Doyle / DVG : is one of the largest Schutzhund organizations,started way back in the the early 1900's with close to 30,000 members,and it is comitted to training and titling dogs of all breeds from the largest to the smallest.
As far as where it fits into the Schutzhund world
it fits very well,and the one thing i like about it is that you are able to train ,title any breed. It would be good for you to visit as many clubs as you can and go where you feel like that you would feel comfortable to train you dog. The DVG web page is a good place to start your search.
Sandi Purdy is a good contact person. She has been with DVG many years,being the secretary,a judge and competes as most of the DVG Judges.Good luck on your search .Peter

One should expect to see the same style among the DVG helpers because they have a standardized helper certification.

I believe that the helper program's are needed for every organization. The helper is as important as the judge is during protection. USA is now leaning towards the same type of deal, as is WDA, which is long over-due. A step in the right direction. In the big trials in DVG the helper work is pretty much uniform.

There are several clubs in my area that are BOTH DVG and USA and as far as I know there are no disadvantages to this. Has anybody heard of any problems with double membership?
I agree that it is most important that you feel comfortable with the club first and formost.
Erin

This is a bit off topic from Doyle's original question, but it has come up in this thread.

I agree a good helper program is needed, as long as the people in charge make an effort to keep politics out of it. Which in my opinion is impossible, but a nice thought.

Now more to my question. Is cookie cutter helper work (like the DVG teaches) at large trials important?
As long as it is safe helper work and follows trial rules or procedures of course, I think it is much better to allow the helper to use his own style.
Style to me is something that is somewhat taught and comes natural to someone. It depends on the athletic ability and the persons personality and body type and of course who the helper's teach was. To me allowing the helper to use his own style is better for the helper himself, and it is more of a test on the dogs when it comes trial time. If you are trying to test the dogs why would you want the dog to see the same picture all the time? Let the helper bring his personal influence into the picture, see what the dogs do with it, this to me is more of a test.

I agree with Doug that the style of the helper is not so much an issue as long as he is safe, but rather the intensity of the decoy during a National level trial. This is where the focus should be along with saftey, and correct placement of the sleeve. However when getting to this level, the diffrences will lay in one's athletic ability I would think.

While alot of the DVG decoys are similar in style, there are differences due to the decoys own ability.

In regards to presenting a different and unknow style to a dog during a big trial, at that level the real challenge will be in intensity and athletic ability, not the fact that he/she is required to follow a program I feel and to follow a certain style so to speak.

With that said I have seen some great decoys in USA Nationals, and I have seen some poorer one's also. I have seen some weak decoys in bigger DVG trials, I however have not seen any real poor performances. I think that this in part has to do with the helper's program.

The best thing about a helper certification is you know who has it and who doesn't.