Mark thats fab, going to keep that for the next dog as never whistle trained Indie but not going to start with her as she doesn't need it.
However, I might be missing something here but if they are in another room or the garden and you don't blow the whistle until they are on the way back to you, how do you know they are coming back or are you supposed to call them to get them to come and then blow the whistle - this is probably a really obvious answer so apologies in advance if I'm being dim :shades:
Mark thats fab, going to keep that for the next dog as never whistle trained Indie but not going to start with her as she doesn't need it.
However, I might be missing something here but if they are in another room or the garden and you don't blow the whistle until they are on the way back to you, how do you know they are coming back or are you supposed to call them to get them to come and then blow the whistle - this is probably a really obvious answer so apologies in advance if I'm being dim :shades:
yep shout them or make a fuss and don't make it too difficult for the dog to be able to comeback in the early stages.
Also make sure you can deliver treats (or other rewards quickly) Amazing how many people mess around with plastic bags in pockets.
A treat pouch or bum bag is a must!
Do you know, we started pet gundog training about 4 weeks ago and I introduced the whistle for the first time. I have to say within about 2 minutes Muppet picked this up and now she is a superstar hound. She cannot come back to me fast enough, EVERYTIME! I am still using the food reward when she comes back but I don't mind because she is faultless. I wish we had found this method years ago.
In the past her recall has be pretty good but you know what its like.....Nose on the ground = complete deafness!
I can totally recommend this method.
Good luck!
Thanks for the info, i shall certainly try and put this into practice...... could anyone tell me what livercake is and does anyone have the receipe for it, I dont think we will be able to buy it out here in France oh and tuna cake as well please. thanks
just one question - what about a dog that won't tolerate having its collar held ::)Then work damn hard on keeping him with you by rewarding like crazy or if on a long line keep hold of that.
Max would more than likely bite your hand off if you tried that with him ph34r
I can hold his collar ( now after months of desensitising ) but he won't allow anyone else to ( same for when he has something he shouldn't i can remove it safely but no-one else unless they swap it for a few fingers :005: )
His recall is fine with me but then i am with him.....when i am not its not so good ::)
Any suggestions of how to cope with "random" ignoring of recall. I just seem to be taking two steps forward and one backwards with Taz. he goes for weeks having a perfect recall, and then we will go on a walk and he completely ignores me and running as fast as he can in the opposite direction (only once per walk, when i finally get him back he goes back on lead), it would be easier in some ways if he always ignored me -then i would keep him permanently on lead, but with it being so random i never know when to expect it. He does seem to be worse if i have met up with a friend - perhaps he thinks that he doesnt have my full attention!
A probably silly question here from a newcomer to all of this!
Once your dog has learned to respond to the whistle, do you still call them first and only blow it when they are on their way back to you, or do you then move on to blowing it to get them to come back to you?
You should see my 10 week old pup on the whistle :shades: He is already awesome!they learn so fast!!!
Do you recommend starting this method straight away for a young pup? (mine is 11wks)
I was just wondering whether the fact that she is still young and unpredictable will undermine the importance of this?
Go for something really special, the smellier the better.
Any ideas on what to use for treats? As I don't have an oven/cooker I can't cook chicken and have been using normal treats bought from the pet shop to train sit/stay etc.
Wow thanks, I am definitely going to order a whistle and try this one!
Any ideas on what to use for treats? As I don't have an oven/cooker I can't cook chicken and have been using normal treats bought from the pet shop to train sit/stay etc.
Are puppy choc drops ok?
Hi, For the last 4/5 weeks I have been training Max to come using the whistle. I followed Top Barks sticky and spent a good 3/4 weeks just using it at home and in the garden. I use chicken which I save only for the whistle. Max came every time so last week I started outside on the long line. Again Max came every time so I have taken him off the lead. He has been brilliant and comes back each time he hears the whistle (i don't over do it maybe just 2/3 times a walk). Once I couldn't see him anywhere so risked blowing the whistle and thankfully he came running back.
My concern is that today for the first time I saw him hesitate when I blew it. He did come but the fact he hesitated has me worried. Is there anything I can do to get him back on track to make sure he will come?
As above really but my dog is 7 years would the same method apply ?
you only blow the whistle when you are 100% sure they will respond :)many thanks, we are getting there. It's a long process but she's doing well unless there are distractions to close for her to ignore.
it needs to work. If the dog is distracted i find either walking backwards with the line or stroking the line buys you a window to start the dog on its way to you.
Such a helpful thread.Extra thing I did was to use the whistle for recall every time I fed my puppy. Positive association was made very quickly this way.
I'm giving this a go, whistle is on it's way to me.
Like a lot of people I have a problem stopping my lad from running off to say hello.
I've also got a little issue as I can't get myself to shout loud enough for Chuckles to hear me.
I have been using Top Barks method now for two weeks.
Today we progressed to the field with Murphy on a long line. Brilliant. Flew back to me every time :banana:
The secret.....sausages ;)
I have high hopes that Murphy's recall is going to be so much better in a month or two's time.
Will your training method on the first page work for a dog that's 5 years old? I am getting a cocker tomorrow that needs to be re housed and keen that it comes to the whistle. I believe he was trained originally to a clicker. Part working part show apparently.
I use a dog whistle. When I first got my dog I didn't use one. Eventually he would ignore my voice and only come when he felt like it. Now I've got the whistle he is much more reliable. I have also started to give him a retrieve as a reward for coming.
I’m just starting this.
Do I need to hold the collar, or can I just give him the treat when he comes to me?
I’m just starting this.
Do I need to hold the collar, or can I just give him the treat when he comes to me?
I'm doing the training with my new boy. I don't hold the collar - he tends to run back to me and sit for the treat. :luv: If I want to put his lead on him though, I do get hold of the collar first. Just do what works best for you ;)