super beginner question

[sleeping]

ok so this is probably the dumbest question ever asked on these boards, but here it goes...

 

I thought the whistle was just whistling... do you actually use a whistle? or just your lips? does that questions make sense?

 

If it's a physical whistle, is there a special kind? or is it like the old P.E. coach used to wear?

 

Thanks

[Root Beer]

What do you want to use a whistle for?

 

Stockwork?

 

Or as a recall cue?

 

Or a marker for a correct behavior?

 

Or something else?

 

I think the answer depends on what you want.

[Pipedream Farm]

Some use their fingers and some use shepherd's whistles that are made from a variety of materials: Border Collies in Action or Border Collics Anonymous. The key is to get a variety of tones/notes with volume that will carry across the field. You put combinations of tones together as an alternative to verbal commands.

 

Watch this video to see and hear a shepherd's whslte in use: Rural Hill.

 

Mark

[sleeping]

As I wached that video Charlie got excited at the sound of that whistle

[Root Beer]

Dean Dog liked it, too!

[Bo Peep]

Once you get a whistle, it's fun!!! LOL. Like an instrument. It is actually a lot harder than you think. I like to give it my friend and have them try to blow it. LMAO- then I play my awful rendition of happy birthday to you. But to them, I sound like a pro. I'd start with the plastic, give them to the kids first- they usually figure them out right away, then you can ask them- how'd you do that? Once you have it mastered you'll be playing show tunes on it.

 

P.S. Never show a border collie that's been trialing a video of a trial- it'll drive them nuts.

[WyoBC]

For now I just whistle for his recall. Just a normal (with your lips ) whistle. It works great for quick recalls. One quick whistle and he whips around and comes back to me.

 

I am trying to learn some stockdog whistles now, but it's slow going.