Hi. I have 13 month fox red lab. Working on whistle recall. When whistle blown , he stops IMMEDIATELY, looks directly.at me and then begins foraging at that location! We've never taught him this but he gets distressed when we have to move home away.... We've tried in the house and garden and same immediate response ?! Breeder was a working dog Estate Manager but he says he hadn't begun work like this with Finn before we bought him at 7 months old. Any help appreciated David
Hi David I think we need more information. Did you teach a verbal cue or hand signal for recall before introducing and teaching the meaning of the whistle. If so, how did you initially teach the new cue (the whistle)? Do you have a signal for stop/halt? Was there ever a time when he responded to the whistle? Do you always go home straight after recall?
Hi Thanks for getting in touch. We bought Finn at 7 months old. We use "here" as shorter distance recall word and have trained on long line etc and this is probably 90+% reliable. When further from us we wanted a consistent approach , so as my wife etc could use same recall whistle. We hold our hand in the air as we whistle as a visual sign to.come back to us. Finn does stop immediately but then immediately forages to find.something. It as if this is a previous command to search that area but not by us and previous owner / keeper says he too.did not work.on this ... We dont go home directky after recalling him. Many thanks
Your welcome. If I read your narrative correctly, then I think I know what is happening. It sounds as if he does not understand the recall signal at all. So, go back a couple of steps in training. Have a short distance between you and dog. Blow the whistle three short pips [forget the hand signal for now] follow with here (your verbal cue). Positively reinforce when Finn comes righ up to you. If successful, gradually increase the distance. And then shorten distance as you introduce distractions. Let us know what happens.
Sorry, I forgot to say, fade the verbal cue before increasing the distance and distraction. So, that the three-short pips of the whistle is the recall signal.
Thanks once again ! I agree , he seems not to recognise the whistle as recall signal. However, why would he recognise as a cue to start digging / searching the ground I appreciate your time in reply. Thank you
Here's one conjecture.When dogs are in conflict, they may display an unexpected behaviour. Did you observe any body language consistent with anxiety the first time you practised recall with a whistle and a hand signal? Can't remember? It now seems to a learned behaviour. How was it reinforced? Can't remember? Another possibility. It was inadvertently taught. Don't worry. You might never know the reason. Just watch your dog as you implement the new training program. Film him. Play it back. Evaluate.
