[Woody Taylor]

What do you all suggest here? Videos, seminars, books, experiences etc. that would get one up and running to be on the angry end of the dog without getting the dog's owner angrier. I think my schedule will free up enough later this summer/fall that I can start getting into this more consistently, and would appreciate your input.

 

[Bob Scott]

All of the above, but learning under the eye of someone who knows what they are doing would be my best suggestion.
I'm 60 yrs old, and have only been taking bites for a year or so. This has been under an excellent TD.
I do short bites and bites in the blind.
Although I'm in pretty good shape for my age, I have no intent of standing at one end of a field and waiting for some dog to play "BOWLING WITH OLD GUYS"! Not to underscore how bad that could be for a dog. Timing, timing, timing!

 

[Lou Castle]

When I've taught new decoys how to take bites I've taken them into building with me when I hid. I put them into a corner and stood in front of them. This allowed them to see the dog's body language and mine as well. I'd talk them through what I was doing. This also gave me a good feel for whether or not they'd make good decoys.

 

[Selena van Leeuwen]

We usually let new decoys (to be) see some excercise. Then take a very experienced dog (who will not get to disturbed if anything goes wrong). Than start from a little distance while an experienced decoy is talking the new one through the whole exercise.

 

[Connie Sutherland]

If anyone has training video clips involving good helpers, I would be very grateful for links.

I'm studying them so I can help our club make a shift into SchH. We need a decoy/TD.

We are such newbies that I/we don't yet know how to watch a decoy working and assess him/her.

For example, I get to watch some police dog training, and the trainer tells me the decoy is very good. But they don't have time to show me how and why he is good. (He is not available to our club.)

I need clips of decoys who someone here says is good.

 

[Matt Hammond]

I think the best way to learn how to decoy is to do it. It is best to learn on older dogs that know the game they are alittle more tolerant of mistakes. A new decoy can really mess up a young dog. I was lucky enough to have military dogs to learn on and a good batch of people showing me how to do it. Now Schutzhund helper work is a whole other animal. The couage test can make or break even the best helpers. I learned from a dude names William McClure in South Carolina. It was like going back to boot camp and he was worst then any Drill instructor I ever had, but looking back I am glad for it. I learned how to safely work dogs, he taught me how to read a dog which is so important in the game you have to be able to see and know what the dog is doing and know what drive it is in to be able to work it.

I know some of us don't have this so my suggestion would be watch the decoys at trials and on videos its not as good as first hand stuff but you can pick stuff up.

So of the best decoys around will tell you that the best way to get the experience is to just do it. You have to get over the fear of the bite first (and we all had it) and relax into the work.

If you know of a good decoy close to your area ask him/her if you can come and learn if they say no then they are not that good. Now I am no Ken Hungerford or Chris Carr but I have had some suit and sleeve timeI weclome anyone that wants to learn and is motivated to learning to come and stop by and put the suit on and give it a go.

Another way to learn is find a wise old trainer they can give you some pointers too. One thing to remember just because someone is a good TRIAL decoy/helper does not mean they are a good TRAINING decoy/helper.



Now Poll question of the day,
Who do you think are the best decoys in your sport.

Here is my Hall of fame list.

Schutzhund:
Lewis Lundy, SC
William McClure, SC
Marcus Roseinsomething, GA
Tracey Betenbaugh, GA
Chris Carr, PA

Street Ring:
Ken Hungerford, Fl
Scott Whigham, FL
Jay Murphy, FL
Chris Duhon, NC
Jason Samples, NC

PSA:
Bill Blondin, TX
Darryl Richey, TX
Grayson Geyer, NC

any one os these guys can take a dog from nothing to something. and do it safley which is the most important part, and any one of them can show a new decoy the ropes.


Matt Hammond
Quality K-9 Concepts

 

[Matt Hammond]

Also if you can any time you do get in a suit video tape ti. It will help you out down the line.

 

[Jeff Oehlsen]

What sport are you trying to do? and also like Matt said TRIAL, or TRAINING, or BOTH?

If it is Sch, go to a club, they will help you. If it is ring, Teo Mariscal is a good decoy instructor. Look for his name doing a seminar. There is another I have heard of Jullienne. Maybe I can get his number, but I hear that people in europe won't use this guy. Used to be a gymnast of some reknown or something.

So, basically, if you are a pretty good athlete (what other people say not what you daydream) shouldn't be much of a problem. Computer nerd? Well...................

 

[Woody Taylor]

What sport are you trying to do? and also like Matt said TRIAL, or TRAINING, or BOTH?

Training for Schutzhund stuff right now. Just basically want to be a helper to learn more. And yeah, a guy from the local club who's helped me out with Annie before has told me just to show up. Just a function of not being able to take off those chunks of time right now. Damn kids and their silly needs. ;-) This guy had also said there were some seminars for new helpers, he just also said they werent' that common in MN/WI/IA. Have any of you messed with the Leerburg helper DVDs?

So, basically, if you are a pretty good athlete (what other people say not what you daydream) shouldn't be much of a problem. Computer nerd? Well...................

:lol: I ran the Duluth marathon (first time and LAST time...marathons suck!) in 3:41...that was 25 pounds ago, though.