This week i know of two dogs in two different protection sports that have had one or more teeth ripped out by bad decoy/helper work. I'm wondering how often this is happening. I realize that there are occupational hazards but we all need to keep the dogs health and safety in mind at all times. All dogs can be broken. Let's keep the egos in check.
I am curious about this as well as thinking that there should be some sort of punishment. I have not seen a lot of dogs breaking teeth, but the two times that I have, not a whole lot could be blamed on the decoy. I wonder how much of this comes from kooky decoys, vs genetic factors, or external factors like chewing tennis balls ect.
Sammy Blondin Webboard User Reg: 12-03-2002
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I think it can happen with even the greatest of decoys. All it takes is for the dog to get his tooth hooked in the jute on the sleeve, or the linen on the suit and no matter how great the catch is.. bye bye tooth! There is nothing in the world a decoy can do to prevent that.. other than using no equipment that is <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Yeah Sammy, they could use no equipment, but then they'd still get blamed when a dog snapped a tooth off in their arm or leg after it hit bone at a funny angle with the dog going high speed! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />
What about blaming training instructors and handlers...instead of decoys. I've seen more than a few teeth lost due to "ego" bite scenarios drummed up by instructors/handlers, where the dog is forced to hang...too long...on a sleeve, or where the handler/instructor asks the decoy to "Pull HARDER against the dog. It will firm up his bite!"...on a jute sleeve, with the dog back tied. I think it's rare if it's the decoy's fault. Additionally, I think that for the most part decoys should be admired, loved and PAID!!! Too many people have NO idea what it means to take an upper thigh bite from a hard-biting dog.
Regarding loosing teeth, too much frequent pressure on a tooth can cause the seat to weaken gradually, until it reaches the "Oh! Damn!" point, where the tooth is lost. The tooth needs to rest for the seat to strengthen again. This is entirely the handler's responsibility.
Decoys don't work in a void. Usually the handler or instructor gives direction. Obviously, the handler should know (or have discussed with the helper) where his dog is at, what he wants to accomplish "that session", how he wants to get it done, and WHEN to stop...before he begins work.
Most decoys do their best and really want to please, even if they lack experience and|or ability. A dog's loosing a tooth has nothing to do with a decoy.
The decoy complainers for the most part, are usually soap opera types, out of shape, that don't know how much effort it takes from the decoy to avoid being used as an excuse for a bad, or badly trained dog.
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