their head facing toward your right hand always. Left hand toward the tail. Set up a mirror across from you and see what you are doing. Also try to have person who knows what you are trying to accomplish stand there to let you know when you have done well. Take a look over the top of the dog and you may see things you might not have noticed while on the table. Adjust his front legs so they are nicely place under his chest and shoulders, with all toes facing forward in front then the back legs should be slightly behind the dog with the toes also pointing forward.

It is just as it sounds like. It is accomplishing the stack without setting the dog up at all. Some judges will ask you to do this in the ring so it is important to work on. Practicing the stack as I talked about above will help with this. Stand in front of them with your arm with the lead extended properly. You can have them take a step and just walk into a stack free baiting them.

We use all sorts find what you dog loves but give it sparingly when you are training you always want it to be special to the training time so when they see you with that treat the know what it is you want from them.

ShaQ only baits well to liver. We boil it the dry it in a low temperature oven. He only gets this treat when he is going to go in the ring or when he was training for the ring and only in small amounts. To this day if I boil liver he gets so excited. Liver is very rich. Too much of it can give them very loose stools. At dog shows I always try to bring a box of converted (dry) rice. I put it in the food to help absorb such looseness that can follow the show either form just the dog being away from home, nerves a bit or too much bait.

You can use a favorite a squeaky toy or ball along with the treat. ShaQ he had a favorite mouse we used. One that he only saw at the show right before entering the ring that is the best thing to do save this special toy just for that occasion. Roz also had a favorite pooh bear squeaky that she loved to show for. Rarely you will see a judge that does not want any bait used in his ring. For those times the squeaky or toy is very important.

Conformation class will help you a great deal try a local kennel club or training facility.

Go to shows watch the ring and see how the professionals do it. We learned the most by watching the best handlers.

We found through our experience that finding some friendly standard schnauzer, occasionally mini or even terrier people can be very helpful at times. They know what it is that we are trying to do and can have a good eye. While too many giant schnauzer people see you as their competitors and did not really want to help may even hurt your chances on occasion. I have seen some bad things happen just before a show so do be careful what giant people you get help from. I have seen really bad grooming "tips" and even spooking a dog happen. Some of these people take this way too seriously they may see you as a threat. (We have never been like that I always have helped other giant schnauzer people I think there is room for friendly competition and just try to enjoy shows)

Hope this has been helpful Info intended for our pups. Do not share this please