How and can a decoy/helper can change the score of a dog by his our her actions during the event.

If for example the decoy goes easy on the hits on some and not all. How is this handled when observed during competition.

I have no personel interest. Just trying to get a few views from this Board.

The only thing I can suspect is it's similar to the judging. Some things can be done, for some people they cannot. It would probably be who was disliked what and how much influence they had. Like any event or where politics enter into things.

I've heard lately that many people don't like the hard hits, this is unfortuate because of bringing out the fight drive. I hear this is what needs to be done to really see the dog's performance. From what I've learned the Reed Stick should be used again, if that's what will help bring out their fight drive. I'm for what produces, I don't back the Reed stick necessarily if there's a better way. I've heard that's a sensitive subject. My interest would be what makes the dog the best it can be.

For the decoys that have any personal vendettas, my view is this. A person has a responsiblity for the dogs sake. Someone that did anything to sabotage someone for personal or business reasons, not only hurts the dog/kennel itself, but the breed productivity.

It would be horrible to see someone take a great thing in many peoples lives, as well as their own and corrupt it. This is like puppymill types, people who do anything to cost the breed for fast cash.

There's always going to be some degree of this in anything. This brings me to a question.

Once things are on a certain level, should the dog be broken in competition regardless of the decoy's actions?

Inconsistancy is something that you just deal with in a trail. Nobody is perfect, if you feel you have taken a hit in points because of the decoy. . .you will get yours back some other day.

Bad catches suck in trial. Little mistakes also can have an effect, like jamming the sleeve into the dogs mouth.

Are there elections for Schutzhund with Judges and Decoys?

If there is a problem with the DECOY not driving hard enough, or sticking hard enough, the judge will (in most cases) instruct him on what he wants done. Alot of judges will have the decoy (in USA) demonstrate his ability and iron out any problems before the trial starts. If a stick hit is very weak, the judge may ask for another hit during the trial or the dog/handler team will pay for it in points. Now with the new helper seminar and book deal, I am not sure what the future will hold. In DVG at all of the local trials I have been to, the decoys all applied a moderate level or stress on the dogs. I feel that this is the standerd for DVG club trials, as I have seen this at manny trials. In DVG there is a helper certification process that a decoy must go through before he can work a trial (all though, a non-ceritfied decoy can work a local trial, all though it is uncommon) thus creating a uniform system, to a degree. Moat DVG decoys drive a dog pretty much in the same style; the difference comes down to the abilties of the decoy.

Judges go through a training program that last years in most cases.

As far as jamming, or decoys falling, or steping on thh dogs; it happens, and thus the dog should just go on.

Part of the point of a local club trial is to earn titles on dogs and have fun, so weakers levels of threat are tolerated at the local level in order for this to occur. It is rare to see the level of threat at the local level that one would see at the National Championship, even if the decoys were National Championship decoys.

 Quote:

Originally posted by Crabtree:
How and can a decoy/helper can change the score of a dog by his our her actions during the event.

Well, let's see, there are a few ways if the dog isn't fully prepared. Stepping on the dog's feet (painful) during the courage test could cause a dog to come off the sleeve and there go points. What about that slap with the stick across the front feet when the judge can't see, lesser dogs might come off the sleeve, and there go points. Turning too early on the courage test, making the dog miss the sleeve entirely. Poor sleeve presentation, just enough to make the dog have a crappy bite. VERY hard stick hits will make a lesser dog balk too. What about an "accidental" stick hit to the head. All kinds of things you wouldn't expect to happen in a trial, but a good decoy could pull off if he had a grudge against someone or a piss poor decoy would do without actually trying to.

There are more subtle ways a helper can influence the outcome too. Purposefully initiating the reattack when the dog that is guarding is in the worst position - like a dog that jumps up in the face has zero chance if you initiate while he's airborne; even the bouncers will sometimes get a crappy grip if you move quickly into them in a true "attack" move while they're on the down bounce. Dogs who put their front feet up on the helper as they freeze up for the out will often have great difficulty outing unless the helper, as he locks up, muscles the dog into a feet on the ground posture. If you wanted the competitor to have a tough time, you just let the dog pull your sleeve arm around to your hip and let him brace himself against you. Even if the helper positions the dog correctly for the out, if he gives hard eye contact AND keeps pumping his arm inside the sleeve, the judge can't see it but the dog feels the fight is still there and some will be very slow to out.

Moral of the story: don't piss off the helpers!