Cattle Dogs for Schutzhund/Ring Sport
- Thread starter MelissaCato
- Start date
Hummmm
I don't understand why you think I "need" a club to train. I have my own set-up on my property for my needs. A club to me is pre-trial events,socials and Trials. Kinda like my horses.. they learn at home and compete with others afar.
I found a link for yall to see a owner decoy his own dog.
www.sitmeanssit.com/blog
The video to see is of Ashton Fitzgerald.
I'm not the only one to decoy my own.
PS. I have no affiliation with sitmeansit.com but a simple request to forward his link to you.
I don't understand why you think I "need" a club to train. I have my own set-up on my property for my needs. A club to me is pre-trial events,socials and Trials. Kinda like my horses.. they learn at home and compete with others afar.
I found a link for yall to see a owner decoy his own dog.
www.sitmeanssit.com/blog
The video to see is of Ashton Fitzgerald.
I'm not the only one to decoy my own.
PS. I have no affiliation with sitmeansit.com but a simple request to forward his link to you.
Point of being part of a club is so you can train on a regular basis, have proper judgement on what you are doing from a different perspective besides your own, and have proper help, both decoy and group.
Some clubs tend to lean more towards more common breeds but a good club will welcome any dog with proper obedience, temperment and defense/prey balance. A dog that does schutzhund has to be a fine balance, and the experienced trainer should assess all of that before allowing the dog to start the sport.
In addition, a dog that YOU are handling the dog wont go to its full potential, also being behind the sleeve isnt for everybody if it is done improperly theres alot that can go wrong, not only to the decoy but the dog too, another thing that confuses me is how you could do a send out, escape, or an escort drill solo
Some clubs tend to lean more towards more common breeds but a good club will welcome any dog with proper obedience, temperment and defense/prey balance. A dog that does schutzhund has to be a fine balance, and the experienced trainer should assess all of that before allowing the dog to start the sport.
In addition, a dog that YOU are handling the dog wont go to its full potential, also being behind the sleeve isnt for everybody if it is done improperly theres alot that can go wrong, not only to the decoy but the dog too, another thing that confuses me is how you could do a send out, escape, or an escort drill solo
Theres alot to decoy work, and alot of people underestimate it, not only do you need to face the dog that can look very impressive at times, but also the actual taking of the bite and technique is very important
Anyone can get bitten on a sleeve, but it takes a certain level of knowledge and skill to get it done properly, and not taint the dogs training
Anyone can get bitten on a sleeve, but it takes a certain level of knowledge and skill to get it done properly, and not taint the dogs training
W
A good friend of mine, who's been around much longer than I, used to do his own helper work in the early 80's. He had nobody to do the work for his own dogs, not that was worth anything anyway. So out of necessity he had to do his own work.
It's not ideal, and would be better of for almost eveyone to NOT do it, but he did and has a funny story to tell because of it.
He had to teach his dog the hold and bark and would down the dog away from the blind, pick up a sleeve, walk into the blind and give the "voran" command. The dog would come in and do a bark and hold.
He was showing at a club trial again for Sch III. He put his dog in the long down and walked away and hid in the blind, like you're supposed to do. The dog downed for a bit, then ran to the blind and started doing a bark and hold on his handler. Of course he lost the points for the long down, but still passed the trial. I'm not sure if this was the dog he took 2nd at the USA nationals with or the dog after him. I wish I would have been around to see that, the judge was quite amused I guess.
It's not ideal, and would be better of for almost eveyone to NOT do it, but he did and has a funny story to tell because of it.
He had to teach his dog the hold and bark and would down the dog away from the blind, pick up a sleeve, walk into the blind and give the "voran" command. The dog would come in and do a bark and hold.
He was showing at a club trial again for Sch III. He put his dog in the long down and walked away and hid in the blind, like you're supposed to do. The dog downed for a bit, then ran to the blind and started doing a bark and hold on his handler. Of course he lost the points for the long down, but still passed the trial. I'm not sure if this was the dog he took 2nd at the USA nationals with or the dog after him. I wish I would have been around to see that, the judge was quite amused I guess.
I cant wait for the trials to start in my area, I am learning decoy work and training from an experienced schutzhund club, and would love to observe some other decoys at their best, always something to learn, and would be cool to catch some tips from some of the top decoys too. As I said before anyone can take a bite, but its whether you do it properly that means everything.
How is she progressing in her training? Have you decided which route you are going to take with her? 
Our first and only pre-trial was at a club in Cape May, it was a Brevet Defence Clinic with junior handlers and she didn't do to good at all. She wouldn't down for a minute, all she wanted to do is round up all the people with her tail waggin' and come check on me.
She had a wooping total of 70 points.
Christopher was very disapointed that day.
I've since had her spayed, she'll stay herding at the farm.
Thanks for asking.