As I continue to read and learn more about the working dog world, I'm becoming more and more aware that I'm falling in love with it, and need to begin training soon.

I'm motivated to work hard and learn as much as I can, but the immediate obstacle I see is that I do not know where, or how to start.

A few people have made suggestions(who/where for training) and I appreciate that very much, but the obvious fact remains that I am a newbie, novice, know-nothing right now and I admit it. I plan to explore the suggestions fully, but I don't feel confident in my ability to discern quality from crap right now.

This is my basic question, I am primarily interested in personal protection(self/home), but also SAR and therapy. I feel based on my reading that there is a real difference between sport and serious work(though I like everything), so how do I, without experience to guide me, discern the sport from the serious? Are there any fundamental principles that will ensure I'll find a quality program, and avoid the crap?

I don't have a dog right now, and do not plan to get one until I learn alot more. Does not owning a dog prohibit me from participating in a dog club?...even if only to watch and learn?

Lastly, if not having a dog prevents me from learn to train/handle a dog, could I be permitted to learn how to become a decoy? What is the process of becoming a decoy...Do I need to take classes and pass tests? Or do I simply go down to a club and learn through apprenticeship?


I apologize if these seem like overtly naive questions. I'm starting from zero.

Andy.

I did exactly this many years ago what you're planning to. I joint a dog club without having a dog and I started to learn to become a decoy there. There was a breeder in the club and after about 7 month of membership a got my first GSD from him. The gained knowledge helped me a lot. I also read tons of books before I got my dog. Very good start.

Andy,
While there's a shortage of helpers/ decoys, one of the most important skills ( next to safety ) is the ability to read dogs in all phases of their work. You'd be at a real disadvantage not actually owning a dog while trying to become a helper/ decoy, because you learn from *both* sides of the leash.
While I've belonged to clubs that had members without dogs, those members were all just inbetween owning a dog - I can't think of too many training clubs that would approve a new member for membership that didn't actually own a dog.
Plus, it's a lot of time and effort to train a helper/ decoy and I can think of a lot of reasons not to put that kind of effort into a non-dog owning person, it'd just seem like there would be a higher chance that they'd be less dedicated and drop out ( you see that all the time, real life has an unfortunate way of interfering with dog training )
Just stuff to think about...

We're getting ready to run a decoy camp for Law Enforcement pretty soon and we'll have a civilian decoy camp this coming spring ( I'll post details on the forum when the dates firm up ) , plus DVG has a fair amount of Helper seminars in Florida, so there is training going on in your neck of the woods. Plus ASR is holding decoy training and certification in the days before most of their trials, and the ASR season will be the busiest for Florida yet. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Any of those might be a good choice to go and observe to see what the work looks like first hand.

When and where are the Helper seminars in Florida going to be? I am going to the one in Ocala on the 29-30 of October but am not aware of any others in Florida. Let me know as the other seminars come up.

First thing I would do is stop talking about Pit's so much. It would probably help people to take you seriously. I'm not saying that pit's can't be good dogs, but the truth is that the image that comes to mind of somone interested in protection sports and pit-bulls is that of an inbred redneck hillbilly that wants him a mean dog.

Thanks very much for all the suggestions.


Jason,

Why would I stop talking about the breed I love and will work?

Pit Bulldog advovates are slowly trying to change the public opinion of the breed, through responsible ownership and involvement in positive activities such as the canine sports(schutzhund/obediance), and public service(therapy, SAR). Thats why I'm here, to learn alot, and be able to use my dog(s) as an example for the breed.

If at anytime I have come across as confrontational, I apologise. I try not to take this too personal, but I have a hard time sitting on the sidelines when people trash the breed.

If people cannot take me, or the breed I like "seriously" because of their prejudice, then its not my problem.

If people do not take me, or the breed I like "seriously" because I'm a novice, and need to keep my mouth shut. Then I'll work on that. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> LOL.

Jason,

I am not a PB lover and would never own one… primarily because I find them to be unattractive. Before you went on your PB rant over the last couple of days I may have even supported the idea of banning the breed as I have heard just way to many horror stories about them and basically thought they were useless to society.

However… the conversations over the last couple of days now have me re-thinking and I like that. I think left and right have an obligation to present their opinions and present their facts. It is true that the breed has gotten a lot of bad press which has shaped the opinions of the breed. Everyone is always so eager to post the nasty ugly heart wrenching stories but you never hear a word of good. That is true no matter what the subject is. Society is fascinated with the ugly side of life… sad but true.

Now… my opinion is still undecided and I still know I would never own one just as I would never own a poodle, but I have appreciated some of the information you have presented.

I was also quite shock to see that the GSD is considered the 3rd dangerous. If you ban one breed… which breed will be next? Rots… GSD etc? This forum is a great place to share opinions and different perspectives and if I don't like the subject or the post... I just don't read the post.

Correction,

My post was meant for Andy not Jason. Sorry

*OFFICAL NOTICE*


Ok ya'll.
These threads are not all going to become a pitbull rant. While I appreciate the concern and love folks have for their chosen breed, it's not needed to have that discussion end up in every thread.

So, please take this as a notice - if the threads keep ending up like this, they're going to be locked and/ or deleted.
Now please...back to discussions about some other topic *besides* pitbulls, and this is going to be the last comment that I'll make before I start having to moderate more strictly.

Will Rambeau
Moderator