On September 17, 2003 Red Star Kennel held a Police K9 Decoy Seminar at the Minneapolis K-9 Police Department's Training Center. There were 22 K9 teams in attendance.

Topics covered during this all-day event included issues of K-9 safety, types of aggression, civil agitation, body language, grip development, and proper equipment. Officers in attendance were each given an opportunity to work each other's dogs under close professional supervision and constant instruction of Alex Vyatkin.

Handler meeting and instruction on the proper utilization of training equipment.

The young dog agitation.

Safety issues in agitation work covered the proper presentation, catch and driving techniques to help eliminate possibility of injury to both K9 and the decoy.

Significance of developing inventive decoy tactics and challenging scenarios was presented while using the Department's own dogs.

Several case-specific issues were worked on, including equipment fixation, proper grip development, controlled out ...

Handler defense techniques were illustrated with several creative scenarios.

The Department's dogs had a chance to work against experienced sport decoys, to determined necessity of proper targeting.

Techniques of assessment of a mature dog's hardnes were illustrated by one of Red Star Kennel-trained demo dogs - GSD Zeigo.

Accelerating intencity on approach was among topics of interest to many of the Department's handlers.

Finally, the Department's dogs had a chance to have their courage and hardness tested under extreme environmental obstarctions, against a very challenging direct attack from an aggressive decoy.

Some feedback:

"A good decoy that can read a dog is priceless in this type of training. I am interested in bringing a dog in and out of drives, building confidence and problem solving."

Officer Hodgin

"I didn't realize I jammed the dog when I caught him! I hope to visit your kenel in Hudson and learn more!! Thank you for being here."

Officer Edwards