Video with the helpers for the WUSV 2005 World Championships:
http://chienplus.com/wusv2005/video/VIDEO%20HELFER%20WUSV%202005.WMV

Official web site:
http://chienplus.com/wusv2005

Cool <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> Thanks for sharing~~!

Cool Video! Not knowing much about helper work, it's interesting to see the different styles.
(with music right out of Cirque du Soleil <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> )

However, I find the official site annoying; never was a fan of "flash"... and of course English, the unofficial language of the Internet, is the very last language listed.
Figures.

Congratulations to Ed the breeder and Randy Rhodes with Wessex vom Leerburg 95 track on the first day.

Just wondering why the dogs had to be hit repeatedly while in bite command? I've not seen that much needed was there an extra reason in this trail?

Valerie,

Are you talking about getting hit at all.. or do you mean it appears to be excessive? It depends on what you are asking. As far as the latter it is certainly no where no near excessive. If you look closely at the stick they are using (clatter) its more about the noise than the hit. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

 Quote:

Just wondering why the dogs had to be hit repeatedly while in bite command? I've not seen that much needed was there an extra reason in this trail?

I hope they are hitting the dogs with good strong safe hits. The threat and the resiliance to pain is important. Now don't get all PETA on me here.
Saying the dogs should not be struck is like telling a lineman in football to lighten up on the blocks.
Dogs that are successful and of the correct character ENJOY a good fight. To water down the test by being oh sooooo gentle woud cause the lesser dog to show better under trail conditions. Remember the whole reason we have these GSD Ch. is too find out if the breeding is producing working dogs, working entails strong fighting instincts, good nerve strength, and resiliancy to duress. in the long run the ability to calmly and with power handle the strong threat from a simulated perpetrator results in steady, safe, powerful working animals. Take the stick hit away and dogs whose nerve strength is poor (which are the dog sthat bite kids and are unreliable) become more prevelant in the breeding population. Sooo, hit the dogs! But, with properly placed strikes that stress the dog through intimidation, discomfort, and not injury.

Ok, that gives me some understanding. I asked because of a Doberman I had years ago. He was a big Dobie his shoulders came to my belt I'm 5.2'. He was about 1 when he was found lost and nothing but skin over bones. However I quickly learned he had some sort of guard or attact dog training. This one a very sweet and gentle dog that was VERY confused. The first few days where a bit rough I made some major mistakes and got knocked down repetedly, then he would look confussed. Once I pick up a stick to throw for him to go get but before I could he came at me not the stick. He gab my arm I went flying backwards and we just sat on the ground and look at each other he still had a hold of my arm. He didn't seem to understand any words like release, drop it, no, down, sit, or come. He would not wag his tail and his eyes where blank.
There was a day though that he jumped on me and I yelled OFF his ears went up and he dropped to the ground. I remember thinking wow he understood. As time went on he learned his name and my words he even jumped in front of a moving cart that would have hit me. I didn't tell him to and he could have been hurt, he was protecting. He never offered to bite to harm and after I learned the stick had been used on him at some point I alway kept things at my side, not knowing what he had been trained.
This dog was not mean, but was fearless. He was 120 pound at good weight and all power. It took over a year to get him to wag his tail,but after he trusted me and me him,we had many a play times chasing each other in the yard sevral times he would leave the ground jumping straight at me he had the control to grab my arm light enough he never make a mark but he could have. It was quite a site to see him fly through the air. I had great respect for this Dobie. The only time he would get up set was if someone raised a stick, I would yell OFF and he drop but he'd not be happy. Who ever attempted to train him I don't think they know what they where doing or what they had.
Thanks for answering my question I've wonder for a long time.
This great dog died 5 years ago. But he was one awesome dog.

the stick "hits" really don't hurt the dogs at all and only screen out the weakest of dogs. even a dog with questionable nerves can be trained to accept the stick hits as part of the "game" (prey drive stuff)...

"off" or "auf" (not sure of the spelling) is the Belgian* command for "platz" or "down". That's why the dobe hit the ground. I'm sure there were a whole bunch of other funny sounding words he would have responded to as well.

*A linguist I am not, so that my not be the accurate description - my experience has been with dogs we've had in our club that have come from Belgium, and for them "off" is "down".