Cannot get sound out of whistle....help! Options

[juliepoudrier]

I don't think it's impossible to blow a plastic whistle. That's what I learned to blow a whistle on, but my real whistle is an Arnold.

Amy,
Thanks for the tip regarding Ray's corian whistles. I had two Arnolds but lost one and I imagine sooner or later I'll need a replacement (this is when using only $2 plastic whistles is handy--if you lose it, you're not going to cry over it; on the other hand, Dave Arnold no longer makes his whistles). I have a brass "Arnold" from Rob Drummond, but I like the feel of Corian, so it may be worth the money to me to get a Corian half moon if a former Arnold user endorses it! (I know a couple of people who have Arnolds that they don't use, but they won't part with them either. )

The hardest thing for me advise my students on is the best whistle. Everyone has different preferences. And I don't know anyone who wants to have to buy a whole bunch of different ones in order to find the perfect whistle for them.... (That said, I sometimes keep plastic whistles on hand and will give them away to people so they can start trying to whistle. I don't think I'd do that with the higher priced models!)

J.

[abcollie]

The plastic whistles are indeed the most difficult to blow. There is a reason they only cost $2. Ray Coapman's Corian whistles are probably the easiest to get pure, loud, consistent tones from, but they are not cheap at $30. I use a Coapman buffalo horn whistle myself and absolutely love it. Before that I used and adored an Arnold stainless half-moon but our winters are too cold for a metal whistle.

Amy

I'll second that ... all of Ray's whistles are great :@)

There is a big difference as to how difficult/easy different whistles are to blow. There is also a big difference in tones between the whistles. I think the metal ones do the high notes well but not so great at the low ones. I think the buffalo and the corian do great at both ends of the spectrum. The brass ones carry really well as well as hitting both high/low. I bet I have 50+ whistles (I admit it I'm a "hoarder" :@) ... just because I like whistles :@)


However, the best is your fingers (and I've still not mastered THAT one :@)

[hsnrs]

The plastic ones are in my drawer and DH can't seem to teach me the finger method. The latter seems to be easier though. Good luck and let us know the real tricks.

[Sue R]

The plastic whistles are indeed the most difficult to blow. There is a reason they only cost $2. Ray Coapman's Corian whistles are probably the easiest to get pure, loud, consistent tones from, but they are not cheap at $30. I use a Coapman buffalo horn whistle myself and absolutely love it. Before that I used and adored an Arnold stainless half-moon but our winters are too cold for a metal whistle.

Amy

I have a Corian (not from Ray, though, but from Rob Drummond) which I really like. I like my Brass Blaster very much but it is heavy and impossible to use in really cold weather if you can't pre-warm it!

I like the Corian and the brass - they are a good fit for me and I find them more easy to use than other options. Which is pretty sad when you consider how poorly I whistle on even the Corian and brass. I can do quite well in the car some days but in the pasture, when the pressure is on, I usuall fail horribly. But I keep trying!

[desertranger]

Always found corian and metal whistles out of my budget they get lost to easily even on a lanyard. I keep half a dozen in a draw, an extra in the car an one each in Jin's D vest and pack.

[Chi-Ann's Mom]

Well, after only getting a slight whistle sound, I broke down and purchased a Montana Lite stainless steel whistle. So, this is now what is happening. I blow just like as described and the only sound I am now getting is when I am finished blowing and I can hear a very slight little sound. I look like such an idiot blowing this darned thing. I feel so stupid. I will keep trying. I have written to the breeder of my girly hoping he knows how to blow one of these whistles so he can demonstrate the correct method. I am determined to learn to blow this darned thing!
Audrey

[Brad]

I'm pretty sure you can't be shown. I was shown, it didn't help. You need to spend a couple of months calling it a stupid whistle, and just before you give up, you relax a bit, and it all comes together I blamed plastic, got a brass one, no difference. I just picked up a new corian, which is nice, but it's the same as the plastic, you just have to keep trying until it squeaks! Then the challenge of practicing without friends and family threatening to stuff the whistle in various orifices

Keep at it, it will come...

[desertranger]

Would someone post links to whomever sells whistles. All I can find are the plastic ones and whistles out of the UK.

[Cynthia P]

My husband has been struggling with whistles and putting whistles on his open dog; Preach is used mainly for farm work so his regular using his lips whistle has been fine...but in a trial at longer distances not any good;

so he bought a trained dog from a friend that wasn't trialling any more. Using verbals this dog is pushy, busts them up, doesn't do her flanks etc. One lesson with her original trainer with his melodic finger whistles and we could see what this dog was capable of.

That night John was determined to work her with whistles; he just stuck it in his mouth and worked with her. They aren't perfect but he gets some of the whistles out.

It has helped Preacher in his open trials as well as the mechanical whistle is much louder than John's regular whistling.

So maybe youjust need to buy an open dog (kidding)

cynthia