WUSV Helpers are - Page 1

Recieved a voicemail message that Lotus Perkins is the Front half helper and Shane Garrehy Back half helper.

So, are these guys the best the US has to offer, just asking becasue I don't know?

Doug

I looked at these helpers of the WUSV  on a video, they look to do the job well,

But you cannot judge a Guy by looking at a couple of short Video's  it is unfair to them

It would be in very bad taste if the Officials over there picked helpers from another country

I know the Helpers in Belgium take a lot of pride in there work, and i would think it the same of the helpers in the WUSV

 To them it is a great honour to be picked to the Job there ,something they will never forget for the rest of there lives

i am certain they will do the job as well as anyone from any orher country 

Steve

All four of the helpers did an excellent job yesterday despite the fact it was raining and the new tufrf laid down is like running through ultra slick quicksand but yes Lotus is front half and Shane is back half. both of these guys are super quick and correct in their work and i can imagine they might out run a few dogs.

Lotus Perkins is an awesome helper and he has to be the fastest helper that I have ever seen.I have literally seen him out-run some dogs!!!

The other helper I do not know but I am more than sure that he is capable of doing a good job or else they would not have picked him..

Fast is good but presence and pressure is better.

What is this idea of outrunning Dogs, It sure does not happen over here in Belgium or Holland or Germany for what i have seen, and i have seen at least 16 trials this year, and a lot of differnent Pakwerkers or Helpers call them what you will

The idea is to be correct in your placing for the Dog and correct in any movement you do, It is not a sport for outrunning any Dog, I am beginning to wonder what will go on

Steve

Well said Steve1.have a nice one.

Doug:

I met you in 2001 in Al at the nationals. We have a friend in common in Mike Burke. Don't know if these are the best helpers the US have to offer, but  these helpers were selected by the helper committe and the judge made his descision. I wish all of them the best of luck. Would like to thank you Doug for your contribution to the helper program and some of the best articles I have read on helper work. 

Regards

Mario

Mario,

  Thanks.  Their is a reason I resigned from the committee, things aren't what they should be let me say that much.

Steve,

As for out running the dog on the escape bite, it does happen in Europe also.  I have seen it and in my opinion if the helper can do it he should.  The escape bite is a race to the mark in the field where it ends which should be 20 meters, if the helper can out run the dog phase C is over for that dog, as it should be.  That is the over all idea of the escape bite, catch me if you can.  But, the helper must stay in control and present a target for the dog also.  Poor training, poor teaching of targeting to the dog all effect the dogs performance during this exercise, if the helper is doing what he should be doing correctly.  More often then not helpers try to out run the dog when physically they can't and then you have problems, with helpers falling or getting spun which is what happened yesterday at the tryouts.

Safety, proper technique, testing the dog, following the trial rules and being consistent for all dogs is what helper work should be about!  But, some of these things or all of them at times are missing more often then not any more in trials, especially Championships.  All people have to do is look at what has happened to the breed (and is happening to another working breed) over the last decade or so and it has nothing to do with the trial rules being "watered down".........

Doug