Train Your Four-Legged Friend with the Best Dog Whistles
Whistle training is the most widely used method to discipline your dog. You can use it to enhance good behaviors, inhibit bad ones, and teach commands. It helps you to command your dog better from both near and far.
Choosing the right dog whistle for your furry friend is not easy. Not every pup responds to the sound of a whistle in the same way. You have to consider different materials, frequencies, and distance ranges. Plus, you also have to be careful about replacement options in case you lose yours.
A simple search of a dog whistle yields hundreds of results. To help narrow down your choice, we have rounded up the best dog whistles in 2024.
Best Dog Whistles Buying Guide
Here is a comprehensive buying guide telling you everything about the best dog whistles:
How to Choose a Good Dog Whistle
If you think choosing a dog whistle is very easy, you can’t be more wrong. Here are some important considerations to help you choose the right one for yourself:
Frequency
If you want your dog to respond to your dog whistle, you must choose the right frequency to make it work. Different dog breeds respond differently to various frequencies. Smaller dogs are more responsive to higher frequencies than larger dogs.
It is estimated that we humans can hear frequencies ranging from 64 Hz to 23,000 Hz. Whereas the sounds between 67 Hz to 45,000 Hz are audible to our furry friends. So, if you want a whistle that does not disturb you or your neighbors, choose a whistle that emits a sound above 23,000 Hz.
You can also choose a dog whistle that allows you to adjust its frequency. With such a training tool, you can try different tones and frequencies to determine which works the best with your friend.
Distance
There is no need to say this, but a dog whistle that covers a wide range of distance is certainly a better choice.
This way, your pup will hear you blow it even if it is very far away. The more distance the whistle can cover, the farther your dog will be able to hear it.
Plus, you can easily use a long-range whistle to train your poodle in a noisy place like a park or playground.
Material
Dog whistles come in a variety of materials. You can choose a high-grade plastic whistle or a more sturdy metal one. Each has some advantages and shortcomings associated with it.
Metallic dog whistles are certainly more durable. They can withstand drops and can survive accidental step-on. Yet they are cold on lips during low temperatures making it difficult to blow them.
On the other hand, plastic whistles do not become cold in winters. Yet they are not as sturdy as metal dog whistles. Since dog training is an extensive task, your dog whistle should be strong enough to withstand the test of time.
Advantages of Using a Dog Whistle
Dog whistles are great tools for training your poodle. Here are some advantages a good dog whistle boasts:
- Dog whistles emit a consistent, high-pitched sound that, depending upon the whistle, may or may not be audible to you. Regularly listening to this sound conditions your pup to respond to it. On the other hand, if you use voice commands, your Fido might not respond when fatigue or cold changes your voice.
- Dog whistles emit a high-pitched sound that your pup can hear from very far away. This way, you can let them wander off, knowing that it’ll come back upon hearing the whistle.
- The dogs with hearing problems can clearly hear a dog whistle, so you don’t have to scream or shout to gain their attention.
- Silent dog whistles sound like a mere hiss to other humans, so they are not disturbed with you blowing it. Hence you can use them from a distance, knowing that they won’t disturb other people or animals.
- The different tones of a pea dog whistle allow you to teach your pup various commands such as come and sit.
Some Popular Dog Whistle Types
There are four popular types of dog whistles that you should choose from.
Silent dog whistles
Silent whistles are what most people think about when referring to dog whistles. They produce a sound beyond human hearing frequency, but the higher pitch is clearly audible to dogs.
These are also termed ultrasonic dog whistles because their frequency starts at 35,000 Hz and goes above falling within the ultrasonic waves range. Only the dogs can hear their ultrasonic tone; hence it does not disturb other people or animals in the area.
Pea dog whistles
Pea dog whistles are called so because they feature a pea-sized ball inside them. It allows you to emit trill sounds and form different sound combinations for specific commands by varying your blow rate.
These dog whistles are generally very easy to use. However, they are not suitable for the very cold season because the pea freezes from your saliva getting inside.
Pealess dog whistles
As the name suggests, pealess dog whistles don’t have a pea inside them. Instead, they make short, quick blasts of sound, hence called air fast whistles.
They emit high-pitched notes but cannot emit different sounds, volumes, and tones. They are also harder to blow than pea dog whistles but are great to use during winters.
Dual Tone Dog Whistles
Dual-tone dog whistles are a combination of pea and pealess dog whistles. They are dual-ended, with one side allowing you to make different sounds, including the trill sound unique to pea dog whistles.
The other end being pealess, emits a high-pitched solid sound.
Conclusion
Dog whistles are a great tool for training and behaving your dog. It enables you to better control your pup without screaming at the top of your lungs. However, you should remember that every dog is different; hence you should carefully observe your dog’s response and condition him accordingly. Above, we have provided a comprehensive dog whistle buying guide identifying the important features to look out for. We also reviewed the best dog whistles in 2021 to narrow down your choice.
Five Best Dog Whistles in 2024
FANZ Original Dog Whistle
– Best Overall
This high-quality dog whistle comes from a quality manufacturer celebrated for its durable products. It features metal construction with a removable plastic sleeve. You can remove the plastic sleeve to adjust its frequency and put it back on when finished. It also comes with a 9-inch lanyard allowing you to put it around your neck for safekeeping.
A good thing about this whistle is its noiselessness. It is an ultrasonic whistle that emits a sound so high-pitched that human ears cannot detect it. But your furry friends definitely can. You can train your dog to respond to its different frequencies. Works great for recall, to gain their attention, and to make them stop barking
- Affordable
- Allows you to adjust the pitch
- Comes with a 9-inch lanyard
- Copies are readily available
- Not completely silent
NPS Dog Whistle
– Unique Design
The NPS Dog Whistle offers a unique, reliable, and effective solution to canine behavior difficulties. It uses patent NPS technology to address barking, digging, chewing, and chasing issues quickly and efficiently. It is 3.3 times more effective than anti-bark collars and has proven to be 3.4 times more successful than dog training clickers or whistles in modifying canine behaviors.
The device is equipped with a wide variety of features that make it attractive to pet owners. It is rechargeable, offering up to 32 hours of use on just a one-hour rapid charge. Each of the three training deterrent modes allows for rapid behavior modification, with an automatic shut-off safety feature that protects sensitive canine hearing. It also offers a “hold” function, which extends the whistle and strobe duration, allowing for greater control in training sessions.
- Instantly effective at stopping excessive barking
- Safe and humane
- Can detect barking from a distance
- Can only target specific types of barking
SportDOG Brand Roy Gonia Special Orange Whistle
– Simple Design
Roy Gonia Special Orange Whistle from SportDOG is a popular choice amongst dog owners for its pealess design. It makes a solid, high-pitched sound without any vibrating trill. Although the design is very easy to blow into, you still have to produce a short quick burst of air to make it sound.
The best thing about this dog whistle is its usability in colder weather. The plastic construction does not feel too cold on your lips, and the pealess design is also safe from freezing. The color is visible enough to spot easily. Plus, it also incorporates a useful keyring into its design for safekeeping.
- The pealess design does not freeze
- Emits a solid high-pitched sound
- Includes a key ring connector for added convenience
- Plastic construction is not very durable
- Easy to lose
Acme Silent Dog Whistle
– Honorable Mention
The Acme Silent Dog Whistle is a high-quality product that trains working and sport dogs. It is a near-silent product whose high-pitched sound is not irritating or very loud. You can also adjust it to become inaudible to human ears.
This dog whistle boasts a solid brass construction, making it very durable and long-lasting. Acme has finished it in a pleasing silver finish increasing its charm. The best part? It is excellent for long-distance use. Its near-silent sound won’t annoy your neighbors or any onlookers yet is certainly very audible to your Fido.
- Solid brass construction
- Silver finish is pretty attractive
- Long-range whistle is audible to dogs over 400 yards
- Not completely silent
PESTON Store Ultrasonic Dog Bark Deterrent
– Also Consider
This is a long-range ultrasonic device designed to eliminate dogs’ aggressive and unruly behavior problems. It is a compact handheld device with simple two-button functionality. The first button emits a continuous high-pitched sound that is audible to dogs, while the second button emits a beep sound that works well for warning. There is also a sliding button towards the side that lets you adjust the acoustic wave frequency.
The device comes with a built-in rechargeable battery. There is an indicator light that lets you know about the battery status. When it turns red, you should connect it with the provided USB charger to recharge. It works over 16. 4 feet of distance, so you can also use it to recall your pup.
- Great for calming aggressive dogs
- Features a power indicator light
- Comes with a handy wrist strap
- Not suitable for dogs with hearing problems or below six months of age
- Needs regular charging
The HoAoOo Pet Training Clicker Whistle combines two useful dog training devices – the clicker and the whistle. You can use it for both positive and negative reinforcement. When your dog does what you want, press the clicker simultaneously and follow it up with a food reward. This way, the pup will learn to associate the click with obedience and rewards.
On the other hand, when your pup misbehaves with continuous barking or digging, you can use the whistle part as a warning signal that can follow up with a shock using the shock collar to serve as negative reinforcement. As your pup learns to associate the whistle with bad consequences, it will stop its bad behavior at the sound of the whistle only. Plus, you can also use it as a tool for recall if your furry friend wanders far away.
- Sturdy metal construction is rustproof and unbreakable
- Comes as a pack of 2 different colored clickers
- Suitable for both indoor and outdoor usage
- The whistle is not silent
- Click button is stiff and difficult to press
People Also Asked
A: Yes, a dog whistle can stop a dog from barking. It produces a high-frequency sound that won’t harm the dog but will surely annoy it. When you first start training with a whistle, it may cause more barking. But soon, the dog will learn to associate its barking with the irritating whistle sound, so it will stop barking to make the annoying sound stop.
A: A dog can hear the pitch of a dog whistle from as far as 400 yards away.
A: Dogs can hear different frequencies ranging from 67 Hz to 45,000 Hz. Most trainers and veterinarians believe 4,000 Hz frequency to be the most effective.