[ Post a Response | Leavitt Bulldog Association ]
Posted by DL
on November 1, 2009, 11:41 am
Creator
Got to the PSA Nationals yesterday and it was quite a show. Very high level dogs, handlers, decoys and officials. Ran smoothly as a result. This is the best forum for real world protection testing that I've seen. If I remember correctly, all dogs were Mals or Dutch Shepherds except for one exceptional Doberman. The obedience is done with a field of suited decoys distracting the dog by throwing balls at him, insulting the handler, making noise and hitting things with a stick. Super hard testing. Protection was also very difficult. Dogs had to hold their grip while being covered in a blaket. Even harder was the decoy holding the blanket up, creating a wall and taking away the target and the dogs came thru the blanket. I don't think they would have succeeded unless they were trained to do this. Call-offs at about 100 yrds. were amazing too. The best part was meeting superb trainers. I saw a beautiful demo in the parking lot with a Shepherd pup. Excellent woman trainer had a way of keeping bait in her left hand on her shoulder. No matter which way she moved; sideways, backwards, the dog would jump into the perfect heel position. Moving forwards she turned her shoulders slightly before her feet and it was neat to see. Spitting a treat to get the dog to watch your face as many Schutz. trainers do, makes the dog get in front a little and then look back and up to keep the handler's face in sight. This shoulder technique is much better.
PSA made some big changes at their Friday Board meeting. They will now have a sleeve division so Schutzhund dogs who aren't trained with bite suits, will be able to compete. I wish them luck. Good group.
DL
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