Well......that was certainly an interesting training session we just had. Let me explain...

We are training my male GSD for the blind search ( still just 2 blinds, he's 14 months old) He is 100% during the search using the hanging ball trick but the addition of a helper in the blind leads to him running directly to that blind. No problem there, I can fix that easy with a long line and practice. However, my helper has other ideas...

Let me first say that this is not our full time helper, he is just a fellow that hangs around at the different clubs in my area and catches dogs because he likes to. No problem there, it's just when he tries to get involved in giving you training advice that bad things happen. So Mr. helper wants to show me the "correct way" to do the blind search. With Fetz. Who hates him. While Mr. helper is still wearing scratch pants.

So I hand Fetz over on leash to Mr. helper who has our back up helper go into the blind. Mr. helper gets into position and starts the dog on the blind search. Fetz does a great search and then heads to the helper. Unfortunately he goes to Mr. helper, not the helper in the blind. He promptly bites Mr. helper on the chest above the scratch pants while Mr. helper is trying to block the bite with the padded stick. I would have interviened but I was laughing too hard at this point. Mr. helper is screaming for helper in the blind to snap the whip to get the dogs attention, which finally occurs after Fetz rebites Mr. helper on the right arm. I then walk to the blind and took control of the dog as I sensed that Mr. helper was no longer interested in training my dog any further for today.

So what did we learn for the day?
A) that you should *not* do dog protection training as a handler while wearing protection gear - it can confuse a dog. ( I already knew this <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> )
B) My dog will do real world bites - ( I knew this already also )

“Things a smart helper should not do…..” is work with a dog trainer that doesn’t insure the safety of the helper and welfare of the dog.

I agree. Mr. helper became the trainer when he took control of the dog. And the humor of the situation was such that I couldn't respond very fast.

And any comment about the welfare of the dog is assine as you were not there to see the event. At no time was the animal in any danger. Save the stupid comment for someone who cares.

just curious... why would you give your young dog to someone for whom you obviously had no respect?

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Before this thread gets out of hand, I think I'll close it.

Little Fetzy sounds like a real cute dog. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />