I'd like to learn some of the techniques for catching a dog on the sleeve and the suit, can some of you tell me how you do it and maybe some of the rookie mistakes most people make. I know jamming is bad, but that's about all i know,
Thanks in advance,
AL

i had no idea it was so involved until i watched the "escape" dvd my friend ordered from leerburg. i think it is one of those things you need to see, the dvd critiques every part of it. i got overwhelmed just watching it let alone trying.

Al,
Of course your number one priority should be safety at all times. And that applies for the dog, the helper/ decoy and the handler.

More and more, I see that back tying the dog and teaching the new helper to "catch" by just having him advance to the dog ( after he has learned the proper presentation tech., of course ) is the easiest and safest way to start a green decoy/helper.
This method keeps the distances to a known degree, and that's a big help in the beginning.

A lot of what a green helper/ decoy should be practicing should first be done *without* a dog during the learning stage - it's much easier to learn and remember the angle of presentation for a sleeve when you don't have a dog running at you.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I agree with Will, you have to start without the dog. A great thing that I was taught was a little bit of Judo, the whole balancing thing, you really dont have to know diddle about it and you get the hang of things, its all in the foot work and timming, you have to absorb the dog. Also if you know anyone who has kids, let them run at you and swing them <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> May sound pretty silly and look silly, but kids love it <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I just started catching dogs when I went to club. OTJ type training.

1) Dont jam the dog, absorb the dogs' impact either by a toe raise lean back or pivot to off sleeve side, so keep the sleeve high with a decent presentation

2) Prey always moves away or lateral to the dog; so learn the difference of the prey bite vs the defense bite


Some people just dont have the physcial capacity to do this work, or athleticism, no matter how much good training they get. It really gripes my a** to have people on these boards complain about new decoys/helpers. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> Well everyone was new at one time or another and you never quit learning. I have seen plenty of video on the web that was pretty cheesy from folks touting all this experience in the dog world

I am learn something new everytime I go. I am getting alot better reading the dogs, but I have a long way to go.

Good luck

The easiest way is to find someone who you know or see and consider to be good at it and have them work with you. I'm lucky enough to train under a USA teaching helper that happens to be an excellent trial helper along with being a fantastic training helper.

The most effective method he used to teach me was to hang a heavy bag (boxing) from a rope on a tree branch. You swing the bag, then you move towards it – slowly at first, then building speed as you learn. The bag swings towards you, you move into into it, present the sleeve, plant and spin, the goal being for the bag to "touch" in the middle of a level bite bar gently and "stick" to it as you turn your body out of the way and the bag goes on past. The ideal being once again gentle contact, your body moving to the side without moving the sleeve or "bugging out" early, and the bag continuing through without any significant changes in speed or direction.

It sounds complicated, but it makes sense once you see it start to work. Again, I recommend going to some trials and finding someone who you (or others you trust) view to be a good, safe, helper and asking them to help you learn.

Good luck.

Forgot to mention - the bag is a great way to practice catching to both sides. The last thing you want to do is learn to only catch to one side or the other, because trust me - eventually you will meet a dog that aims center mass (meaning no matter where the sleeve is, they're hitting you) and if you telegraph, try to turn too early, or are only comfortable going one way, someone's gonna get hurt.

Here is the link to the helper program for the USCA. http://germanshepherddog.com/members/newhelpprogram.htm
Click on the program download and scroll thru some of the red tape stuff, towards the bottom you will see a technical section, I think it starts around page 20?
Their was a lot of effort put into writing this info down, it is pretty descriptive of how the exercises should be done. But, that is just a small portion of what you need to do to get good at this. You need to find a local club and see what kind of helper they have (just because someone owns a sleeve or a suit and is a "club helper" doesn't mean they should be teaching anybody anything) and maybe email some of the USCA helper committee members and see if they can recommend someone in your area? The committee members emails are listed on the USA web site.

Doug

Thanks Doug for that link. I was looking for something like that on the DVG site

We receintly had a helper certification seminar at our club. At 60, I have no intention of becomming a trial helper, but seeing and having all the footwork, and everthing explained was fascinating. When done correctly, it's like watching a martial arts kata being performed. It's an art form!