Well seemed like general conversation would be a good enough choice to place this since I was not sure this would fit in other subject areas.
I am finally back into a schutzhund club and I am now bringing my 2 year old male GSD. All his obediance training has come from me and he has no protection work of any kind. Last Sunday was his second exposure to the schutzhund field and his first exposure to working with a helper.
The helper stood behind a blind and I stood "like a fence post" onto the lead. The helper tried to tease my GSD with a tug on a whip (forgot the name, just a long bite tube on a flexible pole).
My gsd's reaction was hackles up, deep bark, then move back behind me , then a little forward then back again. Basically a seesaw action, forward retreat. he did not retreat enough to put any tension on the line but rather positioning himself to the left and back of me. Then he decided to just ignore the helper as if he did not exist (no hackles, just plain ignored him). He then decided to pay more attention to someone walking up on the field then the helper just a few feet away. Once the person had moved off the field the helper managed to reingage with my GSD, the helper teased my gsd with the tug, after a couple misses my gsd finally bit hard on the tug. I ran him back to the vehicle all the while my GSD holding the tug in a full bite (no chewing, shaking, just a very firm clamp down with the rear of the jaw). as soon as he got to the vehicle he dropped the tug.
I have confidence in the helper, having known him for several years as well as his having worked other GSD's of mine. The helper seems to think my GSD just does not yet know what is expected of him. Also we had two females in heat on the field as well (but removed from the field when working the males).
I have always started out working with pups (not pups as in starting protection but starting them in schutzhund) rather then bringing a 2 year old.
My GSD has excellent prey drive and is usually a very confident dog. any thoughts?

All that you discribe, sounds good to me. The trainer is doing all that he can do at this point. You should play tug of war with the dog as much as possible. I dont like the dog backing up to you. That is fear. And you dont want that so go slow with him. If you try to go to fast and the helper scares the dog you could have some real problems. Go slow and let the dog get the idea of what is expected. Getting to carry the sleave or tug back to the car is the dogs reward fo a good job.

Ron

well I have been playing tug of war with hime since he was a pup. We discussed my playing more tug with him including with a bite tube but the helper decided instead to only play tug with the helper for now. The helper's thoughts on this is that the dog is confused as to what is expected of him, considering new location, new dogs, females in heat, new people, strange smells etc. He figures that once the dog gets more use to going to schutzhund training and figures out what is expected of him. Though the dog backed up several times, he did finally come around and to the helper the dog appeared more confused than anything else. Any backing up is not good of course but the helper did not seem as concern as I about it

One thought that came to mind, in a pack is the alpha the one that protects the pack and decides to engage what is perceived as danger or a challenge? I asked because it seemed as though he was looking to me for permission to engage the helper.

You say your dog is normally confident, so if he is comfortable and confident in a group of people, I would try this, it has worked well for me with dogs who are not used to playing/tugging with anyone but the handler. Have a bunch of club members sit together in a group, bring the dog out just to hang out in the group. You start out playing with him in the group, you can stay sitting and just pull him up on your lap, etc. If he's comfortable with that and is eager to play, pass the toy or tug off to the person next to you and let them play a minute with him. Eventually, the helper gets the tug and plays with him, still in this comfortable, familiar setting. Before you know it, you can work your way out of the group, but be sure to quit while the dog is still very comfortable. In just a couple sessions, the dog will start to view the helper, the people, the tug all as precursors to having fun and he won't feel threatened.

Update
Thus far Bruno (my GSD) has had 3 training session. During the first session , there was no helper but in the last 2 meeting there has been. His first exposure at the training field he had his hackles up when meeting club members and refused any of their treats. He recovered quickly.Bruno and I retrieve with his favorite toy and that seemed to settle him down. Next meeting was a little different. He was fine with members he had already met but very cautious to those he had never met. We did a little obedience on the field and he did very well. The helper, who is also the TD, decided to do a little bite work with Bruno. Bruno's reaction was that of backing up behind me, hackles up, basically doing a see-saw motion but trying to keep me between the helper and him. After a few minutes of this he completely ignored the helper. He was more interested in a person walking up on the field then the helper just a few feet away from him. Eventually Kenny (the helper) managed to get Bruno to engage him again, eventually Bruno took a bite into the tug (full bite, now chewing). As soon as he did this, we ran off the field. There were also two females in heat that had been on and off the field prior. The 3rd session (yesterday) was better. Bruno was more at ease, very few times did he raise hackles. We started with a play session on the field , then obedience, and then play again. While Bruno was in a long down, Kenny decide to test Bruno's reaction to pistol shots. All that Bruno did when hearing the shots is perk up to see what the noise was. Even the pistols shot a few feet away, Bruno remained steady. After a little break and cooling down, Bruno was placed on a tie out. Other dogs were brought onto the field and worked while Bruno watched. Meanwhile I stood a few feet behind Bruno and made sure he did not get tangled. Very different picture this time. Bruno lunged hard at the helper. Never did he back up. Pretty much working in defense says the helper. Bruno ignored the sleeve and was locked onto the helper, except for one time in which he switched his attention to the sleeve that was rolled in front of him but out of reach but then quickly switched back to the helper. So Kenny says he did manage to switch from defense to prey drive momentarily. The helper did not allow Bruno to get a bite during this session. When Bruno started getting tired , the helper had me gradually drag off Bruno from the field. The helper believes several more session like this and Bruno will be allowed a bite. The helper states there is no doubt Bruno would have taken a bite if he had been allowed. The helper plans on doing a couple more sessions like this before allowing Bruno bite.