Over in the USA does a Person who is Interested in the Job as a Pakwerker have to take tests verbally, Written, and Practical to become Qualified in the Job as a Helper or known over here as a Pakwerker, or can they just put on the gear and become one

Steve I know in Canada that in French Ring the helpers/decoys need to be certified to be able to participate in trials. I understand that it is 2 or 3 day course to get certified. So it depends if you want to participate in trials or not as a decoy, that's the question. I'm pretty sure that the credentials that you'd bring from a different country could be easily transferred so you wouldn't have to get recertified if that's what you mean.

That being said my FR coach did a stint over in Belgium apprenticing (not sure if that is the right word) in protection dog training. He is not certified by the Canadian Ring Association as a trial decoy, but has all the kit and uses it in our club training where his extensive experience makes all the difference in the world for our clubs dogs. In our club we also have a level 1 decoy certified who is really talented, though he gets lot's of guidance from our senior coach who is not certified. Hope that helps a bit ..

Edited by Geoff Empey (11/30/2007 11:58 AM)
Edit reason: grammar

Different venues have different regulations. DVG requires that you attend (I believe) 2 helper seminars, have 1 year of apprenticeship experience at a DVG Schutzhund club and get certified under a judge. I also think there is a minimum requirement of decoying at a club trial minimum of once per year, which means a judge is watching you perform every year to make sure that you remain capable of performing as a trial decoy. If you screw up badly, the judge will pull you from trial, which ain't good. I've seen it happen.

Schutzhund USA is a little easier from what I understand, where you can get certified with a decoy seminar and certification or something like that.

No written tests.

Bare in mind -- this certification shows that a decoy is capable as a TRIAL DECOY. Not a TRAINING DECOY. There is a huge difference. A Trial Decoy knows how to catch a dog safely and perform the physical motions required in trial, as well as have the physical endurance to work dogs.

A training decoy has no required certifications and is all down to the individual and their own efforts to learn how to work dogs.

Nothing written that I am aware of, since trial certification is basically a test of ability and technique, not testing if the decoy can actually train a dog.