My ever romantic OH gave me a shepherds whistle for valentines day :rolleyes: !!! (along with some rather nice flowers :) ) I had said I would like to try this to help with training my brainless standard poodle pup to come when called (as they say be careful what you wish for as you might just get it) as he doesn't always come when you call his name but he does seem to respond much quicker to OH whistling him but since Im not very good at whistling I thought one of these might do the trick but I havn't a clue how to work it.  I know there was a thread on this a couple of months ago but I cant find it, can anyone help me?

  Hi fifi, decide what command you wish your dogs to return to. I use an acme 210.5 and use 3 short sharp blasts on the whistle. A shepards whistle is held between the lips and blown through. I don not know the pitch of these though, I tried once and couldn't get on with them. I would start (if you can master the whistle) by using it in the garden first, send your dog away and then blow however many times you want to do (Make this consistant though, Ie: I give mine 3 blasts to come back, 1 to sit and 2 to turn when quartering so as not to confuse your dog), when she comes back give her loads of praise or reward with titbit if you so wish. The knack to using a whistle is to be consistant with it. my lanyard and whistle is never off my neck. I think if you wish to go down the whistle route you will find the Acme range easier to use, they have 2 pitches 210.5 and 211. 5.The 211.5 I use for the goldens and 210.5 for the spaniels. I hope this helps you and good luck                                                                                                        

I use a shepherds whistle in preference to a gundog whistle.  The latter has the same pitch and can only be varied via long or short peep.

You can play music on the lip whistle! :)

It took me 3 months to learn to blow it properly and when I could play the NAtional Anthem on it I made up my own whistles for left, right, stop, come quickly, come slowly etc.

So how do I blow it as I cant get anything out of it!!!! I dont even know how to put it in my mouth properly:rolleyes:

Id love to know too, i have one - all i can do is spit through it!

I DID master whistling with fingers but dont really like that method for dogs as ive frequently been handling a filthy squeaky ball....

Em