After 42 hours spent researching the best dog whistles, we think Acme Premium Silent Dog Whistle is the best for most people.
This choice is based on several criteria: brand, type, breed, color, whistle material, cover material, range, accessories, durable, compact design, easy to use, easy to clean, adjustable pitch, inaudible to humans, and warranty, among other things.
| Product | Price | Overall Rating | Quality | Efficiency | Appearance | Durability | Value for Money | brand | type | breed | color | whistle material | cover material | range | accessories | durable | compact design | easy to use | easy to clean | adjustable pitch | inaudible to humans | warranty | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acme Premium Silent Dog Whistle | Check Price | 4.9 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 5.0 | Acme | Silent whistle | All dog breeds | Metal | Brass, nickel | Stainless steel | Up to 400 yards | Stainless steel chain | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Lifetime |
| Herm Sprenger Training Dog Whistle | Check Price | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 5.0 | 5.0 | Herm Sprenger | Silent whistle | All dog breeds | Black, metal | Stainless steel | Plastic | Up to 400 yards | Plastic sleeve | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Lifetime |
| Forepets Professional Dog Whistle | Check Price | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 4.0 | Forepets | Silent whistle | All dog breeds | Black, metal | Stainless steel | Plastic | Up to 400 yards | Nylon neck lanyard | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Lifetime |
 | SmartPet Stop Barking Dog Whistle | Check Price | 4.8 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 5.0 | SmartPet | Silent whistle | All dog breeds | Black, metal | Stainless steel | Plastic | Up to 400 yards | Nylon lanyard | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Lifetime |
 | Hodekt Professional Dog Whistle | Check Price | 4.5 | 4.5 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 4.5 | Hodekt | Silent whistle | All dog breeds | Metal | Copper | Stainless steel | Up to 400 yards | Stainless steel chain | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Lifetime |
Training your dog isn’t always easy, but the best dog whistle can make the process go a little more smoothly.
Whistles can be used in a number of training contexts so that your dog can become more obedient and responsive.
What is your dog trained to do? Are they calm while you’re using the dog brush, dog shampoo, or dog nail grinder? Do they know to get into their dog crate at night so they can rest in their dog bed?
Many dogs learn how to play quite early on. They love their automatic dog ball launcher, dog interactive toy, and dog chew toy, and they know what they’re used for. You can put them in their dog harness and dog training collar, connect their dog leash and go on a walk with ease. They may even wear at dog raincoat. And many dogs love to swim in their dog pool on hot days.
Nervous dogs may need some help when they go out – they may need a dog muzzle so they don’t accidentally bite someone. Some dogs may feel better in their dog car seat or dog bike carrier because they’re closer to you and closed off from other animals and people.
Specialized training or equipment may be necessary for some dogs. For example, if they’re a trained service dog, they may need to wear a service dog vest and dog backpack with necessary supplies. Other dogs have lots of energy and want to learn agility, so you get a dog agility tunnel and other options.
It may take some special puppy food and delicious dog treats to encourage them, but if you have the best dog whistle alongside all of that, you’ll find that training is quite a breeze.
Selection Of The Best Dog Whistles
Here are the best dog whistles for most people according to Outlinist:
Buying Guide
Range
What is the dog whistle distance that you’re looking at? Many dogs have amazing hearing and they will be able to hear the whistle from quite a distance away.
Typically, you’re going to want to get a whistle that offers many yards of range. If you’re just going to be in your yard, you likely need something with a range of 50 yards or less. If you’re working with a hunting dog, you may want one that works from even further away (and there are whistles that can go 100 yards or more).
Pitch / Pitches
What pitch comes out of the whistle when you blow on it? The pitch needs to be high enough that it’s distracting without being so high that it’s distressing to your dog.
There are some whistles that have variable pitches, you just need to change the shape of your mouth or where you may be blowing into the whistle. This allows you to connect commands with different tones so you can give your dog non-verbal commands.
Pea Size and Style
The pea is the little ball inside of a whistle that allows for trilling and different pitches to come out of the whistle. You want to be sure that the pea doesn’t take up more than a third of the space in the whistle, or it could cause clogging.
Also, what is the pea made from? Is it the same material as the whistle, or something different? Metal and plastic will help you to make different trills and can help to extend how far the noise is able to carry.
Pea-Less Models
There are some types of whistles that don’t have a pea at all. In most cases, these are utilized in extreme cold. When you use a whistle, some of your saliva is getting into there and it can start to freeze. If the pea gets saliva on it, it will freeze and then you can’t use it.
There is also evidence that models without peas in them also have a much clearer sound, since there isn’t something obstructing it.
Metal Whistles
The most common type of dog whistle is the metal dog whistle. These whistles are made from stainless steel or some sort of metal alloy, and they’re covered with rust-proof material.
These types of whistles often sound shriller than other whistles, because of how sound bounces off of the sides of the whistle and out into the world. They are also able to carry much further, especially if they are longer than they are wide.
Plastic Whistles
Plastic whistles are a lot more affordable than their metal counterparts, but they often don’t have as far of a range. They are better for dog whistle training if you’re going to stay in your yard or work on an agility course.
On top of that, they’re not as durable as metal, either. It’s common for plastic to start to crack after extended use, and if your dog finds it, they are going to be able to crack it quite quickly.
Megaphone Style
Projecting the sound of the whistle is very important, especially for hunters that are looking to catch the attention of a dog that may be several hundred yards out. Megaphone-style whistles were developed with this sort of need in mind.
As you may expect, these whistles have something that looks like a megaphone on the end to help project the dog whistle sound. The bowl shape on the end of the whistle pushes the noise out, making it more clearly heard.
Silent Whistles
A silent dog whistle may sound strange, but if you understand how dogs’ ears work, it’s not that odd. The fact is, there is a huge range of sound that your dog can hear, and some of those pitches are sounds that the human ear can’t hear. So, while it’s silent to us, a dog can hear it loud and clear.
You may also hear these called an ultrasonic dog whistle. They are the same type of whistle – you can’t hear it, it’s past a human’s range of hearing, but your dog can hear it just fine and respond to it properly.
Weight
This is something that you’re going to be carrying with you, so you don’t want it to weigh too much. And, if you’re a hunter and you are running around outdoors, you want to be sure that it’s not going to be something extra awkward to carry around.
A good whistle is going to weigh less than a pound. You’re looking for something that weighs just a few ounces, allowing for optimal portability.
Straps and Cords
What are you going to be holding onto? Some whistles come in their own case, but you likely want something a little easier to carry and that is going to allow you to bring the whistle out when you need it.
Many whistles have a lanyard, strap, or cord. You want one made of nylon or another type of durable material. It should be long enough to fit around your neck or your wrist (depending on how you want to hold it).
Durability
The last thing that you want is a whistle that is going to fall apart the minute that you drop it or bite into it too much. Sometimes, you can get into stressful situations or not realize how much pressure you’re putting onto the whistle, so you want it to be able to handle it.
Metal is much more durable than plastic, and they often last longer as a result. If you want a good whistle that will last you for much of your dog’s life, then metal is the way to go in terms of durability.
Field Whistles
There are some specialized field whistles out there that have been specially designed for hunting dogs and their owners. In some families, field whistles get passed down in the family because they just last that long.
These are whistles that are meant to deal with the rough and tumble of hunting life. Not only that, but they have a farther range than any other type of dog whistle that you’ll find.
Shape
The shape of the whistle matters! A typical referee-style whistle can be just fine if you’re outside in your backyard or trying to get your dog ready for agility training. But, if you have other situations where you’re dealing with dogs that could be farther away, you want that sound to travel, so you’ll need something different.
The longer that the whistle is, the more clear the sound, the louder it’ll be, and the further distance it will be able to travel.
Dog Whistle Apps
Some people swear by dog whistle apps – they have seen them work in the field and they use them for any sort of training that they may be doing with their furry friend.
If you’re looking for the best dog whistle app, look for one that has a long range, that has several different pitches, and that allows you to mess with the settings. This will make training easier and allow you to customize everything to your needs.
Ease of Cleaning
This is something that you’re going to put your mouth onto and that you’ll be blowing into. And, you may not be the only member of your family doing so. As a result, you want to be able to get it clean instead of replacing it every time that someone in your family gets sick.
Many of the best dog whistle options allow you to take them apart for cleaning, provide cleaning supplies, or they can be thrown into the dishwasher.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a whistle stop my dog from barking incessantly?
While you may be tempted to use a dog whistle to stop barking, it isn’t always effective. Whistles are meant to catch your dog’s attention, but they aren’t meant to maintain it. So, whistles are just a temporary fix.
Now, if you use a whistle in conjunction with positive reinforcement, then you will find that it’s a lot easier to deter your dog from barking. It makes it easier for you to redirect their attention and help them to stop barking.
Can whistles damage my hearing?
If you get a dog whistle where humans can actually hear the dog whistle noise, you may be able to damage your hearing if you use it too often or too loudly. Any sort of high pitched noise can damage your ears if you do it too often.
Ultrasonic whistles, on the other hand, cannot harm your ears at all. You aren’t able to hear them, so it’s not going to cause the vibration in your ear drums, which is typically what causes some sort of damage.
Can whistles damage my dog’s hearing?
Many people ask “do dog whistles hurt dogs”, and with good reason. These whistles are very loud and they are very high pitched, so it can be a concern for many people that don’t have experience using them or working with them.
As with your own ears, you just want to be sure that you aren’t using it for any sustained period of time. You also want to be a certain distance away from your dog when you’re using it. If you use it very close to their ears, there is the possibility of damaging their hearing.
Can whistles work for deaf dogs?
Finding a dog whistle for hard of hearing dogs is not an easy task, because it all depends on the pitches and frequencies that your dog is missing. You can try some whistles out and see if any of them cause your dog to react.
A completely deaf dog isn’t going to be able to use any type of whistle, because they won’t be able to hear it at all (even if it’s ultrasonic). You’re better off using a collar that has some type of vibration setting – it’s more effective.
How do I use a whistle for training my dog?
When you’re learning how to use a dog whistle, be patient. Many times, they’re designed as a way to distract your dog, so you have to have a plan for “what’s next” after that distraction.
You can find a lot of tips on the web that help you use a dog whistle in an effective manner. It’ll save you a lot of headache. You also want to know that you’ve got the best dog whistle that will work most effectively on your dog.
Sources
- Acoustic trauma from a dog training whistle, National Institutes of Health, Sep 9, 1961
- Training Tips: How to Use a Silent Dog Whistle, YouTube, Oct 20, 2013
- How to Use a Dog Whistle: 7 Steps (with Pictures), wikiHow
- Are Silent Dog Whistles Useful?, Psychology Today, Nov 12, 2015
- Dog whistle, Wikipedia
- How do dog whistles work? How effective are they?, , Jun 11, 2016
- Do dog whistles work?, YouTube, Nov 7, 2015
- dog whistle, Wiktionary
- How to Get Your Neighbor's Dog to Stop Barking Incessantly, Lifehacker, Feb 13, 2017
- 3 Ways to Stop a Neighbor's Dog from Barking, wikiHow
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