Have started our 3 month old GSP at basic pup training and she is learning fast. Comes to her name, sits. I would like to introduce a whistle but am not sure the best basic way to start this and how mant blasts to use, that sort of thing. I have only used a whistle with our others just as recall off lead but am keen to do this training in a more efficient and consistent way so want to get it right. Any advice appreciated. Just confused of 'where name stops and whistle starts' if that makes sense. Our trainer is very good but not in relation to the whistle training
Thanks

I use a whistle for recall and I use three toots - and I think that is the norm - I don't use for any other commands though.

I introduced by whistle feeding basically - three toots before putting dinner down.

I also used to whistle every time they came to me - be this after a verbal recall or not.

I still also use the 'here' command when they are closer.

Sorry regarding the other commands - hope this was of some help.

Hi Sue

Stop whistle is the most important thing to teach, from an early age I walk the dog at heal and blow the whistle once whilst getting the dog to sit, when they are sitting to the whistle then introduce blowing the whistle and sitting the dog but you keep walking then recalling to heal, 3 blasts, eventually you can sit the dog at a distance, usefull for a hpr. Are you going to be doing gundog training with her? 

Tracy

Like Star, I'd like to do more whistle work but my dog is now 18 months.  Can it be done at this later stage and is there a site that lists the 'norms' for whistle eg 3 for recall etc?

Apologies Star for butting in!!

There are hundreds of threads on this topic. Just put whistle training into the Google Sitesearch at the bottom of the page. I have bumped one particular thread to get you started.

The 'traditional' whistle cues are: one long blast for stop; two short pips for turn whilst quartering and three or four short pips for recall.  The acme is the traditional whistle, although some use a thunderer for stop.  There are different pitches and of course different types such as staghorn.

You need to have your behaviours fluent on a verbal first of all and then introduce the whistle remembering that it is 'new cue, old cue'.  So, single blast on whistle followed immediately by 'Star come!' or whatever you normally use for the recall.  Then once the dog begins to anticipate you can begin to fade the old cue. 

And yes, you can introduce the whistle at any age - 18 months is no problem, dogs a babe.

Not sure yet? Heather is thinking about it and would like to do more with Apple.