Okay, Brandi and I made it to our 2nd conformation class.  This time there were other dogs, including 2 poodles, 2 boxers, a bulldog, and an Ibezan Hound.  She did really well with the other dogs, so I don't have the dogzilla I thought I might.  I've got a few questions...

1)  Is there any kind of lead/collar you like to use on rambunctious pups, or is it all personal preference?  I had some leftover leads from 20 years ago, when I took classes.  I have a martingale style, but my instructor doesn't seem to care for those.  I have a Resco Simplicity that I've been using during class, but the clasp seems to slip up on it, with my rambunctious 8 mo. 45lb pup.  So I'm having nightmares of that little string lead breaking during a show or the clasp moving and her ducking out of it.  I'm probably making her sound like a ball of fire, but she's just being a pup and leaning into the lead on the trot, trying to sniff the floor, getting squirrely playful sometimes, etc. 

2)  Do you use a word for them to stack?  I hate to have too many command words, if I don't need them.  I am a hunter primarily, and had thought about "Whoa" after the hand stack.  But then I certainly don't want her thinking she needs to stack in the field, if I happen to whoa her on a point.  Will she just associate the environment and task with stacking eventually, with no command necessary?

I use a kangaroo leather (material it is made from) slip collar and a matching leash.  I got a bit bigger collar for my boy than my girl.  ( I think my girl's is 1/8 inch and my boys is 3/16 inch).  Here is where I bought some of mine: www.kelpproductsofflorida.com/kangaroo%20leather.htm  They usually have booths at the shows in my area.  I haven't had any problems with the collars or leashes breaking.  If you treat the kangaroo leather with a leather conditioner it also softens up really good and you can easily bunch the leash up in your hand if you need to. 

I train obedience and field as well as conformation.  With my girl I used the stand/stay command that I taught in obedience and it worked beautifully.  She did get to where I didn't have to tell her once stacked.  I also taught her to step and back up so that I could adjust her when free stacking on the down and back if needed.  Never needed it much as judges moved through that portion of the work quickly and I think were looking more at fronts and backs than the free stack.  With my boy I use whoa for the stand/whoa in obedience/conformation and I use whoa in the field.  I tried two separate commands, stand/stay for obedience and conformation and whoa in the field, but that didn't work well so I went to whoa for all standing work.  He seems to be able to differentiate between the venues with no problems. He actually does a nicer free stack than my girl ever did and I usually just whoa him on the down and back and he straightens up on his own.  In the field he has never tried to stack himself on a whoa.

Thanks for the advice.  Boy can lead/collar choice make a difference.  Last night, I ditched the Resco V clip style lead because the clip was moving open on me.  So I started class with a corded martingale I had.  At first, I thought Brandi was just a wild child because it was the beginning of class.  But she just wouldn't quit, and was constantly choking herself.  It was like the collar was ineffective, so she was leaning into it and fighting me way too much.  So after a few rounds, another classmate loaned me a show choke chain and lead.  We put the loop down low, and I had a completely different dog instantly.  Although the stinker started scratching at her neck.  So I think I'm going to try an inexpensive slip lead for now, and see how that works out.