Chicks doing helper work? - Page 3

Last year my club put on a helper certification. 9 out of 11 got certified>>>> one was a "late 60 somthing" female! Kudos to her and all the wemen with a passion to go for what they want......at any age!

JoAnn Letcher

While proper technique will help move the dogs correctly, it still takes strength for large dogs that won't just go along for the "ride". Whether it's for the drive or a big dog who dumps on the escape.

I'm not sure where you are, but you may want to get in touch with Anne Kent from Alder Stien.  I believe she's in California, and she does helper work.

The USA now has a helper list.  If you click on the tab for the training helpers, you could get in touch with one of them and see if there is a seminar coming up and attend.  Not everyone that goes to those has YEARS of experience.  I attended one as a spectator earlier this year.  It was a supportive atmosphere and very positive.  Everyone is new at some point and most people understand that.  Is that to say that there isn't ego involved for some?  Nope.  But people like that will never truly be successful in my opinion because they already think they are the "poop" and won't learn anything past what they already know. 

Good luck to you! 

Kristan

Yvette,

If you are serious, there are a lot of people out there that are willing to teach. If you have someone like your own helper, that is the best way to learn. Make sure you trust the handler and his/her dog before you do anything too crazy. I can't tell you how much it helps out if you know the handler will be mindful of their dog.

When I started a few years ago, it was out of necessity. Now that I am with a club with great helpers, I just do little stuff to help out, but mainly for me to learn. There are several things you can do besides building grips and catches.

I think working out your upper body at the gym will help a lot, don't forget the legs too if you intend to do a lot of drives, and becareful with your back.

If you keep your safety as well as the dog's in mind, with a sense of humility you will do fine.

Take your time, listen, and work hard. Everyone starts somewhere.

You'll be amazed at how much you will learn about your own dog and dog behavior in general looking at them from the other end. One of the best benefits!

Best of luck,

Julie

Thanks for all the words of encouragement!  I'm going to search the USA website to find helper seminars and I'll keep an eye out for one in my region.

Concerning, my "professionalism" or lack there of, I've got to laugh at some of the comments.  I'm a chemical engineer, leading major improvement projects at my chemical plant.  All day long I've got to "act professional" - dress up in nice clothes, crank out technical reports, and proofread every stinkin' email for grammar, spelling, content, and efficacy. 

This is "business me" in Japan eating lunch with customers - all dressed up, makeup,... BLEH!

This is the REAL Yvette... Rolling on the ground, and cutting up with my dog on the training field between sessions.  I can't wait to get home every day and rip off the stupid dry clean only business jacket and stop using all the "politically correct" language that I'm stuck with during the day.  So pardon my lack of professionalism on the boards.  LOL

The biggest thing needed is TRAINING helpers, and the funny thing is that if you can read a dog well, you can do a lot of really good work without having to take a bite. Just being able to put the sleeve on is for shit kids, it is the good quick reading of the dogs, and proper timing of the reward, whether a bite, or a run away, or a scream, whatever.

For me, the last thing that a new decoy should learn is to use the sleeve.

Probably just too silly for most though. I just think that if I can get them to read the dog and not worry about stupid sleeve presentation and all that BS, then the rest is gravy.

Jeff,

Good post.  Talk to me about reading dogs.  I'm a novice, right?  So how do I learn to read dogs?  This has got to be a tough one to verbalize, as there are not likely any kind of clear "rules" involved.  So how do I develop "the knack"?

Yvette

No offense there Jeff but without proper techniques you will never be able to teach a dog correct targeting. Period. Granted there are plenty of things a helper can do without a sleeve but to say a the last thing a helper should learn to use is a sleeve is a might melodramatic don't you think?

Sorry forgot to sign my name to the above post.  Keith Jenkins.

go yvette!!

i don't mind your "lack of professionalism" if that's what you call it!

from one "dog chick" to the next!