Whistle commands.

[Anthony.D]

Please can I have some help. I'm just about to get springer spaniel. I'm reding J.Irving's book on training and he recommends 2 whistles. One for recall and turns, and a thunderer for stop.

I've read elsewhere that commands should be 3 - recall, 2 -turn and 1 - stop. All with one whistle.

What is the general opinion please. I'm confused.

[deeksofdoom]

I use 1 whistle the most common is an Acme 210 an a half, 1 blast to stop, 2 to recall, to get the dog to turn I blow the stop whistle followed by a hand signal. Everyone does it differently.

[elmer_fudd]

Everyone has different commands, I use 3 to recall, 1 to stop. The rest is done by hand signals, eg away, down, left and right.

20 blasts is usually me loosing my temper

I did read once a defacto standard, I will try and find it

[Auto]

As above,

 

1 = Stop

2=Turn or work on

3+= Recall

20+= Dog will have sore ***.

[Browning]

As above,

 

1 = Stop

2=Turn or work on

3+= Recall

20+= Dog will have sore ***.

 

[WGD]

As above,

 

1 = Stop

2=Turn or work on

3+= Recall

20+= Dog will have sore ***.

 

 

Agree with the above. The 3+ for recall is to ensure the dog doesn't hear a couple of pips and think it's the turn whistle, keep pipping (within reason) until the dog knows it is being recalled and not turned. I have a Thunderer but 1) I just don't like it and 2) you have enough going on when out shooting without having to worry about having to change whistles in a hurry to stop your dog disappearing over the horizon or launching itself over a barbed wire fence.

 

WGD

[WGD]

And if you want to be really pedantic about it a 210.5 is a spaniel whistle and a 211.5 is a lab whistle

 

WGD

[cracker]

And if you want to be really p*ssantic about it, you can use a spaniel whistle for commands on land and a Lab whistle for commands on water. Like with running blind water retrieves at distance to get their attention.

 

MG

[MC]

As above,

 

1 = Stop

2=Turn or work on

3+= Recall

20+= Dog will have sore ***.

 

 

 

I'm with this lot as well,

 

The 210.5 is the whistle to use as well. the 211 or 212 are too higher pitch

[Shootingman]

As above,

 

1 = Stop

2=Turn or work on

3+= Recall

20+= Dog will have sore ***.

[russuk]

You're doing the training, and you'll be working the dog, so use whatever you feel comfortable with. As long as the dog learns it and responds I can't see any difference.

[Millomite]

I use a 212 as it's louder, at least for me anyway.

 

I use:

1 short pip - STOP

2 pips - Turn when quartering

Series of 4 pips to recall. I.e. pip-pip-pip-pip pause pip-pip-pip-pip etc

[Quist]

I use a short peep to stop

pip, pip, peeep to recall

and pip, pip with an arm signal for the direction I want them to go in.

[harryhawk]

My first 2 dogs i used a ACME thunderer as a stop whistle.

WARNING if the keeper uses a thunderer to stop the drive, it can be embarrassing !!!!

 

I now use...210.5

1 pip=stop.

2 pips=turn, start quartering again.

3-4 pips=re-call.

[krazykayaker]

i use my whistle to get my dog to STOP (which she does), then she looks at me for a hand command and then does what she wants!!(typical woman!!))

[DOLLSEYES]

210.5 for Spaniel.

211.5 for Lab.

1 long blast for stop,with hand raised in the air.(This being the most important command of all.)

2 for recall.With a slap of the thigh.

But at the end of the day its what you feel comfortable with.A keeper friend who i bought my first dog off would not use any bought whistles,only his own whistle(by his own mouth),because he always said if you forgot your whistles your fxxxed.

[Anthony.D]

Thanks all for your help. Its cleared things up for me a lot.

[nickb]

Try to use clear hand signals with the whistle

Really over do it to start with to get the dog to understand, for turning when quartering stopping etc.

[Lancs Lad]

One long one - Stop and Sit/Lie

 

Two Short Pips - Return.

 

5 short pips turn.

 

Pip Pip Pip - Blast Blast Blast - Pip Pip Pip - he comes and gets me out of the bog that I have just stepped in when pushing birds from the swamp.

[tweety pie]

Never used a whistle until now and my dog 6 months old. He will not take any notice of the whistle now.

[Andy75]

I started mine on the whistle at about 7 months, and he took to it really well

Keep persevering!