At this stage in the game, I can accurately say that I have watched thousands of dogs at work, either in hunting, trialing, or training fields. This amounts to a pretty good sample size to have studied. I have also watched nearly as many people, both professionals and complete novices, handling dogs in those same environments. All of this watching has led me to believe that an effective partnership between handler and dog depends on clear communication. The handler must know what they wish to communicate, and they must be able to deliver that message in a clear, concise, and timely manner. The dog can only perform at peak levels—both while hunting and training—if they clearly hear and understand what is being asked of them. In the end, a functional human-dog partnership is no different than a functional person-person relationship: good communication is an absolute must.

I want to dig into the most obvious ways that handlers communicate directly with their dogs, specifically addressing voice commands, whistle commands, and the less overt commands delivered by body language alone. Using all of these different “languages,” a handler can “speak” to the dog, giving directions and asking for specific responses. That said, all of these “languages” can also break down easily when communication becomes unclear, and a direction is not given understandably or at the right moment.

Use Consistency when Giving Commands

When I start working with young dogs, I always begin by associating a verbal command with a desired behavior. In the case of flushing spaniels, the verbal behavioral commands we start with are fairly basic: “here” or “come” as a recall, “hup” as a sit, and “heel.” Often, for the sake of early training, I will also teach a dog “place” as a command for sitting and staying on a place board or mat. The process for teaching each of these skills has been delineated in other installments of this column, but it is important to note that the physical skill should be taught and reinforced. Only once it is totally understood by the dog should a verbal command be layered onto the behavior. Once the verbal command is connected with the desired outcome, it can be drilled over and over, and the desired behavior can be reinforced with treats and praise.

The words we use in verbal commands should be clear and crisp, and delivered with authority. The command should be given once, and the expectation should be that the behavior is executed perfectly. If the behavior is not executed by the dog, it is critical that the handler not simply assume that the command was not heard or was misunderstood. Many amateur handlers give a command over and over, assuming that eventually, the dog will comply. This practice simply reinforces that the verbal command is not associated with a clear outcome and that compliance is optional. Similarly, the verbal command must remain the same time and time again. A handler who uses “come,” “come here,” “over here,” or a similar mishmash of words interchangeably will simply confuse the dog. Human language delivered to dogs must be consistent. That said, the tone with which the command is given can change depending on the circumstance. Early in teaching verbal commands, a gentle, coaxing voice can be used. Later, if a command is not obeyed, it can be delivered a second time with a firmer voice. This can be a good way to emphasize the importance of immediate compliance. Frustrated verbalization, however, rarely serves the handler or the dog, and repeatedly yelling a command to a dog just breaks down the communication.

Transitioning from Vocal Commands to Whistle Commands

Only after verbal commands are clearly understood and reliably delivered should a handler layer in  commands with a dog training whistle. Spaniel and flushing dog handlers usually use a pealess English-style whistle made by Acme. These are relatively soft-sounding training whistles that come in a variety of pitches and degrees of volume, as close-working dogs do not require a loud, amplified whistle command. Each handler will eventually learn to “talk” to the dog through a whistle during training, and each handler develops his or her own language or tone. Generally speaking, however, one long pip translates to hup, two quick pips translate to a direction change or turn, and a trill or pip-pip-pip-pip-pip translates to a recall. Occasionally, a quick single pip will simply get the dog’s attention focused back on the handler.

Whistle commands are overlayed on a voice command in training. The voice command can be given, and then, as the dog begins to comply, the whistle command is given. In lumping these two commands together, they become synonymous with a behavior; over a short period of time, the verbal command can be phased out. The beauty of a whistle command is that the whistle is clear and crisp, and easier for the running dog to hear. Therefore, the “language” of the whistle can become more clear, both for the dog and the handler. The key again, however, is to keep the commands consistent; a hup whistle is a hup whistle, and it has to remain the same. If you watch a seasoned handler working with a dog using only whistle commands, you will quickly see that this language is effective and efficient and makes for a more pleasant experience in the field. The handler who is constantly tweeting the whistle, however, likely has a non-compliant dog, or a dog that has somehow learned that the individual command means nothing. It’s somewhat like a child listening to a lecturing parent; if the point of the command is not clear and just becomes background noise, nobody will benefit.

Training Communication Creates Hunting Partnerships

Eventually, the goal of communication between the handler and the dog should be one of true partnership, one in which the desired behaviors are understood, and emphatic commands or steering are less necessary. This stage comes about when the dog becomes attuned to the movement and body language of the handler. A good flushing dog, who has learned that the handler is in charge of direction, pace, etc., should always check in with the handler, referencing what the handler is doing. When this happens, a handler can change a dog’s direction simply by taking a new course. The dog will adjust its casts accordingly and take the new route. Moreover, a handler will be able to “send” a dog into cover by indicating direction with a pointed hand and a step towards that cover. This process of communicating solely through body language comes about somewhat organically as an extension of good communication built by verbal and whistle commands.

A final note on communication is that all three “languages” have their place, and can be used together. Some situations may require a whistle command, others a body language command, or sometimes a mixture of these commands will be necessary. These languages will come together for the seasoned dog and handler working in partnership, resulting in effortless communication. Basically, the dog and the handler will become fluent in their shared language, which is a special place to be.