CockersOnline Forum
Cocker Activities => Working => Topic started by: Tupper on December 21, 2006, 05:30:29 PM
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Hi I'm new to cocker spaniels. I've trained my lab (Fen) using an achme whistle 211 1/2, which I was advised was good for labs. Is there a specific whistle for spaniels and what does every one else use?
Cheers
Chris
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Hi Chris,
I use the Acme 210 (http://www.acmewhistles.co.uk/xcart/customer/product.php?productid=81) which they describe as a spaniel whistle.
On another site I see they say the 211 (http://www.gundogsonline.com/dog-whistle/acme-211.5-dog-whistle.html) is similar to the 210 but with a higher pitch.
Not sure how much difference one from the other would make :huh: but I'd be tempted to stick with the one you've got. ;)
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Well i thought i had got the Spaniel whistle 210 1/2
I think the half means Lucy will come 1/2 of the times she's called :luv:
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i use the 210 1/2 too hamfam - he comes back half heartedly sometimes ph34r
also have one made by his breeder out of antler which is in a pitch of it's own :shades:
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211 1/2 here - but train the dog to come to whatever whistle you like, just be consistent.
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Using the 210½ at the moment, but have used the 211½ and the 210 for different dogs
in the past.
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I use the 210 1/2 (but sometimes i should use a loudhailer)
Ali
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I use a 210 1/2 with the boy, I think if I could make the noise of a pheasant he would come quicker! :005:
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I use a 210 1/2 for both of them... Tilly responds 210% of the time, Alfie is the 1/2 ::) :lol:
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I use a 211 1/2 for 3 of mine and a 210 1/2 for the other 1, its horses for courses, it doesn't actually matter and its alot to do with presonal preference. The 210 has a pea so that affects the pitch, some like it, some don't?
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Does anyone use a separate whistle for different commands?
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I use the 210 1/2 for my 3 dogs and the same whistle for all commands.
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Does anyone use a separate whistle for different commands?
do you mean a seperate stop whistle, I don't. I tried using a thunderer with Paddy which was quite effective but a bit of a pain and not effective enough so I gave up >:D
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I use the 210 1/2 for the recall and a different whistle for my stop but as freya points out it is a bit of a pain, but i have started training with it now so will persevere.
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all the whistles are the same its down to personal choice. If your going on a shoot you want a quieter whistle.
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I use 211 1/2 as I got given it ph34r,
mind you OH was whistling to a tune in one room at the weekend and she went running off to him :-\
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I use a 210 1/2 for Spike. ;)
(Domino doesn't do whistles!!)
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I've got a 210 1/2 for Woody - works a treat (sometimes!)
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We use a 210.5 ACME. My GPS in my car makes the exact same 3 pips when it first switches on, which always gets his attention!! It's not a terrifically loud whistle but we use sign language with it too (holding arms out like a scarecrow for the recall etc.) so he gets the idea on a windy day. There might be some higher frequencies that humans can't hear - don't know
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How do you start training dogs to a whistle and combine this with general commands they have learnt through obedience classes? I think a whistle might be what I need with Izzy but I've never used one before.
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I start with calling to my puppy by its name and giving two toots on the whistle and lots of praise when they come. Just repeat this and they will soon learn to come on two toots without calling their name. You can give a treat as a reward for coming to you but I use loads of praise cuddles and fuss when they do come to you as you want them to associate coming to you for fun.
Another is the stop whistle command. You must have you're puppy trained to walk to heel correctly before you can effectively do this. But basically the stop command is to teach youre dog "Drop to shot" the dog doesnt ness have to hit the deck but should stop immediately on this command. I use one soft longish blow of the whistle for this but some use one toot. It is taught when walking to heel and the whistle command is given and the dog is commanded to sit. I gently push their bottoms into the sit position at the same time as the whistle stop command. (gosh this sounds complicated) ::) :005: Its not though you are better being taught hands on :shades: :005:
It is very hard to explain exactly by typing and I am not the best person in translating in what I mean so this may sound patchy.
Have you a GOOD gun dog trainer near you or a gun dog club you could go to, they will be only too willing to help you. :blink:
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Another is the stop whistle command
I've been trying to teach this to Betty for ages with voice command, and a hand signal though.
I'd love to be able to 'freeze' her, but she just runs towards my excited.
I've been making sure she isnt too distracted by a smell or anything else, the recalling her, but mid recall, I stand sideways, then do a sit signal in the air, and say loudly 'Betty sit', but she just runs up and sits at my feet ::)
I wonder if it would be more effective with a whistle?
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Another is the stop whistle command
I've been trying to teach this to Betty for ages with voice command, and a hand signal though.
I'd love to be able to 'freeze' her, but she just runs towards my excited.
I've been making sure she isnt too distracted by a smell or anything else, the recalling her, but mid recall, I stand sideways, then do a sit signal in the air, and say loudly 'Betty sit', but she just runs up and sits at my feet ::)
I wonder if it would be more effective with a whistle?
Both my labs are 100% on their stop command, Sweepie? well she is getting there :angel: Gosh sorry posted that by mistake. It takes months of training to get them to do this, I go over it every day with them from day 1. You should try a whistle with Betty. ;)
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Another is the stop whistle command
I've been trying to teach this to Betty for ages with voice command, and a hand signal though.
I'd love to be able to 'freeze' her, but she just runs towards my excited.
I've been making sure she isnt too distracted by a smell or anything else, the recalling her, but mid recall, I stand sideways, then do a sit signal in the air, and say loudly 'Betty sit', but she just runs up and sits at my feet ::)
I wonder if it would be more effective with a whistle?
If she ignores the command the first time you give it and keeps running towards you start to run towards her still giving the hand signal and then take her back to the spot she was at when you first gave the 'stop' command and she ignored it and make her sit there. If you just stand there and do nothing she'll think it's ok to keep running back to you ;)
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If she ignores the command the first time you give it and keeps running towards you start to run towards her still giving the hand signal and then take her back to the spot she was at when you first gave the 'stop' command and she ignored it and make her sit there. If you just stand there and do nothing she'll think it's ok to keep running back to you
To be honest, I've tried the running towards her giving the signal, the running backwards giving the signal, but haven't done the putting her back in a sit in the original spot, so will try that this afternoon :D
I thought it might be because every time we finish whatever training we've been doing, it usually ends with a 'go round, and sit at feet' for a treat, so is she running to sit at my feet so she gets the treat?
I think a new task might be better with a new signal cue, such as a whistle
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It's the putting her back on the spot bit while giving the 'stop' command(s) again that's the key ;) The running towards her just helps to break the unwanted behaviour by stopping her before she reaches her goal i.e. you!
Whistles are excellent as they give a clear, concise instruction to the dog which it cannot misinterpret but before you try this exercise to the whistle you have to teach her what the stop whistle means by doing the exercise that Cazzie described above. If you just introduce it as she's coming towards you she won't have a clue what it means and you dilute its effect for future use.
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If she ignores the command the first time you give it and keeps running towards you start to run towards her still giving the hand signal and then take her back to the spot she was at when you first gave the 'stop' command and she ignored it and make her sit there. If you just stand there and do nothing she'll think it's ok to keep running back to you
To be honest, I've tried the running towards her giving the signal, the running backwards giving the signal, but haven't done the putting her back in a sit in the original spot, so will try that this afternoon :D
I thought it might be because every time we finish whatever training we've been doing, it usually ends with a 'go round, and sit at feet' for a treat, so is she running to sit at my feet so she gets the treat?
I think a new task might be better with a new signal cue, such as a whistle
I never use treats now with my dogs, they are rewarded with tonnes praise. The reason being that when I was training daisy as a pup I was advised to use treats, she would stand on her head for a treat, but if I was anywhere without them you could forget daisy doing anything I asked of her, they are not daft :005:
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Whistles are excellent as they give a clear, concise instruction to the dog which it cannot misinterpret but before you try this exercise to the whistle you have to teach her what the stop whistle means by doing the exercise that Cazzie described above. If you just introduce it as she's coming towards you she won't have a clue what it means and you dilute its effect for future use
I wasn't just gonna toot it at her and expect her to know what it means ;) ...shes many things, but shes not psychic :005:
I will get myself a whistle, and do a search on here for whistle training, I'm sure someone else posted it on here a while ago, I'll start with the basics and see how we go :D
As for the treats, Betty is VERY food orientated, not too arsed about toys, unless she is in the mood to play ::)
I have started to not give treats after every thing I've asked of her, as advised on here, she has to work harder for them now, getting a treat after doing a few tasks with loads of praise too, although I cant go too long in between treating, as she looses interest ::)
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Whistles are excellent as they give a clear, concise instruction to the dog which it cannot misinterpret but before you try this exercise to the whistle you have to teach her what the stop whistle means by doing the exercise that Cazzie described above. If you just introduce it as she's coming towards you she won't have a clue what it means and you dilute its effect for future use
I wasn't just gonna toot it at her and expect her to know what it means ;) ...shes many things, but shes not psychic :005:
I didn't think you would tbh but others will probably read this and might not realise the process to follow ;)
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Izzy is actually a show type, but I think she'd prefer to work. I really only want to teach her to respond to the whistle for her own safety and my peace of mind. I had a cocker similar to her many years ago who was a real hunter, and who had selective hearing. She got run over and I never want to go through that again.
Can I buy the whistles you refer to above from the likes of pets at home or is there somewhere no specialised?
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Izzy is actually a show type, but I think she'd prefer to work. I really only want to teach her to respond to the whistle for her own safety and my peace of mind. I had a cocker similar to her many years ago who was a real hunter, and who had selective hearing. She got run over and I never want to go through that again.
Can I buy the whistles you refer to above from the likes of pets at home or is there somewhere no specialised?
Not sure if perts at home have them :-\ You can get them from Gun and fishing stores :blink:
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Try Here (http://www.acmewhistles.co.uk/xcart/customer/product.php?productid=103&cat=3&page=1) you can click on the links and listen to the different types and see which one gets the best response, we use a 210.5 for Lucy. when you have decided google it to get a better price ;)
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Izzy is actually a show type, but I think she'd prefer to work. I really only want to teach her to respond to the whistle for her own safety and my peace of mind. I had a cocker similar to her many years ago who was a real hunter, and who had selective hearing. She got run over and I never want to go through that again.
Can I buy the whistles you refer to above from the likes of pets at home or is there somewhere no specialised?
Not sure if perts at home have them :-\ You can get them from Gun and fishing stores :blink:
P@H have whistles but they aren't very good you are better getting one of the ones mentioned 210 210 1/2 211 or 211 1/2
I'm led to believe the whistle doesn't really matter but how you use it etc (consistency) Also when you start with a whistle don't blow it too loud otherwise you will always have to blow it loud ;)
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Try Here (http://www.acmewhistles.co.uk/xcart/customer/product.php?productid=103&cat=3&page=1) you can click on the links and listen to the different types and see which one gets the best response, we use a 210.5 for Lucy. when you have decided google it to get a better price ;)
Wow!! I think Bettys a natural :lol:
Just tried that link to listen to one of the whistles. Didnt realise Boyf had the volume on so high ::) Poor Betty came flying in.....so the whistle recall works already :lol:
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Try Here (http://www.acmewhistles.co.uk/xcart/customer/product.php?productid=103&cat=3&page=1) you can click on the links and listen to the different types and see which one gets the best response, we use a 210.5 for Lucy. when you have decided google it to get a better price ;)
Wow!! I think Bettys a natural :lol:
Just tried that link to listen to one of the whistles. Didnt realise Boyf had the volume on so high ::) Poor Betty came flying in.....so the whistle recall works already :lol:
:lol: :lol: :shades:
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Try Here (http://www.acmewhistles.co.uk/xcart/customer/product.php?productid=103&cat=3&page=1) you can click on the links and listen to the different types and see which one gets the best response, we use a 210.5 for Lucy. when you have decided google it to get a better price ;)
Wow!! I think Bettys a natural :lol:
Just tried that link to listen to one of the whistles. Didnt realise Boyf had the volume on so high ::) Poor Betty came flying in.....so the whistle recall works already :lol:
Yeah if only it would stay like that ::) Lucy did exactly the same, i tried them all and settled on the 210.5 and she was brilliant with it :luv: I used to carry some squeezy cheese with me and i would give her a bit every time she came on the whistle, then OH started giving her the cheese for being a dog and she soon lost interest >:(
The way to do it is to have a high value treat just for recalls, start with her in the same room, whistle and reward on each return, next day wait until she goes out of the room then whistle and reward, next day increase the distance and so on until you can call he in from the garden using the whistle. when she will come reliably buy a long lead and do the same whistle and reward when out walking, the long lead will give you a fighting chance of getting hold of her should something more attractive than your high value treat appear on the horizon (Rotting badgers and half naked picnickers spring to mind - why oh why didn't i take a long lead ::))