When communicating with your dog it’s important to have a tool that lets them know that it’s time to listen. When training my dog, I had difficulties getting her to listen, which is when I turned to the idea of dog whistle. Through my experience, I developed this guide of the top 5 best dog whistles to help you to choose the perfect tool for your needs.
Word of Advice
After all of my research, I have decided Ortz Dog Whistle is by far one of the best dog whistles on the market as it gives you the ability to easily train your dog throughout the years, unlike other whistles that typically wear down with consistent use. It’s incredibly versatile and gives you the ability to adjust the frequency to accommodate the hearing of puppies, older dogs, and a variety of breeds. With other dog whistles you might find they are only useful for certain frequencies and at small distances.
How to Choose a Dog Whistle
Understanding the benefits of a dog whistle is one thing, but knowing what to look for when you start shopping for one is another. Some of the most important features to think about with your dog whistle include:
- Strong Build: First and foremost, make sure you buy a whistle that is going to last through the years. It’s important to remember these tools will get dropped and the last thing you want is to invest in a whistle that is going to break after dropping it once.
- Frequent Pitch: Another important factor is to make sure to choose a whistle that doesn’t have any differences in pitch as you use it. Remember, your dog will be paying attention to the frequency of the whistle to know that it’s being commanded. To avoid confusion it’s important to find one that offers a consistent pitch.
- Sound: Since you’ll be using the dog whistle on a regular basis and sometimes for hours at a time, you won’t want to choose one that is loud to humans. Most dog whistles are designed to operate at such high frequencies that they are basically silent to the humans. If you can’t find a silent whistle, choose one that has an easy-to-hear sound.
- Affordable: There’s a high probability you’ll need to replace your dog whistle at some point, so it’s not a good idea to spend a lot of money on your first or even your second one. I remember when I started whistle training Marlie grabbed onto the lanyard and ran away with it. I never was able to find it and instead, had to buy a brand new one.
Best Dog Whistle Review
1. Ortz Dog Whistle to Stop Barking
Ortz Dog Whistle to Stop Barking - Silent Bark Control for Dogs - Ultrasonic Patrol Sound Repellent Repeller
As the premier choice for beginner and experienced dog trainers everywhere, the Ortz Dog Whistle is essential for not only teaching your dog to stop barking but to also follow all of your commands. This whistle offers ultrasonic sounds that are incredibly easy for dogs to hear and help to make training much easier. With its user-friendly instructions and its resilient construction, you’ll find yourself using this training aid more often than not.
Things We Liked
- Can be adjusted to multiple frequencies without extra effort
- Helps with reducing behavioral problems in all breeds
- Perfect loudness for dogs
- Built out of strong materials
- Free lanyard strap included with purchase
- Warranty to protect the whistle against damage
Things We Didn’t Like
- Whistle isn’t silent to humans
- Useful for dog recall but does not work too well with barking without additional positive reinforcement training
- It is difficult to adjust the frequencies without instructions
2. Fox 40 Classic CMG Whistle with Breakaway Lanyard
Fox 40 Classic CMG Whistle with Breakaway Lanyard
The Fox 40 Classic CMG Whistle is designed for users that are looking for a loud and attention-grabbing tool. It is available in multiple colors and offers a sound rating of 115dB. Constructed out of polycarbonate and over-mold CMG technology, this pea-less whistle is designed for comfort.
Things We Liked
- Constructed using high-quality thermoplastic and teeth protection
- Lanyard is included
- Loud enough to garner the attention of people around
- Cushioned mouth guard to make it more comfortable to keep in your mouth
Things We Didn’t Like
- Not designed specifically for dog training
3. SportDOG Brand Competition Mega Whistle
SportDOG Brand Competition Mega Whistle - Hunting Dog Training Whistle with Easy-to-Blow Design - Protects Handlers Ear
If you’re in the market for a large dog whistle that is sure to get the job done, SportDOG’s Competition Mega Whistle is specifically designed to offer the loudest frequency possible. With its hardy construction and penetrating tone, it’s useful for a variety of training applications ranging from hunting and field trials to teaching your dog basic commands.
Things We Liked
- Ergonomically designed to make the unit easy-to-blow
- Straight and consistent tone without a trill
- Great for working with dogs at long distances
- You won’t have to worry about the whistle freezing
- Extremely user-friendly
- Built to last with its durable and strong construction
Things We Didn’t Like
- Large in size, which can make it difficult to carry around
- Whistle is not mute to human ears and may become annoying after consistent use
4. Forepets Professional WhistCall Dog Whistle
forepets Professional Dog Whistle to Stop Barking - with Proven Training Guide
Dog owners that have been searching for the right whistle to teach their dogs new commands and to reinforce positive behavior will appreciate this unit designed by forePets. The whistle is designed to help you accomplish the best results when it comes to dog training as it ultimately assists you with teaching your pet to obey most commands with ease. Also, it’s incredibly sleek, stylish, and easy to carry around.
Things We Liked
- Whistle is designed to stop barking or for recall
- Helps with obedience training
- Features anti-loss features including a lanyard and lock nut to prevent the whistle from falling off of the lanyard
- Adjustable frequencies for different breeds and hearing capabilities
Things We Didn’t Like
- Very audible to human ears
- Isn’t useful for training pets in large areas
- Difficult to use when discouraging barking
5. Acme Dog Whistle 210.5
As an affordable training tool that you can easily bring to any place where you intend on training your dog, the Acme Dog Whistle 210.5 is a great option. If you own a small breed or a dog that is hard of hearing, the 5900Hz frequency is essential for teaching them to obey your commands. Plus, the whistle is small enough to where it can easily fit around a lanyard or in your pocket.
Things We Liked
- Useful for people who are training dogs in their immediate area
- Perfect for working with dogs that are hard of hearing
- Sound is not mute for humans, but it is a soft whistle that isn’t irritating
- Brightly colored and easy to see
- Straight and consistent tone without any trill
Things We Didn’t Like
- Typically used for smaller breed dogs
- Offers a single frequency of 5900Hz
- May require some experience relating to using a whistle to understand how to use the unit effectively
- After using the whistle for a long period of time, it may cause a small amount of ringing in your ears
Why Should I Use a Dog Whistle for Training?
1. Using Positive Reinforcement
In the past, people assumed that using painful punishments was the best way to train their dogs, when in reality it was simple with the help of positive reinforcement. You can use a dog whistle to help your pet listen to your commands instead of forcing them to listen by using unnecessary punishments.
2. Consistent Use of Tone
A difficulty that we encountered while training Marlie, our Golden Retriever, was that she listened to only one person. It could have been a result of different octaves in each person’s voice, as sound is typically how a dog knows who is calling for them. With the help of a dog whistle, every person in our family was able to use a consistent tone while training and it quickly became a sound that she was familiar with.
3. Training at a Distance
Over the years we had tried to train Marlie in an open area in comparison to the inside of our home, mostly because she loves being outdoors. One of the main concerns we had was that she wouldn’t be able to hear us if she ran too far away. When I started to use a dog whistle, the sound traveled far enough to where she was able to hear it from the opposite side of a field. This was so much easier than trying to shout for her attention in public.
How to Use a Dog Whistle
Since a dog whistle is so versatile, it doesn’t mean that you only have to use it to tell your dog to “come back”. In fact, you can use it for a variety of training purposes. Much like any other type of whistle, particularly ones you might have used as a child, all you have to do is blow into the device to get your dog to listen.
1. Creating Unique Signals
One great way to use your dog whistle is to create unique signals that represent different commands. We used one long whistle for “Sit” and two short bursts for “Paw”. Make sure you choose signals that are quite different from one another so your dog doesn’t get confused.
2. Using Verbal Commands
Even though you have a whistle, it’s still important to use verbal commands while training your dog. This is important just in case you happen to lose the whistle or simply want to command your dog to do things with only your voice. I found that Marlie would listen the best when I would give the verbal command (such as “Sit), then I would do the two short bursts of the whistle, and once she obeyed I would praise and reward her.
Conclusion
To help protect your investment, be sure to take advantage of their included warranty. Also, you’ll surely appreciate the free lanyard included with purchase so you won’t be likely to lose the whistle over the years.
Curtisallenmizzell1957@gmail.com. NEED A WHISTLE TO KEEP DOGS AWAY FROM OUR WINDOW’S, THKS
This is a good way to training a dog
This is very useful and much needed for dog owners.
This whistle is very much useful for my Tommy. Thanks a lot, Emma for sharing with us such kind of helpful article.
Looks like its good way to train your dog!
Thanks for detailed review!