When I hear negative comments about the use of backties, tables, and bungees I wonder what problem these trainers could have with them. Some of the arguments I've heard and read online are the following: "Backties are unnatural, a predator is never tied back in nature." , "They are for weak dogs without power." , "Grips are genetic, you can't build them" , "bungees mess up a dogs entry", "I don't want to work my dogs in defense." "They are for bad handlers and handlers should be taught to work a leash not rely on a backtie."
I will first acknowledge that there is not one way to work a dog and that I don't use these tools for every dog nor am I advocating that you should. However I have yet to hear an argument against these tools that I found valid. Secondly I will acknowledge that their are dogs with superior genetics that from birth have outstanding gripping behavior, outstanding entries and great power that never require any "building". However most dogs are not that genetic beast with no flaws in their bitework. And if you'll only work with those types of dogs then your opinions on decoy work do not matter to me. If the dog is so incredible genetically that dog doesn't require any skills whatsoever, a monkey could work them and they will turn out fine.
Next the "it's unnatural" folks are hilarious to me. "I wouldn't make a dog heel with his head up like that it's so unnatural!" "A predator wouldn't be held back, and prey wouldn't jump into a predator's mouth, it's unnatural!" Listen to me carefully, None of this is natural. It is unnatural for a dog to bite a person. We spent thousands of years domesticating them. If they still saw people as prey we wouldn't have them in our living rooms. We hijack their natural prey and defense drives and direct it toward people with equipment. Some dogs grasp the concept that in certain contexts it's okay and even reinforcing to bite people for real. And some dogs never grasp that concept. That's why not every dog makes the cut as a police dog. I am not concerned with what is natural or unnatural to the dog. I am concerned with getting the highest potential for performance out of the dog and sometimes that means using backties and other tools.
"They [backties/tables] are for weak dogs" . To this I will list some of the reasons I'll put a dog on a table. Some dogs scoop into the bicep on the decoy without jumping and that can be from always being held back on the ground and looking up at the decoy. When I put the dog on a table he is looking straight on with his target and becomes used to that sight picture as the decoy comes into him. This may help the dog jump on a send as they try to get the same sight picture they had on the table. Some of us train dogs for sports that favor a specific type of barking or alerting behavior and putting the dog in a bark box that slightly confines the dog may help get a more focused aggression from the dog. Teaching clear upper body targetting is much easier introduced on a table. And last but certainly not least i will very frequently utilize a backtie or table for control behaviors like outing. All of these are reasons to use a table/backtie other than the dog being weak.
"Grips are genetic, you can't build them"
First part I completely agree, second part I completely disagree. Just because some dogs are born with fantastic gripping behavior that does not mean I'm going to give up on every other dog that I come across. Conditioning works in many aspects of dog training and Grips are no different. Through proper communication and timing I can condition a dog to make his grip fuller anytime he starts to feel pressure. I can use opposition reflex to trick the dogs body into moving in the direction I want when he gets on a bite, I can use reinforcements to increase the likelihood the dog Grips a certain way in trial and I can go back to training after every trial or deployment to continuing reinforcing the type of gripping behavior I want from the dog. To say something can't be built is a major insult to the capabilities of a good decoy. Now I'll happily agree that for things like breeding we should consider how much of a dog was genetic and how much was manufactured by a decoy.
"Handlers should be taught how to handle a leash and not rely on a backtie." Have I kept a dog on a backtie/table/bungee longer than I normally would have because I didn't trust a handler, Absolutely. My safety always will come first. Most handlers with good coaching can be taught to handle their dog appropriately. But sometimes I can progress a dog easier by removing them from the equation. Some handlers are incapable of posting their own dogs and until they have a level of control they have to be kept on some kind of backtie, it is not my decision if that handler should work that dog. I also believe dogs should learn to work on a backtie without the support of their handler behind them. This is why I backtie my own dogs often, i want my dogs to be comfortable working with or without me around and I certainly don't want my dogs worried about where I am when working.
Backties, tables, bungees, are all incredible tools for a variety of reasons. I don't believe they are a hindrance to a dogs development nor do I think they are a requirement. Like everything they are tools that if you know how to use them to your benefit can make a world of difference for reaching a goal. Blanket statements in dog training are dangerous and everything can serve a purpose if you work enough dogs.
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