I am interested in how the handler contributes to the training picture too in this regard.

By "choreography" Kevin are you referring to the verbal command to activate the dog in barking and verbal encouragement to continue. Can it also mean "pressing" the dog by pats to the side during barking?

Katie

It isn't so difficult to understand. If the decoy and handler are on the right page and the same page. During the formative stages of the work the handler must be able to recognize the appropriate behaviors from his/her dog. Of course simple things like letting the dog know that the handler is with them when they test the use of fighting instinct or defense to force the withdrawl of the decoy. later it is the dog initiating with an immobile decoy such behavior who then reacts through retreat, getting smaller, or even later stepping up for the fight and then strategically loosing as the dog uses what tools are available to it to drive the suspect down and or away. The fine details are too complex and variable to give a formula like a cookbook.

During this who;e process there developes, according to plan the ability for the handler to tell the dog what the next skill is and for the dog to have conditioned the correct use of drives during that response. We do this all the time with other responses...we recognize a dog scratching at the door to go pee and let it out and then tell it it did a good job. Combat or defense is as natural for the genetically correct dog as peeing. We just have open the door for it when it initiates.

Yes, this sounds simple and if the decoy and handler are educated and they work as a team to allow the dog to learn it works. Too often the decoy takes the dog through the paces, makes prey and gets response and continues this path. Never thinking that there is more to offer.

I listened to a Judge and oft competitor respond to a question about building prey, his answer if a dog presents with 60% prey and 60% of its available combat behaviors I have a 120% whereas if I stick to the prey process I only have 100% at best. An interesting way to look at it.

Bottom line is trying to overlay defense or combat over a strong nerved dog trained by the decoy/rabbit is difficult at best and seldom produces much more than a nervous prey dog. A prey dog with strong foundation placed at the appropriate time in development of a genetically correct dog will provide a happy vigorous serious sport dog or dog for practical application.

Thanks for that answer, it makes a lot of sense. We want the dog and handler to set the stage and not a dog chasing a decoy/rabbit through out it's whole working life.