Decoying is a balance between what you can do and what the dog can do. In the simplest forms, it's about knowing how to work a dog or puppy in the main drives: prey, defense, and fight. It is also knowing the signs of canine avoidance and building the dog from its comfort and genetic levels. Decoying and helper work are skills which requires the person to read the dog's body language and verbals. To sum it up, it's about acting! To be a great sparring partner with the dog, the decoy must become one with the session. The dog is the featured "fighter" and the decoy is there to bring out the dog's best abilities.

To be a club level decoy, K-9 sport decoy, or working dog trainer safety must be a key element. Dogs work at different speeds and with different comfort levels. When understanding the fine lines one may cross and NEVER cross, the art of decoying takes a lifetime to learn and master. We thank all decoys, helpers, and trainees for the time and energy it takes to make our dogs into the working tools we seek and for the venues we are training.