Helpers in America - Page 5

Kyle earns the respect of all who witness his work. He has the innate ability to read a dog, particularly an impressionable youngster, and adjust his style and methods to insure that dog has the best possible experience that day, and in future sessions. He is anything BUT a "my [one] way or the highway" sort of helper so common (and I use that term in the worst since of the definition) in clubs these days. When we held out first Helper Certification last year, Steve Miller was impressed so that he moved Kyle from zero (uncertified) to Regional Helper Cert. in one weekend, encouraging him to aim at National Level Cert. this year. In short, he is a "natural," with the added value of an incredibly intelligent THINKER! To this end, Kyle regularly attends helper seminars near and far, at his own expense (Lord knows the club can't afford to send him anywhere) to hone his skills, bringing back the benefits gained from some of the best training helpers in the world, for the dogs he works in our little training group. Its not entirely thankless, but certainly doesn't "pay" much more than the satisfaction of a job well done, the gratitude of we handlers, and the observation of distinct progress in the dogs he works. Thanks Kyle. You're the BEST! Shelley

Kyle, I could not agree more; here is an earlier post of mine. "Let me say this about that. If you are doing helper work in a training capacity, you have to have the ability to be whatever the dog you're working needs. A lot of helpers are not capable of this because they cannot really read a dog. A lot of them fake it and most handlers don't know the difference. If you are working as a trial helper it is your obligation to present the dog in the manner the judge requires. If I were a judge and I thought a helper was going out of his way to show me other than an honest picture I would boot the helper (provided there was an alternative) and note his assistance to the organization, USA, DVG, etc." Good helpers do not get the credit they deserve. I really enjoy hearing someone say they appreciated the time and effort of their helper(s). You're absolutely correct. When you are a trial helper, your obligation is to the judge.

I've seen judges stop a trial to chew a helper up one side and down the other for helping a dog too much. Its one thing to insure a dog gets the opportunity to show its best work, quite another to try to fool the judge into conveying an undeserved score/title. (read: insult tot he judge and the breed) SS