iluvk9 wrote:I forgot, who is this Mike again? And why do you have that stick thing?

That's Mike Connors. He's the biggest guy in the Alapaha breed of the REAL Alapahas (there are another type of Alapaha that is essentially equivalent to the difference between a true APBT and the American Bullies).

He's a fantastic bitework trainer, truly motivational and just a great guy to be around. It's worth the drive (about 2.5 hours from my house) once a week!

And the stick is a clatter stick. It makes a lot of noise and is used to put pressure on the dog. Don't worry, the dogs don't get a beating with it

"All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another." -Anatole France

Mickle wrote:The bite suit was too small and I couldnt get my shoes back on so Im doing bite work in my socks!!

No one helped you with your shoes? Well that's not right. Alyssa, you were supposed to put her shoes back on with her...

In PSA, and other sports, the clatter stick is used to put pressure on the dog. For example, in the Level 1 Courage test of PSA (and other levels' scenarios), the clatter stick is brought down across the dog's shoulders. However, this is something that has been trained for since the dog was young, and does not hurt the dog...unless the dog's nerves are weak, then it could make them run...

"My first priority will be to reinstate the assault weapons ban PERMANENTLY as soon as I take office...I intend to work with Congress on a national no carry law, 1 gun a month purchase limits, and bans on all semi-automatic guns."-Barack Obama"When in doubt, whip it out."-Nuge