The first thing I'd sort out is the difference between calling Mutt over and choosing what you want him doing while you travel.

The first thing I'd sort out is the difference between calling Mutt over and choosing what you want him doing while you travel. Heel keeps him close. Free gives him more room to wander while following you. Stay lets you leave him in a particular place, then call him back when you're ready. If he's getting under your feet while you're gathering things or trying to move around someone, use Stay rather than fighting with his positioning the whole time. There are also ongoing hunting, searching and aggressive settings once you have the relevant perks. The quick recall command brings him back toward you, but it doesn't necessarily replace the behavior you previously selected. If you told him to hunt, calling him over briefly doesn't mean he's finished hunting for the day. Check his current command when he keeps going back to something. That's especially worth remembering around people. You don't want an aggressive setting running when you're trying to handle a situation another way. Sending him back to the mill is a separate choice. That's for leaving him home, not parking him nearby for a minute. Once you've sent him there, go back to Rattay Mill and speak to Theresa when you want him accompanying you again. Whistling from across the map won't undo that instruction.