Appreciate the input, thanks guys. Fortunately (or not, depending on how you look at it) there's ZERO equipment fixation with my dog, so I don't need to have the helpers shed too much clothing. The balistics vest was a good suggestion, I'll be sure to use it.
Any thoughts on the metal reinforcement on the muzzle? (in reference to my original post)
In addition to a typical agitation muzzle, I got a new leather muzzle that does not have metal reinforcement, and so far it seems a little bit easier on the decoys.

muzzle (it's the one listed at $120)

Yep, me too !! Ed Frawley says they'll easily break your nose (or bite off a finger if the equipment fails) while fighting in-muzzle as well <:-O

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Um, OK, just wondered -- No dog I've known has ever noticed what anyone was wearing, or NOT wearing, but maybe these many canines have all been the exception to the doggie rule (?) Hmmm actually, I take that back, some alerted to folks wearing Halloween costumes, when they otherwise wouldn't have gotten defensive...

I would point out that the PDSs we have seen in videos running along with the suspect and who were asumed to be equipment-sensitive might be similar to a PSD running along beside a suspect in shorts and a t-shirt because they had been trained only on decoys in heavy jeans and sweat shirts.

Proofing means proofing. Let's offer our guidance to PDS trainers when we become PSD trainers. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

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Um, OK, just wondered -- No dog I've known has ever noticed what anyone was wearing, or NOT wearing

Do you have any experience in PPD training? or even sport training?

I'm figuring out that wearing shorts & a T-shirt is meant to train the dogs NOT to just bite the gear (or decoys wearing protective gear) -- Newbies also have questions here, but they often sound really stupid to ol' pros, sorry...

Yeah, please excuse any unintentional "advice" -- it was just me thinking outloud (never advisable!) sorry <:-(

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Yeah, please excuse any unintentional "advice" -- it was just me thinking outloud (never advisable!) sorry <:-(

LOL! Yeah, me too. I'm always inscribing my less brilliant comments on the permanent tablets of cyberspace. Fun, ain't it, to think of how we can look back in ten (or fifty) years and pretend it was someone else with the same name? <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I figure I will keep stumbling along for a few more years and then join the witness protection program. New name, new identity....... new log-in! <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Yep, next time I'm coming back as the DOG in the muzzle -- much less chance of saying something TOO stupid <;-O

In muzzlework the helper often wear a protectionvest to protect kidneys and ribs, like you can see at these pictures,
http://www.lindjax.com/onsdags%20traning.htm

Stig,

I like the one where the guy is only wearing running shorts. Thats gonna leave a mark!

Candi
Matt makes a more than valid point in ref to decoys being sparsely clothed for muzzle work. I can tell you that when you send a dog to bite for real and your life relies on that dog, you better do everything you can to ensure success.
When my dog had been on the street for abaout a year I had to send him on a convicted murderer who escape from prison. It was summer and the guy was wearing only shorts and a tank top. The guy was fast like greased lightning and had a 50 yard lead on me in no time. My dog hit him full speed in the back and all I saw was a cloud of dust. Imagine my horror seeing him get up and run again. When I caught him and a scuffle ensued, my dog had a clear shot at his legs and wouldn't bite. You can bet I fixed this problem immediately and in about a month I was involved in a similar situation with a fleeing suspect dressed the same way. This time the outcome was much different.

I'm not defending Matt's advice because he is a cop...I am supporting it because he does what it takes to finish a dog for the street where the stakes are life and death. Yea, it hurts like hell but you do what you have to. This same goes for PP dogs as well if you expect them to save your arse. Just had to throw it out there.

Howard