Do you use one or two whistle for your springer

Rossenarra

Do you use one or two whistles for your springer……and what seqense do you use eg(one pip to turn, two to come bach, etc)

I'm reading D. Irvines book on spaniel training and he is saying to use two, however I'm wondering the practicality of using two whistles while out shooting.

Maybe the book is geared to field trials????

Vegeta

Rossenarra wrote: »

Do you use one or two whistles for your springer……and what seqense do you use eg(one pip to turn, two to come bach, etc)

I'm reading D. Irvines book on spaniel training and he is saying to use two, however I'm wondering the practicality of using two whistles while out shooting.

Maybe the book is geared to field trials????

We have one for our setter and one for our lab.

We do use one whistle per dog but carry the two whistles and there's no problem. Carrying two whistles on a lanyard is not really a big deal but switching between them is a little slow (when there's a shotgun in the other hand) so I personally prefer one whistle per dog.

Our lab, well there's the stop whistle which is one long continuous blast, dog sits and looks at you for instruction. The return is 3-4 short bips in quick succession. Other than that its hand signals (left, right, go back, come in closer) and voice commands (heel, fetch, stay, steady).

Setter is on a different pitch whistle, one long blast to return, a single bip to turn. That's about it for the setter. Oh and clicking your fingers when he is set to move him on.

Both our dogs were trained for trials and both trained on one whistle so not sure how common the 2 whistles system is.

That's what we do anyway. Sorry cant be more help on the 2 whistles thing.

cavan shooter

I have only ever used 1 whistle couldnt tell you the pitch other than its fairly sharp.

long blast to get his attention (ie to stop or turn him with a hand signal) and two pips to come back.

Very ad hoc Im sure but it works well

Rossenarra

I reckon I wont be using a second whistle...one whistle

1 = Stop
2=Turn or work on
3+= Recall


Actively sourcing a springer pup...must build a dog run over Christmas

LetFly

Hi Rossenarra,
I have 3 Springers at the minute and am currently trialling one of them. I only ever use one whistle. When working your dog you will be concentrating on the dog and hopefully on getting a shot off so more than one whistle would only add another level of complication to things. There is also a safety issue in that if for any reason you need to stop the dog immediately for his own safety you won't have to waste a second making sure you have the right whistle.
As for commands, I tend to use both whistle and hand signals simultaneously as there can be times (in strong wind for example) that the dog can't hear the whistle correctly and a clear hand signal will reinforce the command. The main whistle commands and hand signals I use are:
- STOP/SIT: long blast on the whistle and hand held high over your head, palm facing the dog.
- TURN: one short pip and a point in the right direction
- Recall: series of short pips and hands spread out to the side with palms facing the dog.

Hope that helps.

Rossenarra

LetFly wrote: »

Hi Rossenarra,
I have 3 Springers at the minute and am currently trialling one of them. I only ever use one whistle. When working your dog you will be concentrating on the dog and hopefully on getting a shot off so more than one whistle would only add another level of complication to things. There is also a safety issue in that if for any reason you need to stop the dog immediately for his own safety you won't have to waste a second making sure you have the right whistle.
As for commands, I tend to use both whistle and hand signals simultaneously as there can be times (in strong wind for example) that the dog can't hear the whistle correctly and a clear hand signal will reinforce the command. The main whistle commands and hand signals I use are:
- STOP/SIT: long blast on the whistle and hand held high over your head, palm facing the dog.
- TURN: one short pip and a point in the right direction
- Recall: series of short pips and hands spread out to the side with palms facing the dog.

Hope that helps.

Thanks for that