Dog Community

Awesome Decoy Seminar

Posted : 3/26/2007 8:51:52 AM

So this weekend my pup Shaka and I went to a great PSA event. It was a decoy certification/competition. Shaka was an absolute star. His focus and drive were unbreakable. He probably hit the sleeve 70-80 times and still was ready for more. Every single time he hit the sleeve with same, if not more, intensity than the previous time.

It was also cool because I got to see Shaka's uncle, sibling, and grandmother work. He has unbelievable potential. His uncle has more fight drive than just about any other dog I have ever seen work. He almost has two much. It took 5 people to get him off the first bite he took. The decoy ended up having to take the suit off with the dog still atached...he just wasn't going to let go. He listened better after that was resolved, but he was absolutely unstoppable. I think you could put just about any pressure you wanted to on him, and he wouldn't be phased.

I also learned a ton this weekend. Alot of the discussion was about foot work, catch technique, etc...there was a lot of focus on the details. There is such a big difference between a training decoy and a trial decoy. I was having a really hard time not helping the dog. When we are training, our goal is to build the dogs confidence and make him look good. In trial, the goal is the exact opposite. A few times this weekend, when I felt the dog coming off the bite, I would offer him a little prey so he could regrip...it is really hard to resist the temptation. I am going to up the pressure on my own dogs from now on. I have been taking it way to easy I them. Lucky for me Shaka is a nautural, but my mal and border collie need to toughen up some.

Socs (my BC) was pretty good this weekend. No one expects much from him so when he hits the sleeve people are shocked whether it is a good bite of not. He has been having major chomping problems. He keeps slipping off the bite and then rebiting in places that he shouldn't be (groin, butt, calf, etc.). I got some good tips on how to resolve it. It seems to be a herding breed problem, and with him it is hard to stop because he is so fast.

Anyway, it was an awesome event.

Xeph

Posted : 3/26/2007 2:45:14 PM

You always have the most interesting things to say about SchH and decoy work. I love reading your posts. Very informative (even when you don't mean them to be), and always an attention getter :-)

Glad you enjoyed yourself! What breed is Shaka?

Mic Foster

Posted : 3/27/2007 7:00:21 AM

I don't actually do SchH anymore. My focus is on PSA, and I am trying to learn PPDA (PPDA is biteless protection work...basically all muzzle work).

I am really trying to help define an orgainsation that represents what I enjoy doing. For a long time Personal Protection trainers were kind of looked down upon by the training community. The SChH, Patrol, Ringsport, etc. all thought they were superior, and then came along PSA. An entirely protection based sport, that requires more from the dog than all of the rest combined.

There were about 5 SchH dogs there this weekend, and none had ever participated in a PSA event. There handlers were confident that scenarios would be no problem....turns out they were wrong. 3 of the 5 ran of the field. The other two ran towards the decoy, but wouldn't bite. I am not saying these dogs couldn't be trained to the same level, I just thought it was great that there trainers thought they were already there.

Anyway...sorry for the ramble...my dog Shaka is a Donovan Pinscher (really just a fancy mutt). Domonic Donvan (trainer out of NYC) has been trying to develope the "super dog" for about 30 years. They are a cross between a Mal, Pit, Mastiff, Amercian Bulldog, GSD, and a few others. He is trying to take each breeds best working attribute and combine it for the perfect working dog. I personally think he is getting very close. Appearance aside (they are pretty ungly), they are amazing. He breeds strictly for health, temperament and working ability.

There are only maybe 100 or so at this point, but a few PD's have tried them out and been very pleased.

Xeph

Posted : 3/28/2007 12:42:54 AM

The other two ran towards the decoy, but wouldn't bite

Did they go into a bark and hold, or?

Can you tell me how PSA is different from the other sports? I don't think it's something I'd ever dabble in, but it does sound interesting.

Mic Foster

Posted : 3/28/2007 7:10:40 AM

PSA is a sport solely based on Personal Protection. The idea is to demonstrate that your dog can defend you in ANY situation against a single assailant. I kind of consider it the martial art of K9 training. There is an obedience portion, but that is mainly to prove you have total control of the dog.

Here are some examples of scenarios we do on a daily basis. I am sitting in my car with the dog in the passenger seat. The BG "bad guy" approaches the car asking for directions. Next thing I know there is a (paintball) gun to my head (carjack scenario). The goal is to use the dog to defend yourself with out either of us getting shot. At the appropriate moment the dog will be told to packen and take the BG down with a chest/shoulder bite.

An even more basic scenario is I send my wife out on a walk with the dog in downtown. I set up a BG to run by her and steal her purse or assault her from behind, the dog is either sent in pursuit or defends her from the BG.

Another important factor is the courage test. Basically, the dog and I are walking towards a BG. At about 25 paces he starts charging the dog, screaming, shaking clatter stick, firing blanks, throwing buckets of water, spraying him with a hose (whatever it may be that day), at 5 paces the dog is sent on the BG. In PSA the BG can strike the dog twice. You would be shocked at how many dogs will run off the field when being charged.

There are lots of other scenarios, but those give you an idea. I love going to the trials because you don't find out until the day of trial what your scenarios are going to be. Basically, your dogs gotta be prepared for anything.

The SchH dogs that didn't bite basically went into avoidance because of the amount of pressure put on the them.