The Many Lives of a Logan Whistle
Introduction To The Logan Whistle
Logan Whistles is a family business with its roots in Ireland. Back in the 1950s simple lip-whistles were used to great effect with hunting dogs in Ireland -something that Harford Logan, a budding sheepdog trial competitor, took keen notice of. Lightweight and easy to use while riding a horse, these simple lip or mouth whistles could create a variety of tones for the hounds that carried over distance and against the background noise of the hunt.
Harford realised dogs worked better to whistle tones than to human voice and so they were crucial to a successful dog-handler relationship – for work and to win sheepdog trials. So Harford’s focus was to perfect a more ‘musical’ whistle capable of multiple notes and expression so that he could layer meaning and have a ‘conversation’ with his dogs.
Logan Whistle Range
Over the years the whistle designs evolved from simple hand-cut shapes to the precision-made dog whistle range we make today. They were primarily designed to help Harford work with his sheep dogs on the farm, keeping the livestock safe, but they were also his ‘secret weapon’ at sheepdog trials, helping him win many National Championships and become one of the most revered sheepdog handlers of his time.
Now under the stewardship of his daughter Joanne McHardy, Logan Whistles has not only become the best-selling dog whistle brand among working Border Collie handlers and Sheepdog trial competitors, their range of whistles has also been adopted by dog handlers and pet owners generally who appreciate the versatility of the whistle and how well any dog breed responds to their tones.
About Logan Whistles and their many uses
Each Logan Whistle is slowly and carefully precision crafted in the UK from the highest quality materials – from the finest metals including lightweight alloys, solid brass and stainless steel to non-metallic Delrin (often used in musical instruments such as flutes) – to give dog handlers a training tool that they can rely on.
In its original purpose as a shepherd’s whistle there was a ‘language’ at play – the whistle needed to be versatile enough to offer multiple ‘commands’ explaining to the dog WHAT to do (stop, walk on, go right, go left, look back, come back to me) and then with expression, HOW to do it (faster, slower, wider, closer). A language that can be simple or complex but always immediate and succinct.
Today the extended range of Logan Whistles is being used for other signalling purposes in addition to dog training. Besides being cherished as a dog training tool for other working dog breeds, we’re finding the whistles being adopted by users as diverse as a ‘banksman’ or in Australia a ‘dogman’ directing cranes in a building site, falconers working their birds of prey, cyclists in a peloton, climbers on a rock face and even as an essential addition to the survivalist or preppers’ “Bug Out Bag” (emergency have to leave right now bag) not only because of the distance the whistle tones carry (over a mile), but also because different messages can be conveyed.
A simple effective tool for Dog Training and Recall
Logan Whistles can be very effectively used with other dog breeds during their basic training.
Ease of use and quality of sound have always been the focus of Logan Whistle design and manufacture. The fact that other dog breeds respond so well to their tones means they are an excellent whistle to use for basic obedience training. Dog walkers taking responsibility for multiple breeds share videos of their success with the Logan Whistles, using the whistle as a simple but highly effective whistle for ‘stop’ ‘stay’ and dog recall commands.
Learn here how to use a Logan Whistle!
Can this whistle stop a dog barking?
We’re often asked – is this the whistle to stop a dog barking, or even a whistle to stop a neighbour’s dog barking.
Dog behaviour can be managed by good training and this whistle is a fundamental tool in that process. It will certainly grab a dog’s attention immediately but for consistent responses there is no substitute for careful and patient training of a dog.
To help explain what that means Harford shared some of his dog training wisdom in his little illustrated book, Harford’s Apprentice in which he explains to his daughter Joanne McHardy, how he trained a puppy to become a dog he could use and trust to herd sheep.
The book distils all his years of experience into a short tutorial for someone just beginning to train a puppy. It is a simple but practical guide to the crucial first stages with a young dog. 'Harford's way' is to bring out the dog’s own natural intelligence – and so help it to be the best it can be. His view is that the time taken in the early stages of training to help the dog understand and succeed make the most difference.
Harford Logan was the holder of the Irish National Sheepdog Championship on six occasions and then Scottish Champion when farming in the Highlands.
This book is just as suitable for teaching the Stop, Stay and Recall commands to any dog breed.