Why training your dog to the whistle can be so important. #
What is a dog whistle and how does it work? #
Over the years I have lost count of the number of owners that have mentioned the whistle and said “yeah we have one somewhere, doesn’t work though”
The dog whistle simply produces a noise that is all. The way it works is that your dog will associate that noise with something, in this case coming back to you or Recall.
Benefits of using a dog whistle #
- Your dog can hear the whistle at greater distances than you can shout
- If there is a lot of noise such as its a windy day you have more chance of your dog hearing the whistle
- Your dog’s recall is not dependent on one voice (person)
- If your dog has stopped responding to their name which is very common if it is over used, the whistle will work
- The whistle can often get your dogs attention if they are busy with an interesting smell or playing with other dogs
How do I teach the whistle to my dog? #
- Start by practising to blow the whistle
- Use 3 pips or more for Recall
- Start by calling your dog by name and add in 3 pips straight after
- Play a game such as Find It! with treats blowing 3 pips when they have found the treat
- Blow the whistle at mealtimes
- To progress try using the whistle outside but try and make sure your dog is looking your way before doing this
- Use the Acme range of whistles as they have the correct tones and will last a long time (unless you lose it of course!)
- Repetition and consistency are the keys to whistle training success!
- Practice for short bursts , frequently
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