I am new to Schutzhund and have a question: I bought the 1995 and 1994 Bundessieger videos from Ed and the 2001 and 2000 USA Nationals; watching the protection phase, I noticed that in the Bundessieger, when the dog hits the sleeve, the helper catches him and then in one movement moves the dog away from him. It makes it look like the dog hit the sleeve harder. In USA, just about every time the helper catches the dog and keeps his arm in the same place...Is this a rule difference, a helper preference or something else?

I meant to say in the courage test of the protection phase......

What you are watching is what helpers and competitors call a diffrence in the helpers style. There is no rule diffrence that I am aware of.

Thanks Michael, do you think one style is better than the other as far as what is good for the dog when it hits the helper? And is one style going to get higher points than another?

Hi. Could you explain a little more about what you watched?

Although different styles are certainly more flamboyant than others, there is a big difference for the dog. A dog should NEVER be "caught" in a direct, frontal impact style. This leads to neck, back, dentition and various other SERIOUS injuries. Conversely, there can be too great an emphasis on the "bull fighter" style also. The happy medium is a method whereas the dog is allowed to perform at his maximum potential and there is dispensation of the kenetic energy from a dog "hitting" the sleeve. Some dogs don't allow you to take them down an "alley" so to speak. They hit straight on and there is little you can do about it. I like to leave me feet a split second before contact, only about an inch or so, in effort to allow the dog to take both of us back a little bit so there is no battering rams effect.This is not a leap or jump, just a slight separation between my feet and the ground; in a techique similar to that used by receivers in football when they anticipate contact and are readily able to regain control of thier direction and progress. Study the tape again, foot work is as important as the sleeve presentation and subsequent action. Try to watch Al Milner in action, IMO one of the very best.

Thank you Trooper for the info....to Michael: I noticed that in the Bundessieger, in the courage test, the helpers hold the sleeve a little higher than in the USA nationals. The dogs come at the helper at a full run and fly through the air. When they hit the sleeve, the helper moves his arm away from him and places the dog down on the ground in one fluid motion, then drives him. In the USA, the helper holds the sleeve a bit lower than in the BSP; consequently, the dog does not have to leap up to bite. Also, the USA helper does not move the dog away from him and then set him down to drive him; he catches the dog and immediately starts driving. In the USA nationals,most of the dogs hesitated before hitting the sleeve: it's as if they are calculating whether to jump up or run into the sleeve. In the BSP, all the dogs had to leap up to hit the sleeve, and virtually none of them hesitated before leaping to bite. I'm not trying to imply that the BSP dogs are better or anything like that, I'm just wondering why there is this difference.....Also, maybe the years have something to do with it: I watched the 1994 and 1995 BSP, and the 2000 and 2001 USA Nationals and compared the two......

I have to agree that the European helpers I've seen and worked with typically keep the sleeve high to catch the dog, while many American helpers start running at the dog with it high, but change it in the last strides to waist level. Can't help thinking that it affects the dog's speed at the last moment because he was aiming high and now suddenly the target has moved and he doesn't even need to jump. Frans Slaman, Jack Schurmann, and other European helpers have explained in seminars that it is not only easier on the helper to catch the dog if he leaves the ground, but that it is much safer for the dog. If the dog stays on the ground and only reaches up for the sleeve, his neck is hyperextended (reaching up) and prone to injury, but when they have to jump for the bite, the spine stays straight as he reaches out, not up. They also say it is much easier to turn an airborne dog smoothly than one that takes the bite low.

I've just started helper work in the french ring style. I was surprised at how difficult it was to move around in a full bite suit with a dog on your leg and stick work to do. After six or seven attacks I was huffing and puffing like an old cancer patient. I'm sure that I looked like I was in slow motion also. I actually fell on the dog my first day. It didn't slow him down any. The good helpers make it look easy as hell. But, I would take sleeve work anyday over suit work.

Welcome to the board Sch3FH2. If my suspicions are correct on who this is the board will surely benefit from the extensive knowledge and experience that you will bring to this board. Again welcome and feel free to Private Mail me with any suggestions or concerns.