The first reason I am learning to decoy is because I want to know how to decoy a dog correctly and learn how to bring out the best in the dog. This way, I know what to look for in a helper for my dog.
If you do not know what to look for you may end up with a helper that jams necks, does not allow the dog to get a nice full bite and so on. I am new to this so forgive me if I did not list more. And if I have said things that are incorrect.
The second thing is, it is DANG FUN!!

I got started because I was curious to see what it was like on that end of the training, and I just got hooked.
I know that I am small and will never be a champion at it, but I do love to learn about it.

Plus, I have watched some hard hitting dogs that got to a woman and stopped, did a bark and hold and had to be told to bite....they were a little confused at that. Looked at the decoy and handler like, "It's a scammin ole girl, why should I bite her?"
I do not think it was bad training by any means, just a new experience for the dogs. After that they hit like they were supposed to.

Dang fun, eh? Bless your heart LOL

What you said about dogs that got to a woman and only did a hold and bark is EXACTLY one of the reasons I thought it was wrong to use a woman as a decoy, and professionals, please correct me if I'm wrong, but I've always thought a dog is a lot less likely to attack a woman. They don't seem to WANT to do that. Isn't that a good thing? Do we want our dogs to be able to attack a woman?

I'm questioning myself on this...in a real life scenario a woman could be an attacker and I'd want unquestioned protection from my dog if she was bigger and badder than me. On the other hand, it's not likely a woman would be an attacker out of the blue.

But if she had a gun or knife and all you had was the dog?
We have more fights in my area between women than men....crazy huh?
( I think Fetz or Arras would eat anyone though... )

Shortly, I won't only have a dog (well, granted a 9 mo old pup ) cause I'm learning to shoot with Red Thomas (a forum member) and will get a gun as soon as I'm very efficient and educated with it (not before). In the meantime, I carry pepper foam

Shot an M14 the other day....accurate as heck rifle. Not that I'll be carrying that :laugh:

 Quote: Sandy Moore

Shortly, I won't only have a dog (well, granted a 9 mo old pup ) cause I'm learning to shoot with Red Thomas (a forum member) and will get a gun as soon as I'm very efficient and educated with it (not before). In the meantime, I carry pepper foam

Shot an M14 the other day....accurate as heck rifle. Not that I'll be carrying that :laugh:

Right on!! I carry a Glock 40 or a Sig Sauer .380 OR a Sig Sauer 9mm with me.

COOL CAROL

I really appreciate you posting what you did about being on the helper end of training Carol. I've been learning about helper work for the very same reasons you posted (including the fun

As for Arras not caring about woman or man, I do believe you are right on about that, and I'd like shake the hand of any woman who wants to put a sleeve on for that dog. Man almighty...I even shook James' hand...

I have seen a woman do an alright job of decoying, but I did not say I was a decoy. Big difference between learning what it feels like to have a dog on you and being a decoy!! The reason so few women are decoys is most women don't have enough upper body strength.

You were clear about not being a decoy, I understood

Now the difference you're talking about is, I figure, all the nuances of the training aspect in decoying.

The body strength you mentioned was the other reason it didn't seem feasible for women to be decoys. For me personally, strength in my legs would be a severe disadvantage, even if I was younger. I can see me getting immediately knocked off my feet, hit my head, and be in a coma for a while. You gals that have slipped that body suit on are brave.

Sandy, there have been several women that have attained DVG certification as a helper. Heck, I've attended helper seminars which had a 50/50 ratio of men to women training.

Why in the world do you believe that a dog would be less likely to agitate on a woman? I'm interested in your idea of this.....