Embarrassment at Nationals - AWMA 2009 - Page 1

Since when are they letting club level helpers work a national event?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWB-uQ0sUOQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Pwo22bPZcI&feature=channel

maybe you should have tried out, I'm sure you could have done much better. Go back to your corner suck your thumb.

The work was the same for each dog and was safe.

here we go again!!!! Monday morning qbing!

Not even that, Ron. Look--he only joined today to rank on an event from nearly a month ago.

The Guys did a fair job, nothing Elaborate, nothing Flashy just did what they had too, both dogs had the same chance and treatment, i do not know what you are on about
Steve1

I liked that Mali!  I enjoyed watching the dogs body language in the guarding.  How he alternated feet with each bark and then how he would bow up and stomp both feet at the same time trying to look more threatening or daring the decoy to move! 

Vickie
www.PowerHausKennels.com

Because this person just joined means that they do not know bad work when they see it?  As he/she said, that was club level work.  First, the front half helper was not dressed in a proper manner to do a National event.  Jackets, WITH SLEEVES are to be worn during the trial.  Second, the escape bite on Carrie's dog was done incorrectly.  The exercise is an ESCAPE, not a run 2 short steps, stop, catch the dog and start running again.  The drive is to be executed in a straight line, not running in circles.  Both front and back helpers did incorrect drives.  The age old, "If you didn't like it, why didn't you tryout" is a feeble excuse and just brings credence to the "I know you are, but what am I?" schoolyard banter.  If the requisite for training and competition at any level were you had to be an accomplished National Level Helper, there would be very few in the sport.  The work itself was not a correct test for a National Event, the dogs were not tested correctly.  Sure it was safe work but not correct.  Sleeve presentation for re-attacks made prey bites out of defense attacks.  And, as I mentioned earlier, running in circles to drive medium sized dogs is not "prime time" work.  I agree with the "New Poster" and yes I use my parentally given name as I stand by my opinion.  IMO, response without a name attached is somewhat cowardly and probably without much merit.

I wouldn't call it an embarassment. But watching both Ivan's performance and the one posted there are several things that should be corrected and not what I would expect out of a National event helper. I am a entry/club level helper and just recently attended the USA National helper college, and was raked over the coals for these same things. I am sure that the helpers while they did safe and consistant work can watch these and see the areas that they can work on improving.
1. The sleeve on the out's bounces around and is moved after the out.
2. The stick is moving too much and is not hidden during out's and transports.
3. The pressure phase should be done against and into the dog not in circles or off to the side. (this creates a prey bite)
I saw some others but these are the areas that I think would need to be improved upon the most. Congrats to the helpers and I am sure that the camera doesn't tell the whole tale it does give us a tool to use to improve. But hey who am I to critic, my first trial bite was an initiation by grass.

Michael Wood

If you want to split hairs and no one is saying that the Helpers were Top Class but adequate in that they reacted the same to both dogs and i would expect to all
Then if you want to take a stand on it what about the Judge he lagged behind on many occasions and in that he could not signal to the helper as he was behind him some of the time or did none of notice that point or is that the way they normally work over there
Anyway i for one have seen some poor helpers from over in the USA just as i have over here, in some videos i have looked at, but a few good ones as well, and as for the USa can only look at videos but they do not always tell the correct story
Not everyone is Top Class,  i said that about the WUSV this last year and got shot down but i still stick to what i saw and many over here agreed with it, for if they were top class then i am a flying Dutchman and no Pun meant to any Dutchman watching this site
Steve1

Sometimes you eat the bear,
and sometimes.....