What exactly is a soft helper? - Page 1

So in another recent thread they were talking about soft helpers, etc...not really testing and pressuring the dogs. What exactly does this mean? Can you provide examples or even video footage so I can understand? Thanks!

Soft helper... That would be one that squeaks. Seriously,,,..It's a term used to describe a helper that helps/assists a dog pass an exercise. Helpers are soft all the time in training as training is training. The comment usually comes from a competition situation where a dog showed issues and the helper guided the dog through the situation rather than expose the situation.

Thanks Dog1. But "how" do they help the dog pass? That is what I want to know. What issues arise with the dog that the helper masks?

Depending on the certain factors such as the age of the dog, training level, hardness you want a helper who is softer or less threatening until you build the dogs confidence. At some point you want your dog to advance and be able to stand up against an big strong agressive threatening helper.

Dogs, like people are not always 'A' students in all subjects. Some may have a 'C' on their report card. Most dogs have shortcomings too. As dogs are put through an exercise, they are subject to a number of conditions that affect their performance. The effect of the conditions show up in their behavior. Take a breed survey routine and examine some of the conditions a dog faces with the helper and some of the problems a dog can encounter the helper can affect. I'll use a weak dog as an example and describe some issues a dog has to deal with. Think of a weak dog as having a weak battery. It only has so much power to last through the exercise. Heal to the blind. Dog is put into the obedience mode. This generally takes some of the power out of the dog as it is forced by the handler to remain in control while contemplating the next event. The dog heals to the blind showing some issues by it's body language. It may not look too happy to be there. The helper pops out and in an instant the helper sizes up the dog. How quickly the dog approaches, how full and hard the bite is. In this weak dog case the dog hesitated, engaged the helper with a mediocre grip and the helper feels little pressure through the sleeve. The helper pretty much knows the dogs battery is weak and if he drives the dog and gives the dog two real stick hits, The dog will be off the sleeve and his battery is expended. So the helper is faced with a decision. Do we let the dog fail or do we give the dog the best opportunity to perform. This helper allows the dog a second to settle and feels some additional pressure and begins the drive. The drive itself affects the dog. If the helper wraps the dog in close and drags the dog where the dog has no influence on the helper, that may cause more battery drain in a weaker dog than a drive where the dog can feel the effect of it's input to the helper and hang on. The helper gives a medium stick hit and feels the grip loosen. He knows the next stick hit will have the dog off the sleeve if it is as strong. So the helper preserves the battery and the next hit is a brush. The helper locks up quickly to prevent the dog from coming off. From there it's up to the dog to out on command and guard. At this point the helper has done what he could do influence the dog and it shows in his guard. The body language of the dog at this point and as the handler approaches tells the story now. The next is the courage test. Does the dog have enough battery left to complete? The helper comes out and the dog is sent. As the dog goes towards the helper. The helper looks at it's body language and sees the dog coming and hesitating a little. It looks like the man with the leather suit running at him with a raised stick is going to be too much and the dog is not going to engage. His battery is in the yellow for sure. The helper stops and retreats showing the dog he is affected by the dog presence allowing the dog enough confidence to engage the helper. The bite is shallow and the dog is barely on. To save the dog the helper takes a few steps and locks up rather than drive the dog 40 feet. This is a simplified explanation with a few circumstances. There are dozens of other conditions that occur, too numerous to list. Obviously the dog that performs flawlessly and the helper can really test is desired.

Plus it is a natural taboo for a dog to bite a human. Part of the initional training is to get past that taboo and build the dog's confidence.

IMO - "HELPER " a foolish .. and I woulds be as bold to say [ outside of language translation differentials.] , a stupid term ! Either you can train , develop , and most importantly to read a dog as to understand it's cappablities and learning level or you cannot . And perhaps semantics .. but the TRAINERS job is to enable the dog to learn and to devcelop . That is the problem with helper .. I have seen many dogs that are pushed along and really do not what have the required make-up to do certain work .. these dogs are HELPED , the faults masked so that a title can be achieved. IMO if there are lacking protection skills it could have great watchful instincts or Scent work skills that make it better for narcotic or bomb detection..these should be rather cultivated .or perhaps better it has a better make-up for seeing eye or search and rescue . Secondly dogs should Be brought to a level that the when not to called upon to agrees it should be right next to the agitator , not looking to bite or to agress. But with one cue from the handler it should be able to take down the agitator in one swoop ! Hence the descrition on the GSD amiable but aloof and/or indifferent. To me teaching and helping are not the same .. I think you can teach and bring the dog aslong but the dog must learn to work on its own without holding it by the hand so to speak / patronising it. IMO in RE: to true protect Sch falls far short. I think like in other European sports the word agitator or decoy is more applicable.

lol good one alphapup... Helper refers to an assistance to the trainer. In many training endeaver you need someone to "Help" you. Some people in Schutzhund use this word for someone who is taking bites for them. Not a bad word...

Yes DR, the helper is a training assistant. The handler and helper have to be a training team. Helper or handler can`t do it alone.Alpha I maybe wrong, but I never considered the term "Helper" as meanining hepling the dog, but helping the handler achieve.

The helper is extremenly important in bite work as he must be able to "read" the dog. A bad helper can ruin even a good dog.