I bought a whistle at crufts (ok, only just found it!!!!!) And wondered how to train dogs to whistle.
Do I train one on one, or both together???? My ultimate aim is to take them both out, whistle and get them back instead of shouting.
At the moment I am whistling when oput food down.
One 'problem' I do have is that where ever I go Beano is there. So at the moment I put food down while doigs are outside and whistle just as I open the door. Gemma just pleases herself (trained but turns a deaf ear. Think she rules the house in a lovely way :D) Its mainly Beano that I need to get to come back. Gemma doesnt go far away from me when we are out anyway (may be different if I let Beano off the lead)
Can anyone give me any suggestions?????????
Lea, Gemma and Beano :)

Just stick with it Lea - whistles just seem to get to the parts of the dogs brain our weak little voices can't always reach (and we often fall into the mistake of using them too much anyway - which just teaches the dog to ignore us ;))

<<<<<<<<<<<<our weak little voices can't always reach >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
This is part of the problem, I havnt got a weak voice. I think I could rival a town cryer!!!!!!!!!!!!! And yes, I DO mean it!!!!!!!!!!! lol My voice is soooo loud, I get embarresed shouting. If I shout my dogs, all the dogs in a 1 mile radius come running!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lea :)

Recall whistle is very simple to train as long as your normal recall is already in place. There's no magic to the whistle, if you havn't already got a recall, a whistle wont give you one. However, they are easier on the vocal cords and carry better particularly in the wind.

Simply take your dog out (i would suggest singly) to a suitable field, and call him back in the normal way. Whilst your dog is on the way back repeatedly 'pip' the whistle. When he gets back to you reward in your usual way. Just keep practising and the dog will get the hang of purely recalling on the whistle. To start with you could use a long lead or line to ensure he comes back, but you still need to motivate him to 'want' to come back.

If your dog has already got a reliable recall you'll probably find he will pick it up really quickly - possibly one lesson.

LOL at Lea - maybe I should have used inverted commas around that bit - Town Cryer??  You and me both - maybe that's what comes of having boys???

I have a loud voice too but shouting is SO uncool; a whistle is always consistent, doesn't change if you get angry or frightened and the best thing of all is that no one knows if your dog is doing the wrong thing when you blow :D :D :D

Quote
"And wondered how to train dogs to whistle"

Lol I would be really impressed if you could manage this ;-)

LMAO at Braxy
Ok train to THE whistle!!!!!!!
But suppose thats a challenge!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lea :)

Train dogs to whistle ? - I'm lucky if they bark in tune ( sorry couldnt resist )

Yvonne

Try this; when you put the food bowl down make the dog sit and wait. Then whistle 3 times before you release the dog to eat. The dog will associate the whistle with the food. Do this for about 2 weeks and then when your out try the whistle but make sure you have treats with you.
Also try it when the dog is in the garden and put a treat in his/her bowl.It does take time for this to work so be patient.Its great for recall. This was one of the training methods that Guide Dogs use and I found it worked every time.