Still, open invite. Our SAR dogs don't do the bite work (well the chiefs cadaver/drug/tracking dog does). We just have someone wander off into the woods/cornfield/river bottom and try to hide from us.
As far as decoy work....you say artform, I say I've been on that end....and I think you be :crazy: .
Anyone can just run out there in a suit or with a sleeve and get bit. The decoy is what makes a dog's bite better. A good decoy is as crucial to training as the handler's understanding of training.
We would teach our dogs to target various areas and feel comfortable. To do this... you need a good decoy. Teaching inner thigh bites was not always fun though.