Basic Catches in the Bite Suit

In the third course in our series with Mark Keating, you will learn how to take the targeting skills from the second course and apply them into catching dogs. Catching dogs on a suit is the ultimate goal of anyone learning to do decoy work. The skills taught in this course will give you insight into how to properly absorb the impact of a dog being sent off leash from a distance. In the course, we will cover upper and lower body, as well as front and back catches. This course picks up right where the 2nd course left off. You should have a general understanding of how to present the bite and what picture to show the dog. Now you will learn how to bring it full circle and put all the skills you’ve learned into practical applications.

OUTLINE

• General Observations
• Basic Frontal Leg Catch
• Basic Rear Leg Catch
• Basic Upper Body Frontal Catch
• Basic Upper Body Catch
• Conclusion

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR, MARK KEATING

Mark is a professional dog trainer at Red Star Kennel in Hudson, WI. He is also a French Ring decoy, handler, and trainer. Mark has over 15 years of experience training dogs in obedience, protection work, and behavior modification.

As a Ring decoy, Mark has decoyed over 30 trials in the US and Canada under several American and French judges. Mark was the US winner of the North American Ringsport Association’s Decoy Super Selection, and also decoyed the 2009 regional championship. As a handler, Mark has titled a Dutch Shepherd mix to Ring I, and his Malinois, Lot du Loups du Soleil, to Ring III. As a coach/training decoy, Mark has developed the entire program on over ten dogs ranging from brevet to Ring III. Notable achievements would be the world’s first Ring I Presa (Red Star Lutiy) and the US’s first Ring II Bouvier female (Briarlea’s Luna). In addition, Mark has taught technique to countless dogs of various disciplines of various breeds, and also taught seminars in French Ring around the Midwest.

Mark, along with Irina Shimko, breed working Presa Canarios, Belgian Malinois, and Miniature Poodles at Red Star Kennel.