Dog Whistles

In the past dog whistles were really only used by hunters who, when on a shoot or hunt would use them in order to control their dogs from a distance. A shout would have scared the wild animal away which is why a high pitched whistle was used instead. Now however a dog whistle is common amongst all dog owners as they provide an excellent way for training your dog in various commands.

Different blows on the whistle can signal different commands for the dog to learn. Generally speaking (and the signal most commonly used for this) one long blow on the whistle signifies for the dog to come. This is definitely the best place to get started if you are wanting to begin training your dog with a whistle.

A dog whistle has a high pitched frequency which makes it extremely loud for a dog, but relatively quiet for a pair of human ears. That is why it is ideal for training dogs. The most important advice for when training your dog with a whistle is to use positive reinforcement at all times. Rather than scolding when your dog does something wrong, praise him when he gets it right! No matter how frustrating it is for you, scolding your dog will only make him afraid of you and less likely he will do it right the next time. Even if your dog doesn’t come to you when you blow on the whistle and takes an hour to reappear, no matter how red in the face you are - show only praise upon his return, otherwise the training will never progress.

If any of our readers have any tips or ideas on how to train a dog successfully with a whistle, send in your comments below. We welcome all comments and suggestions so don’t be shy!