Sheepdog Training Commands
Voice and Whistle Commands
Dog are far more pedantic than humans. Sometimes we say "sit " and other times we say "sit down" or "stand" and "stand still" and perceive that both sets are the same. Maybe you mean the same but to a dog they are two separate commands. Let's look at the "down" command for example. There are many variations of pronouncing this command for example "duwn" or daawn" or "dwnn". To a dog each variation sounds different and therefore the potential is there for confusion to arise. The same applies to whistle commands.
Traditionally the following commands have been used, with geographical variations, always to the dog's left or right.
Away or Away to me - Anti - clockwise or the dogs right hand side
Come - Bye - Clock-wise or the dogs left
Stand, Lie down or Stop - Dog stops or some people may imply slow down
Look - look at the sheep
Steady - move at a steady pace
Sshhhhh - to excite the dog to increase its speed
Look Back - look for another packet of sheep behind you
Take hold - quickly grip or snap at the sheep when facing up to a dog in defiance
This - Turn and face a particular ewe or ewes
Come In - to move closer to the sheep
Keep out - to keep good distance from the sheep whilst moving left/right
That'll Do - stop working or come back to me or towards me
That's enough - stop working
How to blow a sheepdog whistle
Place the whistle in the mouth so that your lips are past the hole on the whistle ensuring the hole is not blocked Ensure that the bottom edge of the whistle is pressed constantly against your lips, otherwise you will hear a hiss.
Blow gently so that the air enters the whistle through the small circular holes inside your mouth, and leaves it between the two pieces of metal which are between your lips. Your tongue on the back of the whistle will vary the direction of the air, and after a little trial and error, you will soon master the art.
I find that the whistle can be placed in the mouth either way but prefer to have the opening facing downwards as I believe you get a louder tone.
Many handlers not only have whistle commands for each of the above but also they have half or short variations to imply long or short distance.
It is crucial that whistle commands are simple, pleasant and crisp sounding with no muffled tone.
Training Commands
