WHO IS A DECOY IN DOG TRAINING

At some point in sports, protection and apprehension training of a working dog, it is very important that a person must lure the dog into thinking that he or she is behaving so badly that they deserve to be bitten. This person we can call a helper or a decoy.

The decoy purpose is to provide the trainer with a human being who behaves exactly as the trainer needs at any given time during the dogs development. The decoy must not only have skill but must also be a disciplined person committed to working cooperatively with the trainer or handler.

In many instances, the action of the decoy actually controls the training and learning process and there is a tendency for the decoy to begin thinking that he or she is more than just a tool.

It is important to consider the following that describes a good decoy:

A Valuable tool

Communication expert

Aggression manipulator

Role of the decoy as a Valuable Tool;

A good decoy is a K9 trainer’s most valuable tool. When it comes to aggression work, a good decoy can take a poor dog and make him a mediocre, mediocre dog and make him a good, a good dog and make him excellent. Likewise poor decoy can have devastating effect. Should be able to read the dogs well at all time and must be physical fit in order to catch the dogs properly and avoid injuries to both himself and the dog being worked.

Role of the decoy as a Communication Expert;

A good decoy is an expert in canine communication (Auditory, Tactile, Visual), understands what the dog is saying at all time, and understands what actions appropriate to fit the trainers overall plan for its dog.

Role of the decoy as an Aggression Manipulator;

The decoy needs to understand the natural forms of aggression in dogs and what form of behaviours and language will trigger each individual type of aggression at the right time and avoid triggering aggression when the trainer is trying to do control work.