The basics of whistle commands for dogs

In the UK, whistle training has grown in popularity with many new dog owners listing it as a priority skill for their pup. Whether you are planning on whistle training your new pup or have an adult dog you’d like to form a closer bond with, whistle training can be an extremely useful skill for a dog to learn and will strengthen a trust-based relationship. At a time when dog owners are taking more responsibility for their animals, it can make a world of positive difference to the ways a dog behaves. 

One of the most important benefits of whistle training is that it allows for clear and consistent communication between a dog and their owner or trainer. A whistle’s call remains the same whether the caller is frustrated, happy, or indifferent, meaning that a sensitive dog will never be put off by a negative tone of voice. This leads to a dog gaining confidence and becoming more obedient which makes outings with your dog safer, more relaxed and more enjoyable. 

Furthermore, using a whistle to train your dog is a fun and engaging way to bond with your companion. A dog which has been whistle trained using positive reinforcement techniques will be a happier, more outgoing and well socialised dog. They will also be able to build a strong relationship with their owner which is based on trust and positivity rather than fear. 

Teaching the commands

You may not realise it but it’s entirely possible to train your dog to a high standard without using verbal commands. If a whistle is used to replace verbal commands when training puppies, the young dogs will learn to respond to a whole range of whistle commands and are likely to respond extremely well to the whistle’s consistency though adult dogs do well with whistle training too. You are essentially teaching your dog to associate a certain sound with a specific behaviour, in much the same way a dog will associate the sitting action with the “sit” command. 

To teach the sit command using a whistle, you should decide on a sound that will only be used when you want the dog to sit. This could be two short pips on the whistle or whatever you find easiest. Make this sound whenever your dog sits, or if they already know the verbal “sit” command then say it and then make the whistle command for “sit” immediately after. Give your dog lots of praise and a treat when they complete the command successfully. Your dog will pick up quickly on what is expected of them. 

You can use this method to teach all of the basic commands, though keep in mind that the more commands you teach, the more unique whistle commands you will need to remember. The key is to keep your training sessions short and engaging. If your dog loses interest during the session then you have more than likely worn your dog out and should give them praise and a break from training. 

ACME dog training whistles

We’ve been making dog whistles for more than 135 years and our whistles are trusted and preferred by many professional dog trainers. The ACME ALPHA is our latest and greatest dog training whistle; developed in partnership with world champion trainers and tested rigorously in the field, we are confident that this is truly the world’s best dog whistle. 

Find out what the experts have to say about the ACME ALPHA by watching these videos. If you’d like to know more about how our dog training whistles beat the competition then please feel free to contact us. You can reach us by phone at (+44) (0)121 554 2124 or drop us an email here: [email protected].