We have a 10 year old and a 9 month old Chocolate Lab. Both have fairly good voice recall, but after starting to read Total Recall I'm seriously thinking about doing the whistle training program. I would probably like to use the whistle for more than just recall, and I am thinking about training the pup for upland birds. Question is, should I get different whistles for each dog? On recall it probably doesn't matter too much, if you call one dog and the other is already here. I can see it being a lot more problematic with other commands. Even Sit and Stay could be issues. How does it work in the field or at trials, when a number of owners are using the same model of ACME whistle? I don't really want to carry two whistles, because I can see getting confused about which whistle is for which dog. Any suggestions?
I have owned three dogs at once and only used one whistle, you would get very confused trying to pick the right one up to blow in a hurry! I have 2 Labs now and use the same whistle. If you are in the field or trials, the dogs seem to know their owner's whistle. In trials only one dog is usually working and in the field it just seems to work out; we all blow our whistles slighty differently.
I think dogs know their owner's whistles, like they know their owner's clickers (which is a LOT harder) - I go to a clicker based gundog class. I also don't think a dog would have a problem working out the context of a dog being handled by whistle while the other watches (at least, the dogs I've seen do this haven't had a problem). And if more than one dog is at a distance, you can expect them both to recall, stop, change direction etc.
I have two dogs and one whistle. I either have one "working" (I don't work them, I'm talking just training) at a time, or expect them to do the same thing. I only use it for recall, stop and hunt. Actually, on hunt, they work out who I'm talking to, because it's the dog I sent out. When I'm using my clicker, they also understand that it's the dog I've asked to do something that is being clicked. The other, usually in a settle, doesn't expect a reward every time I click the other dog.
OK then. I'll just get one type of Whistle. Probably several of them so we can keep them in our dogs kit, and my wife and I both have them available.
Ensure your wife fully understands your use of the whistle. I let OH use one when we were starting out, calling the dog from person to person, but it became plain he would "abuse" it if he was given one to keep. I have a few in different pockets, but he is NOT allowed to use them.
I have four dogs and use just one whistle (acme 210.5) As Stacia says, you'd get in a muddle with numerous whistles hanging around your neck, and it isn't necessary
I never allow my OH to use my whistle - no way. I trained Juno to the whistle and no-one else is going to interfere with that training.
You will need a few as you say, one round your neck, one in your car, one in your training bag, spare one in the house, one or two for your wife and even then you will find at one time you don't have one!!
I only have one whistle ( acme 210.5 ) for two dogs. I am the only one who uses the whistle at home. The OH and sons are not allowed to touch the whistle under pain of death
Help out a Yank. What is OH? I presume it is the English version of SO (Significant Other). Google was no help.
We have 2 dogs my OH and I use an ACME 211.5, we use the same number of pips for recall and stop, they both respond
My OH doesn't give Fred time to sit, sit, sit. If you know what I mean So I don't know what he would do with a whistle
Any reason to Pick the 210.5 vs the 211.5? I can't tell the difference when I hear the demo on their website. (Doesn't say much for my hearing, but I don't think Tilly's is as good as mine.)
I don't think there is a significant difference between the two, at least to us humans. The main thing is to decide on one and stick with it once you start training.
I think that the 211.5 carries better so is more useful for long distance stuff. I've used my 210.5 over about 100m quite successfully.
