When do you start to use the whistle in your training?  Do you teach the voice commands first then introduce the whistle, or start using it straight away?

Also, what whistle should I use?  I have seen so many different types and wondered what the most commonly used/standard one is.  And where to buy from??  Sorry for all the questions!

hope someone can point me in the right direction.

Hi Louise, welcome to WCOL.

I think you will get many different answers and many different whistles. As someone who is trying to train his own young dog, I'll start you off with my own experience and hopefully, more able folk will offer more insight.

I started using the whistle almost immediately. Just about the first time we had our dog loose in the park (about 12 weeks old) we had him shuttle-running between the wife and me.  As I released him, she called him to her by voice and as she released him, I used the whistle. I still use the same one- a green Acme 210 1/2. (hers is pink!).

There are stacks of places to buy gun-dog training equipment from including whistles. I get all my stuff from Turner and Richards, their service is second to none.

Louise

I'd say much the same as Keith, start using a whistle just as soon as the basic verbal commands are grasped, recall and sit to start with.  Get the recall to voice absolutely solid first though.  More advanced stuff such as the stop whistle needs to come much later, it's just a derivative of the sit whistle but you don't want to inhibit your dog in it's early training.

The good old Acme 210 1/2 takes some beating, get a plastic one though, metal ones are murder in cold weather and freeze to your lips!!  Turner Richards are good, I differ from Keith in that I've always found their service slow though, and have used Sporting Saint for most of my stuff.

Be consistant with your whistle commands, and I'd advise  adopting the "standard" commands, one peep for sit (and a louder single blast for stop eventually), three or more rapid peeps for recall.  Ultimately you will want to use two peeps for a direction change when quartering but thats a bit advanced at this stage.

Hope this helps.

Hi Keith and Neill, thank you both for your replies.  I do only want to start off with the very basics of the recall and sit, other than that, more advanced training will wait until she is older and ready.  I will get myself an Acme 210 1/2.  My pup is not here yet but want to get myself organised and a little educated as there is so much to learn!!  Thanks for the whistle commands Neill.  I like the idea of the whistle as the tone is consistent, therefore hopefully helping in our training.

Louise

Sporting Saint do a couple of beginners packs that will have everything together to get you started ( apart from  the training knowlege and the dog of course ).

Hi all,

Only a quick comment regarding Turner Richards. I always phone them up Neill, I never ever order off the website. Whether it's because I'm relatively nearby, but I've had stuff delivered within HOURS. When I bought a wax-jacket last year, their staff tried some on over the phone to make sure I got the correct size (long story)!! Again, it arrived within hours.....?