Yes,

it is rather 'common' but the connection between the trainer and dog is way more personal?

I can't remember the technical name of the sport?

It's a handler and a dog on a large field and the handler guides the dogs with a whistle and hand signals to get them to go to certain areas on the playing field to grab decoys?

The dogs are tuned into the sound of the whistle, they stop, look back at the handler and are given hand/body signals to get them to go in the desired direction.