What is the difference between a training helper and a trial helper?

[CajunsMom]

First of all, welcome to a wonderful, informative forum! :D My understanding would be a trial helper is just someone who helps out at trials. Does paperwork, helps set up and take down equipment, etc. A training helper would be someone who is helping a trainer. I help my trainer in her obedience classes. We work as distractions, we help people who are having problems with their dogs, and just basically do whatever she asks of us. I would think a good training helper needs to be very knowledgable about dogs and training and has taken several classes themselves. This is my opinion only but I hope it helps.

Sandy

[Storm]

Are you referring to eg. A training/trial helper associated with ScH/IPO or general "helper" at certain events etc?

[ March 21, 2001: Message edited by: Storm ]

[czechrott]

A "Trial Helper" is someone that is chosen, who can consistantly perform the same movements (exercises) with a variety of dogs. This requires athletic ability, and knowledge of the trial rules.

A "Training Helper" is someone that trains your dog to prepare for the trial. A "Training Helper" must have all of the athletic ability of a trial helper, plus have knowledge of all of the trial rules. Finally, a Training Helper must possess all of the knowledge necessary to take a dog that has no skills or training, and turn it into a competition dog. This requires far more knowledge and dedication than a "Trial Helper".

I have seen many trials where the "Trial Helper" was still learning how to be a "Training Helper", and lacked a great deal of experience. Some of them have not titled a dog themselves! Because a "Trial Helper" cannot help the dog during a trial, and must do the same presentation for each dog [out of fairness], knowledge is not required. This seems to be a 90's thing. I'm old school, and I had to pay my dues for many years before I could walk out onto the trial field.

[ March 21, 2001: Message edited by: czechrott ]

[The Nerd]

yes, i mean in schutzhund. What should i be looking for in a great training helper? Is it rare to find an excellent training helper?

The Nerd

[gray]

I agree with czechrott it's a lot of hard work, knowledge and experience in being a training helper, because you don't want the trainer to ruin your dog. A training helper is a person that trains your dog and have a lot of tricks up their sleeve to take your dog to the next level. A trial helper is a person that is chosen to work the dogs on a trail event. He also needs the know how and experience of working dogs, because I know there would be some angry people on the field ready to due battle if the trainer/trail helper damage their dog that they have but so much time and money into their dog.

[WorkinDogz]

Originally posted by The Nerd:
yes, i mean in schutzhund. What should i be looking for in a great training helper? Is it rare to find an excellent training helper?

The Nerd

In a word...YES!

A good helper is worth their weight in gold! A good helper is why you pass 3 "other" SchH clubs and drive extra hours to get to the club that the "good one" calls home. A good helper is why you can walk out on to the trial field AT ALL!

There are a few helpers (yes Bill..."old ones" who are valued more than you know!) who INDEED can be a super training helper and walk out on ANY trial field and execute with style and fairness.

There are trial helpers who are technically correct; but couldn't help get a dog TO the trial field for anything!

Your helper makes you or breaks you...and your dog. Every club has tracking grounds and an obedience field...the trick to finding a club you can work with is finding one that has a helper that can train your dog from 1-3 and then start all over again when you bring out another dog.

[CajunsMom]

Oops....boy is my face red. I had no idea you were talking about Schutzund. I know nothing about it (obviously) but I did learn something new.

[czechrott]

The people that wear the sleeve, and have the dogs bite them are referred to as "Helpers". They are actually the ones training the dog. The handler during this is just standing around, like a tree, doing little except offering verbal praise to the dog.

In the past, the term used was "Decoy". A decoy is actually a fake object that just sits somewhere, like a wooden duck. If a club has a person like that, it's O.K. to call him/her a "Decoy" :D

People that "help" during the trials are not referred to as "Trial Helpers", but the job they do is every bit as valuable to the trial.

[Storm]

Originally posted by The Nerd:
yes, i mean in schutzhund. What should i be looking for in a great training helper? Is it rare to find an excellent training helper?

The Nerd

Yes good or excellent "training helpers" are hard to come by. It is very difficult to "spot" a good helper unless you personally have some experience or knowledge regarding the whole concept. Unfortunately other than through trial and error or word of mouth, in the initial stages of your endeavour things can be tough. If you are fortunate enough you may fall into the "right hands". As I said if you really are interested try to educate yourself as much as possible. This will slowly enable you to understand things better and develop an eye for various styles, techniques, methods etc. A lot of people do not realize the value of a good training helper when they have one until he decides to leave. Seen it happen.

Best of luck. ;)

[The Nerd]

Great answers everybody! Are good training helpers that rare to find? How does one learn this trade? Are there schools one can go to?

The Nerd

[czechrott]

Yes, good training helpers are hard to find. The only way to learn is through years of doing it under the watchful eye of someone experienced.

The best way to determine how effective a training helper is, is to find out how many dogs have received titles from that person's training. The true benchmark is finding dogs that earned titles that were "Lesser quality" dogs. If a training helper can get the "family pet" couch potato, or a dog from a BYB ready for a title, this is far more of an accomplishment than working with a high powered import out of solid working lines. Doing this requires experience in many different methods.

[German Vanegas]

Originally posted by czechrott:
...If a training helper can get the "family pet" couch potato, or a dog from a BYB ready for a title, this is far more of an accomplishment than working with a high powered import out of solid working lines. Doing this requires experience in many different methods.

Yes indeed ;) :)