Scope of Course

This course is designed to equip aspiring decoys with the foundational knowledge, practical skills, and safety techniques needed to excel in working with protection dogs. Covering essential principles and hands-on practices, the course ensures participants are prepared to support canine training effectively while prioritizing safety for both the dog and the decoy.

  • Understand the role and responsibilities of a decoy in protection dog training.

  • Develop foundational skills in grip mechanics and learn how to shape, sustain, and enhance proper targeting in dogs.

  • Master the principles of drive channeling to help dogs achieve clarity and confidence during work.

  • Learn how to build dogs on a backtie, transition to drag-ins, and progress to dynamic sends with fluidity and precision.

  • Practice safe catch mechanics, with and without a dog, focusing on body alignment, timing, and technique.

  • Build a solid understanding of equipment usage and maintenance, including sleeves, suits, and other decoy gear.

Your Bite Work Roadmap

Build a street/trial ready K9 fighter.

Focus on Foundations

Grip. Targeting and Drive Channeling.

Instructor(s)

Professional Dog Trainer Ben Lepinski

Ben lepinski began training dogs at 15 years old in his home state of Minnesota. As a teenager he trained bird dogs and competed with labs in hunt tests and field trials. In 2015 Ben received a formal education in dog training from tarheel canine in north carolina where he was offered an internship and then a job. For the next 8 years he trained hundreds of police K9s and MWDs at Tarheel Canine and instructed master trainer courses to dozens of students. Ben's passion is in working dogs and teaching. He specializes in obedience, tracking, detection, and bitework. He is best known for his decoy skills and experience. Ben is a trial decoy for PSA (protection sports association) and AS (American Schutzhund). He has worked over 50 trials including 3 regionals and 2 national championships. Ben is also known for becoming the only team to achieve a PSA3 and AS3 title with his malinois Fury.

Course Curriculum

*CURRENTLY IN PRODUCTION*

    1. Introduction

    2. What is a Decoy?

    3. Course Terminology

    4. Bite Work Pyramid of Greatness

    1. Predatory Sequence

    2. Drive Channeling

    3. Grip Mechanics

    4. Targeting

    5. Bite Work Foundations

    1. Gear Up

    2. Gear Up

    3. Back Tie

    4. Decoy Session: Targeting on Back Tie - Forearm, Bicep, Tricep and Leg

    5. Decoy Session: Back Tie Targeting

    6. Post Up & Drag Ins

    7. Decoy Session: Post up and drag ins

    8. Catch Mechanics

    9. Decoy Session: Footwork and Catch Mechanics

    10. Decoy Session: Safe Catches

    11. Proofing & Moving Forward

About this course