Thread: advice with suit work

Hi Nathan,
the way I understand it, now I know very little.
The decoy helps build up your dog. The decoy has to tease the dog to the point the dog wants him that bad he bites. The dog at the same time on a long lead I'd do it. The decoy gets close but don't let the dog get him, even let the dog chace but not catch. The decoy is a big part of building a dog or ruining it.
I haven't trained a dog in this yet but learning before I give it a go.

I think I would use a suit but not for biting until the drive and fight for it had built up. But not sure if this is the right thing.

regs ena

Hi Nathan

I am not sure you can really learn how to carryout aggitation/bitework correctly from written text. You really do need to learn by watching and getting live advice from an experienced decoy/aggitator. As Ena correctly points out.. a decoy/aggitator can make or break a new dog.

I would watch heaps of vids and experienced decoys live. But more importantly have an experienced decoy watch and monitor you so he/she can point out what you are doing wrong before its too late. Even have someone video your decoy work, so you can play it back so an experienced decoy can point out what you are doing right, and what you are doing incorrectly.

The number one priority a decoy has is to read the dog correctly, and fully understanding drives and drive thresholds for each particular dog he works with. Especially for new or green dogs.

If watching vids, don't just watch what the decoy is doing..carefully look at the dog being worked, and try to understand why the decoy is acting in a particular way. To many watch vids of decoys, and try to emulate them, without really understanding what the decoy is trying to achieve with a particular dog. I cannot stress enough READ THE DOG. You need to be able to read dogs correctly before you can become a good decoy.

Mate I am sure you have heaps of experienced people that can help you in the real world.

Nath, for a dog to learn the effectiveness of a body bite it is important to react more like you do not have a suit on. New decoys can tend to manhandle a dog and move it about off the ground for too long and they loose confidence and do not learn how to properly manipulate themselves for control of the agitator. Remember we do not have as good a feel for a dog hanging off your back say as an arm or a leg. And you will not have the control like you do of a limb , so remember less is more.
That must be one large suit mate !
Tony

Hey Nath,

I want to see you in Jon's suite.........I can't believe you would fit into it...NO WAY.....you are pulling our legs!!!!

If you did fit in, there is no way you must have done it up and there would be 6" showing on your legs and arms!!!.....no wonder the dog was on your back that would have been the only spot for him to safely bite you!!!!

Hi nath,
I have a wondeful DVD that has benn done by Stewart Hilliard. It introduces the suit and takes new decoys through the process of how to present, drive and be safe in the suit..

(thanks george)- nath

Hope it helps( it helped guide me)
regards
George