Stop whistle

[Clodagh]

(Probably again… ).
When you use the stop whistle, and the dog stops, turns, sits (or whatever) and waits for the next instruction, do you give a release command prior to the next direction?
I never have but a trainer said I should. I am rubbish at changing how I do things so thought I’d ask.
What I do now would be to give a left, right or hunt command. I would not stop and direct more than one dog at a time.

 

[druid]

Nope, sounds like the road to noisy handling.

 

[Clodagh]

He said I should say ‘yes’ or a word that means stop sitting and go do. It got me confused as surely the hunt whistle means go do by itself.
And thank you.

 

[druid]

Is this a gundog trainer?

 

[EllieBeast]

No we don’t use a release command. When we blow the stop whistle, we expect the dog to stop (preferably sit) and look at us for the next command- then act on it as soon as we give it.

I’ve always been taught to keep commands to a minimum to help prevent confusion?

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

I do what you do currently Clodagh

 

[Clodagh]

Is this a gundog trainer?

It is. One you know! I will ask for clarification next time I see them.

 

[druid]

Is this supposed to be a marker of the correct behaviour that you then fade?

With pups/muppets in training if they give a nice smart stop/sit I will sometimes say good and pause before giving the next command. I don't consider it a release.

 

[BallyJ]

Definitely not as experienced as the above responses!
But we don’t, we give them the next command we want them to do! X

 

[Morwenna]

Not at all experienced but I was taught that stop / sit means do that until you tell them to do something else so in this case the next instruction is the release from the sit (or whatever they do at the stop whistle).

Though mine is currently pretending she’s never heard the stop whistle in her life and has no idea what it means

 

[Clodagh]

Is this supposed to be a marker of the correct behaviour that you then fade?

With pups/muppets in training if they give a nice smart stop/sit I will sometimes say good and pause before giving the next command. I don't consider it a release.

Could have been linked to muppet behaviour, fair point.

 

[maisie06]

(Probably again… ).
When you use the stop whistle, and the dog stops, turns, sits (or whatever) and waits for the next instruction, do you give a release command prior to the next direction?
I never have but a trainer said I should. I am rubbish at changing how I do things so thought I’d ask.
What I do now would be to give a left, right or hunt command. I would not stop and direct more than one dog at a time.

No - I just give the next instruction - never used a release command off a stop whistle. My trainer says stop whistle means sit on yer arse and don't move and await next instruction whether it be recall, direction etc, so I personally ouldn't see the point in a release command in that situation, but, hey there's no right or wrong if it works for you.

 

[gunnergundog]

Are you going back to this trainer? If so, I would genuinely be interested to hear his/her logic to the release cue in this situation as it isn't something that I do, or see the need for. I do however use both a clicker (close proximity) and a marker word for certain behaviours in early training/re-training.

 

[Clodagh]

Are you going back to this trainer? If so, I would genuinely be interested to hear his/her logic to the release cue in this situation as it isn't something that I do, or see the need for. I do however use both a clicker (close proximity) and a marker word for certain behaviours in early training/re-training.

I will do, I like them generally and they have nailed every problem I have ever turned up with. They said if using a clicker that would be the time to click but a ‘yes’ or ‘good’ would work the same. I never remembered to do it as I’m far worse than any dog at being trained.
Now that I’m using the stop at long distances I don’t even try to remember as I’d be bellowing.
I will ask. I’m going back soon with my next problem (getting Ffee to hold her area and not bog off to a more promising place).