Whistle Question, Looking for a loud whistle Options

[Sue R]

I am so inconsistent that it's pathetic, but I just keep on trying a bit every now and then. Sometimes I shock myself with a lovely, clear, loud (ask my hubby) whistle and sometimes I futilely try over and over and get nothing.

I did have to modify one of Dan's instructions ever so slightly to "fit" my mouth and fingers, and I think a big part of it is trying out just what you are shown, and then making any slight changes that make it work better for you.

Dan is my hero!

[Carson Crazies]

Ok, so I watched the funny guy's video. I've been practicing - because obviously I want everyone to love me because I can finger whistle . I keep feeling like something is about to happen... you know, like I might make a squeak or something? Oh but no. Nothing even vaguely resembling a whistle. Not even a peep. I have, however, almost managed to pass out several times.

[Sue R]

I hear you, girl! Sunday was my golden day - some really nice, clear, loud, clean whistles. And it's been practically totally non-productive since. The dogs ignore completely because all I sound like is someone who can't breathe right. I am so down about this.

[Shoofly]

Try sticking your pinkies in your mouth (45 degree angle, up to the first joint) and keeping your tongue back out of the way, and blow air out. Now try sliding your tongue forward and under your pinkies until you hear a little whistling sound. You don't have to blow hard at all to do this, you shouldn't need to make yourself lightheaded. Play around more with your tongue position than your finger position.

Blow gently. You can also try lowering your hands so that your fingers are pointed more up than level. Do the above and when you get something that sounds a little more like a whistle than just air blowing, raise your hands to level out your fingers some and see what you get.

Seriously, i'm sitting here at my desk trying this and no one has come running to see what the whistling is.

[Carson Crazies]

Do I get style points for drooling down my chin?

Actually, Robin, I got a different kind of noise doing what you're saying - more of a vague whistle. Hm... I might finally be on the right track. I had my fingers crammed much further in my mouth than that. Crammed.

[Shoofly]

Sounds like you're on the right track. Just try to get that vague whistle noise for a while, then close up the hole a bit and see if you don't get a little more shrillness to it.

When i'm actually whistling, my fingers don't touch my bottom teeth, my bottom lip is between my bottom teeth and fingers. My fingers do touch my top teeth, pretty hard, just past my fingernails. No cramming.

[Lana]

I like my sterling silver whistle. http://www.bordercollies.com/shopexd.asp?id=432

I can get very loud or soft tones from it. I always thought the sterling was a gimmick and could not fathom paying that much for a whistle. Then one day I was out moving cattle with Geri and did not have my whistle. I can use my fingers, but it was very cold and i was on an ATV. I borrowed Geri's sterling whistle( you have to be a good friend to lend a whistle ) and i was sold.

I do like using my fingers, but it is not practical on a horse or ATV. Knowing how to whistle with your fingers is handy when you are outside and some small job turns into a big job, or you are at a trial and your whistle clogs up( which happened to me in my finals run at the 2008 cow finals and it was so windy i was lucky i had my fingers)....or you get to the post to find when you took your sweat shirt off your whistle stayed with it..back at the trailer !

Lana

[desertranger]

I'll stick with my sheepdog whistle. Hanging on around my neck like some religious sign it's easy to use and always there. It can be heard by Jin upwind from me 300 yds away.
After much practice I don't even need to think about what whistles I need to send. Just put it in my mouth and "come" Dwon, go-way, come-bye and more and when I'm finished. My hands aren't cold and wet.

[Sue R]

I am sitting here between two friends, trying out what Robin and Laura mention, and no one's ears are hearing anything but huffing and puffing. But I am bound and determined to get it. Right, ladies?

And, Lana, I have heard compliments about the silver whistles and really, last I checked, they weren't all that much more than brass. But I have to admit, I haven't priced one lately. It would make a nice necklace pendant as well...

[Carson Crazies]

OMG, I just made an actual whistle sound. This is one for the books, for real! Plus I didn't come even close to fainting. Now I can't do it again (that's what I get for taking my fingers out of my mouth to type). Let me wipe off my keyboard and try again.

My dogs might all get a new set of whistles. Just one tone, open for interpretation. Oh wait, that's sorta what they get already.

[Sue R]

That's just what was happening to me, Laura. The other day, I could sometimes get several good ones in a row but yesterday and today, it's been pretty much a bust for all my trying. Tomorrow is another day...

[Soda-pop]

two things have happened:

A.) I nearly passed out
B.) I got really mad that it's not working and starting blowing harder, which led to A.

[desertranger]

Actually when you get the hang of it fingers or a a whistle it becomse sort of second nature. I like a whistle for several reasons a main one is it leaves my hands free and I'm usually carrying something, walking stick, chuck-it, filled poo bag?

My sheepdog whistle is a plastic one and I would like to get more range or at least a smoother transition between notes (called a gliss in music). Do the different types, shapes and materials make that much of a difference? I originally chose plastic because I loose and break things. I started with 4 and am down to 2. The one I wear and an extra carried in Jin's SD vest.

Do people ask you what your whistle is? I've had people think it was a religious symbol. Yes, it is; Church of the sheepdog.

[flyer]

I highly recommend Border Collies A and I have the corian. Somehow my order had gotten mixed up, I had ordered a book and a plastic whistle as it would be my first to try, with a CD and when they got my order straightened out she sent me a corian whistle no charge. I was so impressed with their service!!

Glad I can finally pay it forward so directly.