Morning peeps !
As Murph is getting better at the recall ,he is being allowed more off lead running which in turn is resulting in him getting bolder and so going further !

And so in an open field on a windy day my feeble feminine voice just turns into a sqwark :D and obviously doesn't carry too well I was wondering about whistle training ,i did try one of those pet shop whistles a while ago but I wasn't impressed :(

So do I need a 'proper' gundog whistle ( if so what are they called ) and where do I start ??
Is it just a case of one peep and call him in so he associates the peep with the recall ??
any advice please ;)
Liz :)

We've got a proper whistle for Holly and it's great :) We started off by letting her out in the garden and blowing the whistle then calling her immediately afterwards. When she came back to us she got a treat (after getting her to sit). We then progressed onto just the whistle and a treat when she came right back.

After a while we felt able to progress to an enclosed field and we're now onto proper recalls in the park using just her whistle.

You have to make sure you always use the same type of whistle blow (we have a long whistle when we want her to come back and two quick ones when we want her to wait - that's not going so well, but we're getting better!!) Holly knows that a raised hand with the palm facing her means wait so the whistle is done at the same time.

Hope this makes sense :D

Fiona
x x x

PS - I'm sure John can advise you properly on training to a whistle!!

Morning liz :D

I use a whistle, I bought a Acme (like the roadrunner orders from:D) whistle, you can buy them for some pet shops but mostly gun/field sports shops, and there is a company that do mail order online called Turner Richards, I'll find their addy and do a link, The whistle have different pitches mine is a Acme 210 1/2 . I do two peeps for 'get your ar**e back here' and one for sit, I am still working on the instant down to whistle, which I started training around chrismas :D, and am doing one long one for that - so 2 x short peeps 'come', one short peep 'sit', one long peep ' down' - everyone had their own way of doing it. I started with whistling in house, to be fed, to come and be let out garden etc etc,(same sort of thing that Fiona did) till everyone was sick of it and kept hiding my whistle :D. You may find you need the Acme Thunderer for Murph :D :D LOL - that bit is a joke ' liz - dont order one v. loud!!!! HTH Julie:)

Liz - http://www.turnerrichards.co.uk

thing is - I keep forgetting which peeps I taught to what, so I sometimes have to have a blow and see what Decoy does, to remember !!! lol - just as well the dogs know what they are doing in't it!

Julie:)

thanks Julie -I'll probably need the loudest I can get as he is prone to bouts of deafness :D
liz :)

Hi Liz

Can you whistle without an aid? If so then it is just as each to teach them to do it yourself and then you don't have to worry about carrying anything :)

Christine

oops that's a good point Christine - Liz if you are ordering online,or indeed going to the shop to get your whistle - buy a lanyard too , its a thin cord ( you wear it around your neck) with a clip on the end, to attach your whistle to - beware when picking up poo though, that your whistle is safely tucked into coat, or it can go the same way as my scarf did!!!! (swing forwards into the dog poo , for those that dont know;):D :D :D ) Julie:)

Hi Christine -no not very well :(
I can't even do the one with your fingers in your mouth :(
Whistling is just not my faute ;)
I use the same coat when out so I shouldn't forget it -and it just another thing to add to the routine before stepping out the door .............treats, poo bag ,keys,cuddly toy ,fondue set :D
thanks
liz :)

Hi Liz,

Whistle Training from my point of view! Do it! It saves on the sore throats! :D This is similar to what others have said, but is based on the advice given to me by a gamekeeper and various gundog books. I hope the instructions are clear.

To teach the dog what the whistle command means, try this:

In the house, whistle held between your teeth, say "dog's-name COME!", then pip, pip, pip in quick succession, immediately the dog starts heading towards you. Timing is important. Do this as often as possible until you are sure that the dog associates the whistle with the recall command. When the dog responds to the recall every time, then you can try without the verbal cue, but still indoors.

When the dog responds quickly to the whistle alone, every time indoors, then you can move into the garden... and finally into open spaces, but don't rush it if you want it to be reliable. :)

Using a whistle is very effective if you keep it simple. Always be consistent with how you blow the whistle. IMO, short sharp pips are easily recognisable to the dog and they give a sense of urgency, so pip, pip, pip - sounds like "come here quick" in my head - easy to remember. :) Whereas a long peeeep sounds like shouting "STOP!" and is often used in gundog training for just that, to stop the dog (ie in a sit or down, or even still standing), so that you can give him a further instruction, like a change of direction. However, I would only teach a recall if that is what's important to you. Then there can be no confusion about what the whistle means. :D

From Turner Richards Website, get an Acme High Pitch Plastic whistle, without a pea, number 210.5 or 211.5, it doesn't matter which. They have slightly different pitches, but if you need to replace it, make sure you get the same pitch again. As for a lanyard, a piece of string or ribbon will do the same job! BTW, the whistle might not sound loud to you (outside, that is!) but the dog will hear it from a long way off. ;)

I hope this helps. Good luck!

Monty's Mum :)

Thanks Montys Mum !
It is just the recall i want it for at the moment but if he responds well i may try and take it further
Liz :)
Julie -the tale of your scarf has been a warning to us all :D :D

If you are going to buy a gundog whistle, my advice is buy at least two, and keep one in your car and one on a lanyard. That way if ever you are out and have forgotten your whistle or perhaps lost it, you have a spare one. Also gundog whistles come in four types 210 and 211 with a pea, which gets damp so it is not popular, the 210 and a half and the 211 and a half, which do not have a pea. Make a note of the one you buy, so that when you need to replace the whistle for any reason, you will have the same pitch of whistle again.

As to the come command being a succession of quick "peep peep" noises, this is a good idea as most breeders will call to the pups in the nest, for example, when I have a litter which I am weaning onto solid food, I call "pup, pup, pup" to the pups when I bring the food to them. Then as they get older and are outside I call to them in the same way, to get their attention, and to hopefully get them to come towards me. This makes whistle training the recall very simple, as the "pup, pup, pup" becomes the "peep, peep, peep" on the whistle.

Liz

I have an ordinary whistle bought from a sports shop. I think it was 99p! When first introducing it to my dogs I would give two short whistles followed by a "come" command from me. My dogs really took to it. When they were playing with other dogs and I wanted them to come away sometimes my voice would fall on deaf ears but I find that if I keep walking and two short blasts on the whistle have them hot on my heels. I hadn't thought to train them to sit etc maybe that's one that I'll try next, though it sounds a little harder. Good luck.
June

i even keep one on my key ring !!! just because i am so scatty :D
good luck with your training,it will pay off given time lol