Silent dog whistles have been around for decades, and although they produce a high frequency sound that dogs can hear quite clearly, the human ear hears only a hissing noise. Like any dog training aid, a silent whistle can be used to reinforce obedience commands and teach the dog to associate the sound with the desired action.
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Uses
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Hunters may choose silent whistles to train their dogs to respond to commands in the field without alerting the wildlife to their presence. This reduces the need for the hunter to holler at his dog from a distance. By utilizing different whistle blasts, the dog can immediately respond.
Dog owners may find a silent whistle beneficial for non-hunting training as well. Since the sound from a silent whistle is non-intrusive, the dog owner can call his dog in from out in the yard without bothering the neighbors.
Adjusting the Whistle Frequency
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Your silent dog whistle comes with a screw or a twist feature that adjusts the frequency of the whistle. With your dog present, turn the screw slightly while gently blowing through the whistle. Notice your dog's reaction to each setting. When your dog exhibits the strongest reaction, you've probably reached the setting most effective for her training.
Command Reinforcement
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Use the silent whistle to reinforce the commands you want your dog to obey in the field or in your own yard. A hunting dog can be taught to sit, even if his owner is a hundred yards away, if he can associate a blast from the silent whistle to the sitting action.
Employ the same type of whistle every time you want your dog to perform a specific action. For instance, one long whistle can signal the need for your dog to return to your side. Train your dog in your yard by having him sit at one end of the yard while you stand at the other. Give the command, "Fido, Come" and immediately blow the silent whistle. Your dog should already understand verbal commands before incorporating the silent whistle.
Common whistle commands might include training your dog to sit at a distance, re-calling him and training him to redirect his motion. These commands may be enhanced by the use of arm signals, such as three short blasts on the whistle with both arms upraised to signal your dog to sit, or a long blast on the whistle with arms to the side to indicate that your dog should return to your side.
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