Chicks doing helper work? - Page 9

My helper is a woman, I must say though she has tremendous upper body strength.  She is doing all the foundation work on my dogs as the nearest club is 200 miles away each direction (east/west) she has titled several dogs though and done helper work for several years.

Palf

Palf-  I must give credit where credit is due and I applaud any woman who has a. the gutts to get out there and take bites from big powerful dogs and b. has the ability and strength to do it.  I'm probably gonna get lynched by some of the ladies but it's just my personal feelings that yes women today can do just about everything men can do but there are some things we just can't do as good as they can mainly because we aren't as strong or physically capeable.  With Sch I think the dog gets a bigger challenge with a big strong guy that looks big and bad to the dog.  I seriously doubt I could intimidate a yorkie let alone a big GSD. lol However, I've always felt that if someone has a passion to learn something they're interested in doing then by all means they should get out there and try it.  If the only obsticle to overcome is the physical strength there's nothing to say you can't get yourself into shape to build the strength.  BUT I think the biggest challenge is to like someone else mentioned; that it will be tough to get the guys to take you seriously enough to look past the part of being a "girl".  Unfortunately it's reality; I work in a male dominated industry and being a "boss" who's a woman is difficult for many to get past at first glance.  I almost have to prove that I'm just as knowledgable as they are but just not physically capable of strapping on a tool belt to do the job as well as they do; not to say I couldn't do it, but it sure would take me a hell of a lot longer. lol  I've had women work on the field for me in the past, working side by side with men who give them their props for doing the same job- but truthfully I have yet to see a woman be able to produce as well as the guys do.

I still think that girls should go out and do the work, but honestly, there are a lot of dogs that won't take you seriously. I think it is important to go out there and learn what it is you are looking at. I know that the girls that decoyed in my old club had difficulties getting a dog to take them seriously, but we are not really needing all the silly macho teeth baring, like Sch. LOL  Most breeders are women, and honestly, many that I have met cannot read a dog very well. Kinda makes breeding hard when you cannot read a dog, so I encourage all women to do this work.

However, many women trainers have good ability to think outside of the box, and do contribute in that aspect quite well.

AgarPhranicniStraze1

I agree with you.  My problem is I don't have access to a male helper, that said I have taken my boy to an excellent helper to make sure he would take on an intimidating helper as I too agree that they often won't take a woman as seriously as a 6'2" male helper.  (course its not just women, my old retired SchH3 male did HORRIBLE helper work on weak helpers and when he had a 5'6" male helper he just obviously didn't htake him seriously :(. ) Anyway I do test my dogs on other helpers and he is doing fine (When I can I try to go to Spokane and have Willi Pope work him).  This particular male doesn't care who has the sleeve just loves the sport.

Palf

If you think that it's your height that gives you your presence while doing helper work you really don't know "how to read dogs." 

A women is completely capable of bringing that presence to the field that elicits aggression.  It has nothing to do with her height, but with her attitude.  I've seen it myself with my dog any my mentor/breeder/helper.

It it not just the attitude.  Dogs, like all animals, read body language.  Size, in this case, does not matter.  Body language is an extremely important aspect of being a helper.  You can change a dogs drive from prey to defense with one move.  Understanding bodie language goes hand in hand with reading dogs.  You have to know what the dog is giving you and vise versa.  You have to realize that you are sending messages to the dog with your posture, etc. 

QUOTE :

A women is completely capable of bringing that presence to the field that elicits aggression.  It has nothing to do with her height, but with her attitude.  I've seen it myself with my dog any my mentor/breeder/helper.

Not been my experience at all. Haven't had a dog that took a woman seriously. I would have prefered them to, but just have never seen it.

I wonder if it is something that the dog must see as a puppy??? If you guys are having luck with getting defence, cool. I have no luck. Had some pretty frustrated decoys though.

Perhaps, it is the woman invovled?  I've seen men that cannot bring out the same responses as others.  One of my favorite helpers is 5'10" and probably 175 lbs.  He is quick, athletic, reads dog better than most, and can get the most out of every dog.    If he wanted to, he could put as much pressure on a dog as a 7'   300 lb man with a 2 ' mohawk. 

I am not saying that size is the deal, the gender is the deal.

Gender is NOT the deal.  The individual IS the deal.  My point was that some men cannot elicit a response.  Aren't you one of the people that posted a picture of a woman working a dog? 

Sometimes these posts get old and stale.