There are times and advantages to being able to control your dog without using the voice. This lesson deals with substituting verbal commands which the puppy has already learned.
A good black plastic 210 or 211½ or Staghorn whistle can be good for beginners although some handlers prefer a "Silent whistle" which has a very high pitch, although very audible to the dog/puppy but we cannot hear it.
To train the dog to sit and come to the handler by using the whistle and also to Stop and Sit at a distance from the handler by using this called the "Stop" whistle.
By using the Sit position which the puppy already knows. Have your whistle around your neck with a lanyard. When you start to move with your puppy by your side you are going to have the whistle in your mouth and blow/pip/toot once on your whistle, using the palm of your hand raise it upwards and say SIT, Good dog and reward tasty treat. This is worked through over and over but only 10 to 15 minutes at any one time.
Don't do it so much that the puppy or dog gets bored.
Leave on a good note always.
Another way to do this is, call your dog to you, tell him to Sit, follow the verbal command immediately with a single blast/toot/pip on the whistle. This single blast means to Sit , then give your dog praise and reward.
If not don't worry just use verbal Sit then immediately use the pip whistle only once and reward.
Then command your dog to STAY walk ten yards away, keep saying Stay, then once you are in the right spot call your dog verbally at the same time while your dog is coming towards you whistle....Blast....PIP..PIP..PIP
This time by 3 pips NO more than that!
Repeat both whole exercises for 5 times, on the sixth run-through omit the verbal command, whistle up 3 x PIPs when your dog is up close lavish praise with tasty treats and cuddles.
Dog walking beside you say nothing again, blast one pip/toot using your palm of hand signal if your clever dog Sits again lots of praise/treats/cuddles. If not go back to verbally saying SIT, whistle/short/toot - praise/treat/reward. It just means your dog is not quite ready yet. Don't worry. Repeat these exercise routines several times a day just for 10 minutes a day for a week, after a week you should find that the dog will Sit as readily to the whistle as he/she will do to the verbal command.
There are many occasions when it is necessary to stop your dog. Your dog where ever he is to Sit or Down while awaiting further instructions.
You have already trained your dog to Sit in response to a signal blast/toot. The Stop command is only an extension of this that you train your dog to stop and sit or down in response to the whistle wherever your dog is.
Allow the pup/dog to romp freely for a few minutes and, when the dog is 10 yards away, give a single blast/toot on the whistle. If your dog Sits and stops walk over to him and lavishly praise with treats, if not don't worry just take him back to the spot and one toot on the whistle to remind the dog what he should have done but not in his face. You stand tall and blow. This stop to your dog will start to mean "Stop what ever you are doing or about to do"
Vital in emergencies....Lets hope not...But never say never.