Different recall cues meaning different things

I'm a fan of having formal vs more informal cues. "Come!" means stop what you're doing NOW, and run to me at full speed. If I were competing in obedience it might also include a sit in front of me, but since I don't that's not necessary. If I want them to come to me, but a more leisurely pace is okay, I say c'mere. As an alternate to the informal verbal cue I can hold out my arms and wiggle my fingers and they'll come to me. I usually do this if I want to pet them.

Same thing with "heel" vs "let's go" (loose leash, heel position not necessary) on walks. Around the house I'll pat my leg and say c'mon, which means to walk with me in no particular position. I use that off leash too if they stop to sniff a bush or something.

My dogs don't seem at all confused by this. I think as long as you're consistent - the whistle is your formal recall, and "come" means that it's okay to finish what she's doing first but , it will work fine.
 

I only have one recall cue, "Apollo, COME". I only use that as it works like a charm and I don't want him to get confused or get the idea it's OK to not to listen, or to listen only when he wants to- at least when it comes to a recall. I say his name always before a command because he snaps his head to look right at you, full attention, and will focus better and get the command clearly (this has become rock solid thanks to clicker training).  

"Come" or "Hier" (German) is my formal recall for Kenya.  It means stop or out, come back NOW, sprinting back to me, sit in front with paws touching my toes (typically after she does it I release her "OK!" because a rock solid, formal recall is something I don't mind rewarding pretty much every time and I will call her back randomly just so I CAN reward it and release her again).  Often though when we are out running off leash, I just say "wait" as the cue for her to stop and wait for me to catch up, especially if I need to put a leash back on her.  If I want her to stop doing something (like eating a dead animal, tracking too far away) I just use a verbal correction "eh eh!" 

I've got multiple recall cues- the formal "come to front position NOW', the "make your way back to me please", the whistle "find me NOW or I'll eat all the roast beef before you get here", etc. Dogs don't care as long as each cue is very consistently maintained.

mudpuppy

I've got multiple recall cues- the formal "come to front position NOW', the "make your way back to me please", the whistle "find me NOW or I'll eat all the roast beef before you get here", etc. Dogs don't care as long as each cue is very consistently maintained.

Same here.  I use a recall cue for each dog, but each dog also has his/her own "really reliable" word.  And, I use the whistle as an emergency recall, too.  Same meaning:-)))  Find me now......

I have to say that all my recall cues are in a CHEERY voice.  I want my dogs to think "the party is with the human", not "oh, gawd" as if your mother was calling and the street lights went on two hours ago.   

This is a very useful tool in working/herding.  

"name" said sort of normal - I want an ear back at me minimally - on sheep it will "tug the rope" or draw the dog closer to me

"NAME" spoken sharply - I want to see some physical movement back at me

 "That'll Do" come but you can keep an ear back at the sheep

"That'll Do" with a leg pat - or "That'll Do HERE" means come to my feet 

I have a whistle that means precisely the same thing as "That'll Do."  It's a STOP whistle (very high shrill/long) combined with a four-note trill at medium range.  TWEEEEEE-whee-whee-whee-wheee  This is audible at more than half a mile - or longer on flat terrain like an airport runway or across a body of water.

"Let's go" when we are out with the sheep means work is done, stop eyeballing the sheep, we're moving on.

"Let's go" if we are walking means don't go out of sight - Mom might leave without you!

"Heel" means come to my side and stay there - heel works at a distance as well as when the dog is at hand.  It's the closest thing I've got to a formal "Come" command, though if I position my body right I can make any of my dogs come to a full front on "That'll Do" though I'd lose points for double commanding because I'd have to use the leg pat.  LOL

A finished dog can also do a standing stop, or a down while recalling.  However, if there's sheep around I'd lose points on that too because they'll rotate to face the sheep as they are dropping!
 

 Becca, I use an Acme Thunderer, because I have NEVER been able to blow a sheepherding whistle correctly, even though a trainer friend of mine has tried to show me about a gazillion times.  Thankfully, I notice that most of the cattle herders don't use one.  Another reason for Aussie instead of BC LOL.  You should put out a vid on blowing that flippin' whistle - I'd buy it....

The trialers at the cattle National Finals use a mouth whistle.  Many use fingers or teeth, of which I am supremely jealous.

It's just practice.  You've got to experiment until you get a noise, and repeat until you can consistently repeat it, then start trying to blow tunes.  Once you are blowing tunes that others can recognize you are ready to use the whistle in training.

It's like a preview of training a dog to herd - patience, recognizing that instant results aren't going to happen, and getting there in the smallest steps possible.  And accepting steps back as progress, with a different face.

That gives me a good idea.  I might start using the whistle on Ted this week.  I'll video it if I do but it won't help you learn to actually blow the thing.  lol 

DH messed up come with two of our three dogs. It wasn't enforced or rewarded highly enough and they come if and when they please. I have since secretly trained them with "Here" which means to be Johhny on the Spot. As an extra safety measure, we do long distance "Stop" followed by "Sit".

 "Come" means "please make your way back to me".  We use this at the park when we need to go, but without urgency.

"This way" means "follow my voice/walk in the same direction that I am walking".  Used when out hiking.

"Cheese" means "come back to me NOW, I don't care how much you want that squirrel, you will get something from me".  Emergency recall.

"Here" is used either in agility, or when Ben is near me in a crowd and I need him to come back close to me.  

Ben will also do a distance down, using that and going to fetch him is often more practical than a recall, and he's also trained to recall to a whistle.  (Plain ordinary whistle.)  I don't use that much but it's handy if we're in a wide open space or dense woods. 

We, too have a couple of recall cues.  (Name) "COME" (firm) means stop what you are doing and come to  me now.  (Name) "come'ere" (lighter tone of voice) is very informal and just means come on if you want to, we're about to do some thing fun (they are always interested to see what that may be).