We've worked quite hard on sit over the last couple of weeks and Molly is now almost completely reliable at sitting to a hand signal. However I'm not having much success with sit in response to a whistle. I've tried giving the hand signal and then blowing the whistle as she sits, but whenever I've simply blown the whistle with no other cue, she just stands looking at me. I'd quite like to use a clicker, but not sure how to co-ordinate whistle and clicker, or even if this is a good idea. Any suggestions please?
Re: Sit in response to whistle I think you might want to blow the whistle before the hand signal....she should eventually pre-empt the hand signal when the whistle blows.....I'm sure someone who is better at the detail will confirm or explain better
Re: Sit in response to whistle Personally I wouldn't be too quick to introduce the whistle for the sit especially for gun dogs. Keep with the hand signal and voice until this is rock solid. Then add the whistle like you've been doing. But don't test it too soon - and I suspect that this is all that's 'going wrong'. More hand / voice until this is proofed. Then the whistle. Again, a personal choice but I don't introduce the sit whistle until about 5/6 months until you've got a really good sit and good heel work. Here a good set of links from Pippa here http://www.thelabradorforum.com/index.php?topic=4059.0
Re: Sit in response to whistle Thanks both of you. Barbara, I think you're right that I should do the whistle first. Since posting I've found Pippa' s instructions. Gordon, Molly is 9 months old so ready to learn this I think.
Re: Sit in response to whistle Hi Joy I agree with Barbara whistle before hand or verbal signal then she wil start to sit on the whistle and you can stop the other signals. I use a clicker with the whistle with no problems. Basically in the same way as I'd use it with a verbal cue or hand signal. For example is you wanted to speed up her sit for the whistle. Peep she sits you click and treat. Once she gets the hang of it start to only C&T the sits that are quicker and so on. Whistle recall I C&T when the dog gets to me but also to speed up the response to the whistle. As soon as the dog turns to come click treat when it gets to you. Not sure if that's what you had in mind but i find clicker and whistle work no problem.
Re: Sit in response to whistle Thanks, I'll give it a go. I'm so pleased with the way clicker training has worked for retrieving that I'm keen to use it in other ways.
