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Training your furry friend is an important part of being a dog parent; plus, it has many benefits, including socialization and obedience. If youre looking to incorporate a training tool, a dog whistle may be a good option for you and your pup.
But as a pet parent, you may be wondering: How does a dog whistle work? Do dog whistles hurt dogs ears? What are the advantages of using a whistle? These are important questions to consider when looking into using a dog whistle.
Whistles have been used for dog training and communication for generations. Prior to that, humans communicated with their dogs by whistling the old-fashioned way, with their breath. You can use a whistle to “talk” with your dog and establish a behavioral routine, just as you do with verbal commands or clicker training for “sit” and “stay” or playing fetch.
Dogs respond to even the quietest of whistles because they hear at a much higher frequency than humans. “Dogs and people hear about the same at low frequencies of sound (around 20Hz). This changes at high frequencies of sound, where dogs hear up to 70-100kHz, much better than people at only 20kHz,” say scientists at the University of Adelaide in Australia, and dogs “hear sound frequencies at least three times as high compared to people.” It may seem as if dogs react to a noise thats not there when, in reality, theyre highly sensitive to something we cant hear.
You may have to try out a few different types of whistles to see which one offers you the range of sounds you (and your dog) prefer. Start by learning how to use the whistle properly (practice, practice, practice), and then play around with the sounds to figure out which tones will work for which commands.
There are two types of whistles to choose from: audible or silent — with “silent” in this case meaning silent for humans, not dogs. Some whistles are equipped with adjustable pitches, too.
Audible whistles are helpful when youre working out the sounds you want to use and ensure that youre being consistent. This style looks much like a whistle used at sporting events and, in fact, its used during herding dog events.
Many dog parents prefer silent whistles because theres less noise interference for people. This type of whistle, invented in 1876 by Sir Francis Galton, was used to test hearing levels in humans, cats and dogs. The term “ultrasonic whistle” is more accurate because, as noted above, the whistle isnt silent — it emits ultrasonic sounds to which dogs respond. According to researchers at Psychology Today, the advantage of this type of whistle is that these sound signals travel farther than the human voice and, therefore, can reach dogs at farther distances.
Have you ever thought about using ultrasonic dog whistles as an alternative to your verbal call? First of all, you should know that ultrasonic whistles are generally used as a final stage of training with working dogs such as shepherding or hunting dogs. These whistles are extremely useful in recalling dogs over great distances, which makes them ideal for police dogs as well.
No need to own a prized gun dog to get your pup to respond to your call. Furthermore, there is no magic whistle that will make your dog come over. It all comes down to biology and training. The human ear can hear sounds at frequencies up to 20 kilohertz, whereas the high end of a dog’s hearing ranges from 40 up to 60 kilohertz. This means that dogs can perceive sounds we normally can’t.
If you want your pup to react to your whistle in a positive manner, be sure not to use excessive whistling. If your dog is barking at something and you don’t know why maybe it is the whistle itself? It is better to find out why your dog is barking in the first place and use the whistle as a secondary or supplementary training technique rather than a priority. Train him properly and remember to always reward him lavishly for responding to the whistle.
It happens every time: you are outside with your pup and you want him to come over, what do you do? You whistle for him to respond and the answer is always the same. Your dog is sitting right next to you once again. Sound familiar?
Which is why we call it the “silent” whistle. A hunting dog’s hearing is much more sensitive than that of deer and birds. This is the reason why whistles were commonly used for this type of breeds. The thing is, dog whistles work in the same way that any other mode of training does. Given the fact that dogs are consistently trained to respond in a certain way when they hear the whistle, they always commit to the same behavior and reaction.
Designed to be impossible for humans to hear, dog whistles arent inherently harmful for your animal — to an extent. Dogs are able to hear sounds of a much higher frequency than humans are, and the dog whistle creates one such sound. While a human can hear sounds around 23 kHz, dogs can hear sounds up to 45 kHz — a significantly higher frequency.
Because dogs have much more powerful senses of hearing than humans, dog whistles that people dont even notice may be painful for dogs when abused. A loud noise blaring in your ears would cause you pain, and blowing the whistle too close to your dog or with too much force may similarly hurt him. If you arent sure of how to properly use a dog whistle, consult a professional trainer or veterinarian who can advise you on responsible use.
Dog whistles arent necessarily harmful, but if used improperly, they can be a big problem for your dog. While you cant hear the high-pitched squeal of the whistle, your dog has much more sensitive and powerful hearing. This means that sounds that dont bother you can be annoying or even painful for your pooch, and if you make those sounds indiscriminately, you can cause him unnecessary discomfort.
Tom Ryan is a freelance writer, editor and English tutor. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in English writing, and has also worked as an arts and entertainment reporter with “The Pitt News” and a public relations and advertising copywriter with the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.
Dogs react to a Variety of Dog Whistles and Sounds
We love our dogs, and just the thought of us doing something that might unknowingly hurt them makes us all cringy inside.
Of course, the secret to a happy, well-balanced dog is socialization and training. In this, various tools are often employed, one of which is a dog whistle.
Usually made of plastic or metal, these whistles produce a high-pitched sound in a frequency that dogs can hear, but humans cannot.
Dog whistles are used by trainers to get a dog’s attention from a distance or to communicate commands or instructions to a dog.
Dog whistles emit a high-pitched sound that is just above the range of human hearing. While the piercing sound isn’t harmful to humans, it can cause mild discomfort in the sensitive auditory systems of dogs.
Dogs are renowned for their sharp hearing and sensitive auditory systems. Easily hearing high-frequency sounds beyond humans, they are able to link sounds with different people, situations, or animals.
Canines are known to have almost double the range of audio frequencies that humans have, and in addition, be able to hear sounds four times away.
If you notice your pup’s ears twitching at seemingly nothing, you can be sure that he’s onto something that is beyond your paltry human senses. The design of a dog’s ear itself allows for a better sense of hearing, like the muscles that allow them to twitch their ears to better catch the sound from a particular direction.
Having a sharp sense of hearing is one of the factors that enabled canines to be such prolific hunters since the beginning of time.
You know that absolutely oh-so-adorable head tilt of a dog, and the heart melting way they cock their heads when they look at you questioningly?
They’re actually trying to see and hear you better! It is their way of communicating “wuuuuttt did you just say?!”
Bonus tip (and use sparingly!): Whine as high-pitched (but softly!) as you can while looking at your dog, and you can almost be sure that a head tilt is coming up.
Ever wondered why a dog starts barking a minute before the doorbell rings? Although their sense of hearing is nothing compared to their formidable sense of smell, dogs have incredibly sensitive hearing which allows them to hear footsteps approaching even when humans can hear nothing.
Sounds are a result of air vibrations. High-frequency sounds are produced when vibrations per second are more. Let’s look at the ways human and dogs hearing differentiate:
When it comes to hearing range, a young person can typically hear around 64 – 23,000 Hz whereas dogs can hear a range of 67-45,000.
Humans have six muscles dedicated to the ear, which hinders their ability to listen to faraway sounds. In comparison, dogs’ ears are controlled by 18 muscles allowing them to move their ears.
Your furry friend can rotate and tilt their ears which helps them hear more efficiently. In addition, the shape of certain dog breeds can assist in amplifying sounds. Some dogs have longer ear canals compared to humans which help them localize a sound, resulting in greater sound accuracy at a longer distance.
While the hearing threshold of dogs is higher than that of humans, they can still hear frequencies that are well above the human range. Dogs have a hearing range of approximately 67-45,000 Hz, while humans can only hear up to about half of the upper limit.
This means that dogs can hear sounds that are way higher in frequency than we can. While this may not seem like a big difference, it can actually be quite significant. For example, a dog whistle emits a sound at a frequency of around 23,000 to 54,000 kHz.
This is just out of the range of human hearing, but dogs can hear this frequency quite easily. This is why dog whistles are so effective at getting a dog’s attention.
A dog whistle will not hurt your dog if used in a proper way. There are numerous types of whistles accessible in the market.
It is imperative to go through the information provided by the manufacturer for proper usage. In addition, you should also consult with your vet and clarify any doubts you have before using dog whistles.
Given that dogs have sensitive hearing, they can hear sounds from the whistle which are inaudible to humans. These high-frequency sounds can be unpleasant to a pup but are unlikely to harm your dog’s brain or ears.
Even though dog whistles are not cruel, it is crucial to be mindful of the way these sounds impact other pets around the house or in the neighborhood. For instance, cats can hear as well as dogs, which can make whistle sounds uncomfortable and disruptive for them.