The dog whistle is a training tool that has been used for a long time; it is useful for making the animal execute a series of different commands, it emits a very penetrating sound that reaches great distances and is well distinguishable from most everyday noises. These features make it a perfect accessory if you want to control your faithful friend from a distance or want to get their attention in a noisy environment.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Choosing to Use the Whistle
Step 1. Use it if your dog has difficulty following your verbal commands
This type of whistle has a distinctive sound that the dog interprets only as a training sound; this means that the animal is much more inclined to react to the whistle than the verbal commands whose key words are used (and therefore listened to by the dog) even in everyday conversations.
- For example, if he hears the word "Sit down" during a conversation, but it is not spoken for the purpose of making him carry out an order, he may not be inclined to obey when you are actually giving him a command.
- If he misbehaves and has made a habit of ignoring your verbal commands, the whistle gives you the opportunity to start training over again with a tool that the dog has never heard before and therefore is not induced to ignore..
Step 2. Choose the whistle
Any type is fine, but it is recommended to use the specific one for dog training that has a specific acoustic frequency. There are on the market of different wave frequencies, so you have to determine which is the most suitable for your case and keep it; this means that if by chance you lose the whistle, you have to replace it with another one of the same wave frequency.
- Either way, it's not that bad if you don't know the frequency of your instrument; just as with a well-trained dog that responds readily to a person ordering him to "sit", he should react to the sound of the whistle in the same way. However, when there are several dogs during a simultaneous session with multiple handlers using multiple whistles, having one specific to your pet can help him recognize your specific command and react accordingly.
- It is not necessary to use silent or ultrasonic ones; it is better to use one that is also perceived by the human ear; this helps you to use it by blowing with the correct intensity to stimulate the dog and at the same time avoid the sound being interpreted in the wrong way.
Step 3. Buy it
This dog training tool is available online and it is worth ordering more than one, so you can have a spare in case you lose the first one.
Tie it to a string to always have it around your neck when you take your dog for a walk
Part 2 of 2: Train the Dog with the Whistle
Step 1. Decide on the signal you want to transmit
You must make a specific and distinct sound to indicate a single command to the dog. For instance:
If you want to teach him the command "Sit" or "Stop", you can choose to make a single long and sudden sound; if you want to call him back to you or tell him to come closer, you can do a series of three shorter puffs
Step 2. Practice using the whistle
Blow using your tongue to stop the sound; as you whistle, briefly cover the hole with your tongue.
Step 3. Turn verbal commands into whistles
One option is to start with a dog who already knows the verbal commands "Sit", "Stop" and respond positively. First, give the signal to sit down using the whistle, as with a single sudden and prolonged blow, then say "Sit"; when he obeys, reward him with a treat or praise.
- When learning the commands with the whistle, leave a large gap from the sound to the spoken command and eventually stop using the verbal command altogether.
- You can transform the command to recall it to you with the same method, switching from the vocal one to the whistled one.
Step 4. Start whistle training a dog that has never been used to commands
In this case, you are dealing with a specimen that is not used to and does not know the commands. To teach him to sit, hold a delicious treat in your hand and move it in an arched trajectory over his head, so that to follow him he has to rest his hindquarters on the ground; as soon as it is in this position, make a sound with the whistle and reward the animal for sitting down.
- Repeat the exercise over several sessions and eventually the dog will start reacting to the whistle and will sit down without being enticed by a treat.
- To teach him to come back to you, start by putting him on a long leash. Play with him and then call him to you; as soon as he moves his paws towards your direction, give him the signal with the whistle; you have to make him associate coming to you with the whistle. With enough repetitions, once the animal hears the signal and runs towards you because it associates sound with fun, your joy and satisfaction in seeing it obey can be its great reward.
