[Judi W]

The way I've always seen this taught, is that regardless of training or trial, the dog doesn't bite a motionless helper. Initially, the smallest bark or sound has the helper move and the dog is rewarded with the bite. That time period is extended as the dog realizes that it is the bark that gets the helper to move, and yes, they are barking at the helper because they want that helper to "do" something. I've seen some dogs revved up on a tie out this way in early training, but never by the time one gets to blind work.

In any kind of training, not just this, one must always have a picture of what the final goal is and see that the picture being formed in the dog's mind is compatible. There is a little movie playing in the mind as to what causes what and when that is not compatible with the final goal, then you have to go back, erase what is happening and re-establish the process. This takes longer than if it were not scrambled in the first place.