Coco DID have reasonably good recall, both to whistle AND verbal. I have been neglecting the whistle lately though and on Monday, he failed to recall to whistle on 3 occasions, though verbal was still good. I made a note to practice. I haven't. Today, walking around our quiet roads, he managed to get himself on my right to sniff a hedge - lead in my left hand, now wrapped behind me. I was about to reposition him when he spotted a group of sparrows messing about. He took off after them, leaving me no option but to drop the lead. He chased them into a garden. I called his name - nothing. Well I had nothing to lose, so I pipped my whistle - JOY! He came bounding back! Lots of roast beef for this one. Lucky for me it is a rare thing that he gets on the wrong side, he usually walks very well on my left. Watching OH, on the other hand, and Coco is swapping sides all the time, round the back, round the front..I will reinforce the "walk on the left" rule with me.
Thank heavens for the whistle! Well done Coco leaving the naughty sparrows I walk my dogs on my right but I do have a "this side" cue which works well. x
Well done Coco, good whistle recall. I usually start with Juno on my left by choice when pavement walking with the lead in my right hand and picking up the length in my left but as the village only has pavement on one side we have to switch to her being on my right on the return to the house. I'm relaxed as to where she walks though as long as it is on a loose lead.
I've tried walking him on the right, on a narrow pavement with road on the left, but we just couldn't get it to work, neither him nor me. What's more strange, is I walk Belle on my right and cope fine! (I haven't managed to walk them together).
