Julie
I use the AB400s at ISO 100, F8 and 1/200th. I set them up 10 feet from the subject and it's like clockwork. For black dogs, I might open up 1/2 a stop; for white dogs I might close down 1/2 stop but generally speaking, the manual settings work for almost every breed.

You should try shooting both on a tripod and hand-held. I find that hand-held works great when someone else is baiting the dog. A tripod is a better alternative when I have to bait and shoot as well.

BTW, the sweet spot on my lens is F8 so that's what I aim for when I set things up. If yours is F6.3 or F11, then that's what you should set up for.

One other thing, if you're working close to the table, you might want to put a small reflector in front of the table to kick back some light under the dog's chins.

Nice shots,

Jim