Hi all, We started Harvey's recall training using the 'Come' verbal command. We're now introducing the whistle too and have been really pleased at how quickly he has picked it up. One thing I have noticed though. Harv looks back at us fairly frequently - if he sees that I've taken hold of the whistle he'll come racing back as if he has been recalled. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Or just a thing
Re: Unprompted recall Well, I know I wouldn't be complaining ;D , but I guess he is responding to the wrong cue. Hmm, I think if you blow the whistle as he is running back to you, that would be okay? See what the consensus is
Re: Unprompted recall I think it's just a thing. Charlie used to do this all the time, and still does (only in the kitchen these days). I put my hand on my whistle, on the same strap as my clicker, and they rattle: he recalls. I don't think it matters much (for me). Out in the common or beach, the recall is meaningful - in those situation he responds to recall, not the rattle of whistle and clicker. It's good he is watching you.
Re: Unprompted recall If you are only ever planning on using the whistle for a recall it's fine - you touching the whistle has become a meaningful recall cue for him (so it's not an unprompted recall - he is in fact responding to your cue which he has very observantly picked up - he's a clever boy ). But if you want to use the whistle to cue any other behaviour then you don't want him running back when you touch the whistle. You want him to wait to see what kind of noise the whistle makes and then act accordingly. If you want to stop him responding to you touching the whistle then you need to break the association between that action and the recall and also not reward him for a recall that happens without your actual recall cue. I think that the best way to teach this is to immediately start teaching him something else with the whistle, like the stop cue. There are articles and videos about teaching that on the main site. I'd also just start wearing your whistle all the time at home, and walking round at home with it in your mouth but totally ignoring Harvey. Once he's not reacting to you holding the whistle, sometimes blow your recall cue. Only reward recalls that happen in response to your whistle pips. That's to try to teach him that holding the whistle doesn't mean anything - only blowing the whistle. I'm sure that others have dealt with this kind of issue and will have advice too
Re: Unprompted recall puzzle will do this, if she hears the rattle of clicker or whistle's she comes running. Same as sound of collars jingling. she also used to do it at the park as she would watch and wait until i had put the whistle in my mouth then come racing back, soon broke that habit by holding the whistle in my mouth all the time, it has now become a habit and have mastered tha art of talking whilst holding a whistle in my mouth very well. Have also been known to walk all the way home from the park with the whistle in my mouth even though she is on lead. It does also mean that i am ready to recall her at any point as my whistle is in my mouth ready. And barley used to do this as well when we were trying to whistle recall train him, he thought that whistle in mouth was the recall command. In controlled situations (i.e on long line attached to someone) he responded very well as he really wanted the cat food, but we gave up as he turned deaf to the whistle, no ear movements when it was blown so we gave up and confirmed him as selectively deaf to recall (but he could always hear the rustle of a cat food pouch being opened)
Re: Unprompted recall [quote author=Puppypal link=topic=5487.msg69230#msg69230 date=1397857196] it has now become a habit and have mastered tha art of talking whilst holding a whistle in my mouth very well. [/quote] Ha ha ha Annabelle,me too! Try not to answer your phone with your whistle in your mouth though like I did once! You've had great advice to your problem UncleBob ....so nothing to add from me except I used to have the the problem on the house of actually getting away from Dexter to practice a recall.he used to be up on high alert the minute I moved( he's my little shadow anyway in the house even now) so I had to hide little portions of food in different rooms in the house and get someone to distract him so I could get away from him to recall him! Good job with it x
Re: Unprompted recall Thank you for the feedback. [quote author=Oberon link=topic=5487.msg69222#msg69222 date=1397853362]... it's not an unprompted recall - he is in fact responding to your cue which he has very observantly picked up ...[/quote]You're quite right, of course We're working through the Grade One gundog book so will start work on the Stop whistle.
