Thread: Training techniques

First mistake Micky is using a voice command for stop. ALWAYS a whistle and that is an absolute. Voice is fine for close but why confuse the mutt with unneeded commands? Is it going to hear you when it further out? You can yell your arse off but don't blame the dog when it can't hear you.
In a hunting situation with deer anyway, you do NOT want to be speaking.

Whistle and hand signals mean you are teaching it two things. For me it's always a dropping whistle for stop. Two rising for come. Then whatever for a left or right, in fact for those I use a hand signal if I'm training for that.

I don't care if people tell my dogs to sit, that's fine. They expect it and so do I. For me it's a throw away command and a bit like teaching dogs to roll over and 'play dead'. If they don't who cares???