Questions about the PSA nationals

Weight pull, Protection, Agility, Flyball... you name it!

Postby Jenn » February 24th, 2006, 4:02 pm

Here are some pictures from PSA nationals. They were the only three bull breeds there, and all three were as stable as any dog I have ever met.

http://www.grastaleather.com/JenCurtis/

http://www.grastaleather.com/TimSantos/

http://www.grastaleather.com/BillyMickey/

These dogs were having a fantastic time


Just some questions about the event(?) out of pure curiousity and interest......
The guy in the chair (Michelin man?) with the large suit on and what appears to be a sleeve on the ground what is the purpose of this exercise?

Also interested to know the purpose of the car exercise? What are the dogs supposed to do/be doing?

This is a wonderful shot such a big happy smile!! http://www.grastaleather.com/JenCurtis/ ... C_0317.jpg

This picture here? :o yikes... What is to happen here?
http://www.grastaleather.com/TimSantos/ ... C_0448.jpg

What the heck, what were the "tasks" be accomplished in each exercise? Excellent pictures, I enjoyed them though now wondering what it was that was going on. :)
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Postby mnp13 » February 24th, 2006, 4:32 pm

Just some questions about the event(?) out of pure curiousity and interest......
The guy in the chair (Michelin man?) with the large suit on and what appears to be a sleeve on the ground what is the purpose of this exercise?


The dog does not have a leash on, and does a down in motion in the middle of the bottles. The decoy is a distracion, and some dogs can't handle that distraction and attack the decoy - there is a picture of one of the dogs failing the exercise for exactly that reason. The dog flattened Brian, knocked him right out of the chair! The decoy also throws the sleeve to entice the dog to break the down. In one trial I saw they knocked a garbage can over onto the dog to try to get them to break the down. the handler is about 20 yards away. At the higher levels the decoy stands up, further enticing the dog. it tests equipment fixation and obedience.

Also interested to know the purpose of the car exercise? What are the dogs supposed to do/be doing?


Car jacking. The dog is on leash, I can't remember if the harness is optional or not. the dog might be allowed to wear a flat collar. The decoy approaches with a hidden sleeve on and sweet talks the dog, and then threatens the dog. When the dog engages on the hidden sleeve the decoy bangs on the car with a jug of rocks or fires a gun to get the dog off. the dog is judged on the alert to the bad guy, the depth of the bite and the out.

This picture here? yikes... What is to happen here?
http://www.grastaleather.com/TimSantos/ ... C_0448.jpg

Car jacking. The decoy is trying to get the dog to calm down. If I ever get my timing correct the picture will be mid-bark.

What the heck, what were the "tasks" be accomplished in each exercise? Excellent pictures, I enjoyed them though now wondering what it was that was going on.


Oh, there were tons of things. Attacks on the handler, sends under immense pressure (leaf blower, water, noise), multiple attackers with call offs and sends, another car jacking type senario, a courage test, obedience with a lot of distraction, a figure 8 with distraction and neutral bystanders, food refusal, a search, retreives over jumps, long sends with call offs over jumps, transports, bark and hold. You name it. All of the above are in different levels of the sport.

In PSA the obedience portion comes first. If you fail OB, you are not allowed to do bitework. The OB is individual tests, if you fail one, you fail OB. Meaning that if you fail the heeling, you cintinue the test but you can't 'make up' the points you lost in the heeling. You fail overall, but your score is an overall total for the rankings. In the higher levels you don't know what parts are scored so you have to excell in everything to earn the points. You can't be sloppy in one area and good in another to keep your score high.

Here are some more galleries - mostly pointy ear fuzz balls. (I mean that in the nicest way possible)
http://www.grastaleather.com/BillDjin/
http://www.grastaleather.com/BillyMickey/
http://www.grastaleather.com/DemetrioZjef/
http://www.grastaleather.com/DonParis/
http://www.grastaleather.com/EthanJager/
http://www.grastaleather.com/FridayDecoysMisc
http://www.grastaleather.com/GregJue/
http://www.grastaleather.com/JasonBas/
http://www.grastaleather.com/JenCurtis/
http://www.grastaleather.com/JonHeiko/
http://www.grastaleather.com/KirstenYippie
http://www.grastaleather.com/LaMontPorter/
http://www.grastaleather.com/LauraAndy
http://www.grastaleather.com/MarcusElmo/
http://www.grastaleather.com/MaynardRoy/
http://www.grastaleather.com/NeilDami/
http://www.grastaleather.com/PaulIsaac
http://www.grastaleather.com/RebeccaVito/
http://www.grastaleather.com/RobertSenna
http://www.grastaleather.com/SandraKim/
http://www.grastaleather.com/TimDemon/
http://www.grastaleather.com/TimSantos/
http://www.grastaleather.com/ToddCy/
http://www.grastaleather.com/TomBrownie
http://www.grastaleather.com/TomBullet/
http://www.grastaleather.com/TrudyNantan/
Michelle

Inside me is a thin woman trying to get out. I usually shut the bitch up with a martini.
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Postby Jenn » February 24th, 2006, 5:14 pm

Thanks for the great explanations, I appreciate it. Excellent links and pictures. I might like to go watch something like that one day, just to see it for myself. Is there a link or site to different programs/events in different areas?

Otherwise :o still to the "in your face" picture!
Car jacking. The decoy is trying to get the dog to calm down. If I ever get my timing correct the picture will be mid-bark.

What are the odds here, of getting bit in the face? :|

How often does someone (decoy/dog) get hurt in these exercises? Are the dogs actually hit? (not being a "pansy don't hurt the puppy" :lol3:) just interested.
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Postby mnp13 » February 24th, 2006, 5:23 pm

JennKBM wrote:Thanks for the great explanations, I appreciate it. Excellent links and pictures. I might like to go watch something like that one day, just to see it for myself. Is there a link or site to different programs/events in different areas?


http://www.psak9.org/

Otherwise :o still to the "in your face" picture!
Car jacking. The decoy is trying to get the dog to calm down. If I ever get my timing correct the picture will be mid-bark.

What are the odds here, of getting bit in the face? :|


That's why the dog is on a leash. The odds are good that you will be bitten for real if the handler lets go. However, the decoys are experienced and PSA has a certification process so that they are as safe as possible.

How often does someone (decoy/dog) get hurt in these exercises? .


Dogs are not hurt often by experienced decoys. Bad decoys injure dogs more often than you'd like to think. I was told of one dog whose back was broken. The dogs get jammed and sometimes loose teeth. That is why you never have some stupid yahoo work your dog. You watch the decoy work other dogs and see that they are safe. The decoys at Nationals are the best PSA has to offer.

Decoys, well, that all depends. Pinches and nasty bruises are par for the course. I have a number of scars from bites, including a 3/4 inch deep puncture wound in the middle of a 1 inch gash on my left inner arm. I was also dumped on my face by a 185 pound mastiff, onto a concrete floor (indoor/outdoor carpeting offers no padding). I crushed the nerve that runs over my left cheekbone - I came down full force on my cheek bone just under my eye and bounced. I was out cold for 10-15 seconds and went out a couple more times in the next 20 mintes or so. They were literally screaming at me to keep my eyes open, I just remember my vision going foggy and my eyes rolling. I still have numbness and my balance is screwed up because the nerve was crushed before it branched to my ear.

Are the dogs actually hit? (not being a "pansy don't hurt the puppy" :lol3:) just interested


yes they are. clatter sticks or padded sticks are used in trials. Other items are used in training.
Last edited by mnp13 on February 24th, 2006, 5:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Michelle

Inside me is a thin woman trying to get out. I usually shut the bitch up with a martini.
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mnp13
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Postby mnp13 » February 24th, 2006, 5:26 pm

April 15 & 16th, 2006

hosted by Odinhaus K9 Magnolia,Texas

GREAT people, I met them at nationals. They drove to Maryland.
Michelle

Inside me is a thin woman trying to get out. I usually shut the bitch up with a martini.
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mnp13
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Postby Jenn » February 24th, 2006, 5:36 pm

:shock: I'd imagine it would take a lot of nerve to be a decoy then, not a sport for wimps or the unknowledgeable from what I've gathered...
Thanks for all the explanations!
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Postby mnp13 » February 24th, 2006, 5:39 pm

JennKBM wrote::shock: I'd imagine it would take a lot of nerve to be a decoy then, not a sport for wimps or the unknowledgeable from what I've gathered...
Thanks for all the explanations!


It is a LOT of fun. Yeah, injuries suck, but the experienced decoys get comparatively few injuries. It's the new ones who don't slip bites correctly and get hammered for it.
Michelle

Inside me is a thin woman trying to get out. I usually shut the bitch up with a martini.
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Postby Pitcrew » March 28th, 2006, 3:25 pm

I know this is an old topic bus as the weather improves I am becoming more interested in PSA.
I have to admit that I have always been worried about dogs being injured in bitework. I dont know of such serious injuries in other sports. Yes, I am worried about my dogs...
How are your helpers out there?
Also, I would like Demo to test my pup if he isnt to young. He is extremely mellow, although capable of drives and energy, is practically un-flappable. Not the drive I want for agility, but maybe protection work would improve his drives and focus, and maybe be easier to work in obedience distractions because of his self control (or lazyness). :|

I have NEVER owned a dog this mellow (even my Mastiff) and I am trying to figure out how to push his buttons and use to my best interest.
"Pedigree indicates what the animal should be;
Conformation indicates what the animal appears to be;
But, Performance indicates what the animal actually is."
- author unknown
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Postby mnp13 » March 28th, 2006, 3:29 pm

We have two very experienced helpers, three green helpers who are learning very fast and who listen and follow directions well, one helper who is on hiatus due to injury (me), and one helper who hasn't been doing a lot of helper work lately (Demo).

You're welcome to come out any time. Just let me know ahead of time.
Michelle

Inside me is a thin woman trying to get out. I usually shut the bitch up with a martini.
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