The Ultimate Guide to Training Dogs with Whistles

You only need to look at sheepdogs to see how effective whistles can be for working dogs. If you are struggling to progress with training, don’t blow the whistle on the idea yet. We’re here to help you build a working bond with your furry friend.

This is the ultimate guide to training dogs with whistles. Here, we give you tips on how to train your working dog – briefing you on training techniques, selecting the right whistle and our top tips. By the end of this guide you’ll be well versed in the basic processes of working dog training, which will enable you to go away and start your journey in becoming a skilled whistle handler.

Understanding Dog Whistle Training Techniques

Using rewards to establish connections

One of the first steps to training your working dog is establishing a positive connection with the sound of the whistle. After blowing it, immediately reward your dog with a treat or praise. As you ramp up the intensity of training you should keep rewarding your do with a treat that they like. This gratification will propel your dog’s progress.

Teaching the ‘come’ command

Recall should be the first command you teach your dog. Whilst they are engaged in play, blow on the whistle in a specific sequence. It could be one short whistle or two bursts. This will encourage the dog to return to you. Immediately reward them when they come back to you and make sure you use the same whistle sequence when you want to dog to come. This will engrain the pattern in their mind and allow you to teach other commands which can be triggered with different sequences.

Experiment with different whistle sounds for different commands

Once your dog has mastered the ‘come’ command, you should try different sounds for other commands. A quick YouTube search will offer you some inspiration. We suggest using a long and steady sound for ‘sit’ and three short bursts for ‘lie down’. Teaching the second and third command is often the most difficult stage of training your working dog as this is the part that really builds their obedience. Experienced owners often say that after the trials of mastering the first few commands, subsequent training becomes easier.

Distance training

After mastering some basic commands, distance training should be next on your training schedule. Whistles are especially useful for distance commands because the high frequency sound carries better than voices do. It will also save you from straining your voice!

5 top tips on whistle training your working dog

Be patient

Like with any form of training, you are bound to face hurdles and should expect for progress to take time. It is important that you avoid negative reinforcement if they don’t respond to your commands. This can lead to your dog associating whistle training with bad behaviour, which is counterintuitive. Instead, if things aren’t going well, take a break and come back later.

Intensify dog training gradually

Whistle training can be mentally draining for dogs. Commands take lots of repetition to master, so you should be sure that you consistently have success in a sequence before moving on to the next command – and ramp up the intensity of training gradually.

Always end training with a reward

Ending training with a reward will make your dog feel positively about the experience and increase their willingness to engage next time. Always make training fun for your furry friend!

Keep sessions short

A dog’s attention span is short, so you should keep training sessions short and engaging. 10-15 minutes is a good duration. Within this time you should maintain the focus and enthusiasm of your dog. Frequent, brief sessions have been found to be more effective than longer sessions.

Incorporate ‘silent’ training

When hunting you will often need to give your dog a command without making any noise, so as not to alert game of your presence. Practicing silent commands is an important skill you will need to master. A top tip here is to avoid overusing the whistle. If you blow it too much it can desensitise your dog and they might become less responsive to commands. Try using more hand signals to do the same job. There are lots of YouTube videos showing how to get started wih this.

Choosing the right whistle for Your Dog

There are many types of whistles on the market – which can leave beginner trainers confused. What works for one breed of dog may not work for another. It’s important that you select a whistle that is within your dog’s hearing capability and will work for the range of commands you want to teach them.

We recommend selecting a high quality whistle that will withstand harsh weather conditions and rough handling. A good whistle will produce a clear sound that cuts through the many noises in hunting environments.

Dog whistles at Collins Nets

Luckily, Collins Nets supply a range of high quality ACME whistles for working dogs. ACME are a well established brand, having been producing specialist dog whistles since the first silent dog whistle was invented in 1935.

The ACME 210 is a popular all-rounder – perfect for those starting their whistle training journey. It is high pitched, which makes it very quiet to humans but distinguishable to dogs. The 210 is fitted with a waterproof pea, which protects against the elements and provides the famous ACME trill sound. It is a two-tone whistle, meaning you can make various sounds depending on blow style. This enables you to teach your dog a range of commands, such as retrieve, recall and stop.

The two best distance whistles for dog trainers

For whistle training at longer distances, we recommend a whistle with a slightly more powerful sound. To train your dog to recall and retrieve from further away, our ACME Thunderer 558 is a great option. It provides a deep rolling drawl, is built from resistant polycarbonate and with ergonomics in mind.

Similarly, the ACME Tornado T2000 is popular with hunters. In contrast to the Thunderer, the power comes from an extra high frequency here. It creates a crescendo of sound that cuts through more frequencies than any other whistle we supply. It does this by producing three different frequencies at once, which cuts through low, mid and high range sounds at once. This is ideal if your dog has mastered basic commands and you want to introduce more distance training.

The best whistle for Labradors and Retreivers

Are you looking for the best whistle for a Labrador or Retreiver? Not all whistles are built the same.

Although whistles between 5,000 to 12,000 Hz work for most dogs, some resonate better with different breeds. Our ACME 211.5 whistle produces a medium, high pitched single note which is preferred by Labrador and Retreiver trainers.

The best whistle for disobedient dogs

If you have a harder to train dog then a single frequency, powerful whistle is a great choice. Our ACME Pro Trialler 212 is an all-rounder which is special because it holds its frequency no matter how hard you blow. This gets your dog to know their whistle – which will stop them from getting confused. The Pro Trialler has been known to work very well with Pointers, Setters, Retreivers, Terriers and Labradors.

Essential products for working dogs at Collins Nets

As well as providing a great range of ACME whistles, we also stock all the essentials you’ll need for hunting with your furry friend.

We are proud suppliers of Animology products – a multi-award winning pet care product brand. There is no doubt that your dog will get covered in all kinds of filth whilst out on a hunt. Our Flea & Tick and Fox Poo shampoos are popular with hunting dog handlers. Finish off the job with Top Dog Conditioner and Stink Bomb Deodoriser!

Collins Nets also supply a range of dog leads and training equipment, as well as dog beds, towelling robes and more, from reputable brands like County Range and Fat Face.