25d • General discussion
Decoy Dog Assessment
It’s really important to know how to set up a decoy assessment so it creates minimal stress for the dog, both emotionally and physically.
That means keeping the interaction short, providing space, and ending the moment with immediate support and decompression.
The lead stays completely loose.
The dog decides whether to move forward or move away.
That choice matters more than anything else.
We can’t ever know what the dog truly believes, but we can observe how they respond to something novel or something that appears to look like another dog.
It helps us identify those who struggle more at a distance, and those who react without processing information first.
This work isn’t about provocation. It’s about protection.
It’s about learning where fear or predation begins, and how safety can be rebuilt.
When I do this work, I’m not only supporting the dog in front of me, I’m also protecting the community, my own dog and the other trainers who work alongside me.
Safety for everyone matters. Always.
As professionals, we need to know how to do it, when to do it, and how to support the dog and ourselves through it.
There are cases where I choose not to use this approach, because it’s never something I do lightly.
I only conduct a decoy assessment when it’s necessary to understand a dog’s bite risk and ensure everyone’s safety.
These cases are becoming more common, and our communities depend on us doing this work safely and ethically.
It’s confronting, yes, but it’s also the bridge between risk and rehabilitation.
If you want to learn how to conduct assessments like this, interpret body language at a deeper level, and protect both dogs and humans in real-world settings, you’ll find that education and support inside The Professional Hub.
Comment Memberships for info.
0:52
0
0 comments
Decoy Dog Assessment
powered by
skool.com/canine-conversations-5016
The Learning Hub: A safe place for guardians and trainers offering ethical, science-based support for canine aggression and behaviour.
Suggested communities
Powered by