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Location: dogsville
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,141
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Originally Posted by
Pidge
Correct me if I'm wrong but this almost sounds to me as if you think people who need a whistle can't properly recall their dogs? Surely not?
No.
You said it was area specific as to whether people needed to use a whistle, those walking in open countryside needed to use a whistle more than those walking in urban parks (or at least that's how I interpreted your post from what I recall). I then said I thought that wasn't the case, that it was probably more of a breed specific thing...if that though, that actually it was down to the individual dog.
Example.
I had to train all our pups to recall instantly to the whistle,not only did they have to recall they had to sit in front of me and nudge my hand (given they were going to be guide dogs in the future and their owner would have to know they were there.
) The whistle was used so there was continuity in training. They did however, also have to have an instant recall to voice.
ALL the pups did exceptionally well with recall and were trained in the same way. Except our Flat Coat (not Cosmo) who from the instant we let him off lead showed an independant streak. He just headed off to share his love with anyone and anything, no matter how aggressive the dog or anti dog the person was. It took us a year to get his recall up to scratch and then it went to pot again in training. He is still spoken about because of his antics at his initial training centre (escapologist AND poor recall....not good.) This boy now has pefect recall because he adores his owner and has realised he is blind.
The whistle was vital in teaching his recall.
ALL the other pups, whatever the breed, have been totally fine, as have our own dogs. Our BCs have been more inclined to head off at a distance, so we used our mouth to whistle them back. The others stay pretty close and recall as I have said to voice/mouth whistles and gundog whistles (which they have been specifically trained to recall to).
So, I feel it is down to the personality of the individual dog with some breed traits thrown in. BCs tend to wander further (but will always know exactly where you are and will circle etc) but other breeds (like GSDs) will stay close. Some dogs though have very individual personalitys and what works with one doesn't work with another.
Nothing to do with some dogs having pants recall. Just to do with individual temperament...some undertand the whistle better than a voice command...sometimes this is down to poor training (IMO) as they have been shouted and have chosen not to come so many times they feel it is an 'optional' command...but generally it is just one of those things.
People are very touchy on this thread...
For what it's worth, apart from the assistance dogs I know, the other dogs I have seen being recalled to a whistle have had a pants recall. I actually held on to one dog after its owner had been whistling for 10 minutes and he was dancing around with us, whilst said owner came to get him, still whistling.