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Best Dog Whistles

Updated February 2024
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
SportDOG Mega Whistle
SportDOG
Mega Whistle
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Best for Hunters
Bottom Line

This whistle with pea inside is perfect for training hunting dogs

Pros

It has an easy-to-blow design and a keyring connector so you avoid losing it. The sound is directed forward to protect your ears and can be heard for long ranges, even in wind and rain.

Cons

Blowing too hard into it can cause some sound distortion.

Best Bang for the Buck
Michael Josh 2PCS Outdoor Loudest Emergency Survival Whistles
Michael Josh
2PCS Outdoor Loudest Emergency Survival Whistles
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Most Compact
Bottom Line

Two multipurpose, all-metal whistles that come with user-friendly accessories.

Pros

These 2 whistles stand out for their small design, which makes them easy to tuck into your pocket. Durable all-metal construction. Works for dog training and other purposes. Includes 2 lanyards and key ring clips.

Cons

Not as loud as some consumers expected, but the sound is just right for many training purposes.

The Acme Dog Whistle 210.5
The Acme
Dog Whistle 210.5
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Easiest to Use
Bottom Line

This dog whistle may be all you need if you want a model that's not too big.

Pros

Straightforward to use. Owners report that it's easily heard by dogs at a distance or by those with hearing issues. The sound isn't too loud for the user. Trim design is easy to carry and fits nicely in pockets.

Cons

Plastic and seems toy-like. The sound it makes is on the shrill side.

SportDOG Roy Gonia Special Whistle
SportDOG
Roy Gonia Special Whistle
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Low-pitched
Bottom Line

Another strong whistle for hunting dogs, this model has a low pitch.

Pros

There’s a keyring connector so you can keep it close and it has a trill element thanks to the pea inside. The design lends itself to being easy to blow.

Cons

Some purchasers found it quieter than expected. The pea is made of cork, and won’t function as well when wet.

The Acme Dog Training Whistle 211.5
The Acme
Dog Training Whistle 211.5
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Medium-pitched
Bottom Line

This whistle is designed for training purposes and has a medium-high pitch.

Pros

It’s particularly good for training labradors and retrievers and it comes with cleaning and storage instructions. It comes in 5 colors including forest green and carmine red. It’s made in the UK.

Cons

The sound can be heard by humans, so avoid if you’re looking for a “silent” whistle.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

30
Models
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60
Consumers
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8
Hours
Researched
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Buying guide for Best dog whistles

Some dogs have great recall, will "sit" at the nod of your head, and will "stay" for hours if you ask them to. Others prefer to march to the beat of their own drummer.

A dog whistle can help your canine companion conform to those commands. Unless you're already a dog-training expert, selecting the right whistle can prove challenging. With so many different types on the market, where do you even start your search for the best dog whistle?

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The sound of a dog whistle is more consistent than a human voice. If you're tired, sick, or getting annoyed with your dog for not obeying, your voice will sound different from usual, which can be confusing for your four-legged friend. A whistle sounds the same every time.

Why use a dog whistle?

Why should you use a dog whistle instead of simply shouting voice commands? While whistles aren't for everyone, there are some reasons why you might want to try one.

If you've tried and failed to teach your dog to come when called, the "come" or "here" commands probably means very little to him. Using a whistle gives you the chance for a fresh start.

Dog whistles generally carry farther than the human voice. That means your dog is more likely to hear a whistle than your voice if she tends to roam far and wide when off the leash.

Some dogs suffer from "selective hearing," finding it easy to ignore your voice when you're asking them to do something they don't want to. A whistle’s sharp sound is harder to ignore.

Shouting voice commands can be taxing on your vocal cords. Blowing a whistle is much easier.

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Did you know?
Some – but certainly not all – "deaf" dogs can hear ultra-high-frequency whistles (the kind that are silent to humans), which is extremely useful for getting their attention when you're not in their sightline.
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Types of dog whistles

Dual-tone whistles

Dual-tone dog whistles combine a pealess whistle and a whistle with a pea to give you the best of both worlds.

Since these whistles produce two separate tones (sounds of two different frequencies), you can use one tone for one command and the other tone for another command.

Price: Dual-tone dog whistles generally cost between $10 and $20.

"Dog whistles should only be used to give commands, such as "come" or "stay," and not as punishment or to deter unwanted behavior."
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Whistles with a pea

These whistles have a ball, or "pea," inside them, which allows the user to make trills and other more complex sounds. On the downside, they can freeze up in very cold weather, rendering them completely useless.

Price: These dog whistles cost between $5 and $20.

Pealess whistles

Whistles without a pea inside are useful in very cold weather where whistles with a pea wouldn’t work. While you can't use them to make trills, they are better at creating quick, short blasts.

Price: Basic pealess whistles cost from under $5 to as much as $25. You can find some very good options for around $10.

"We'd recommend attaching your dog whistle to a lanyard and wearing it around your neck. That way it's easier to use hands-free, and it won't get lost should it fall from your mouth."
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Silent whistles

Silent whistles are what many people think of as classic dog whistles. They produce extremely high-pitched ultrasonic tones that are inaudible to the vast majority of humans but that dogs can hear clearly.

The frequency of a silent whistle can generally be adjusted to fit your needs.

Silent whistles are ideal for times when you want to call your dog without disturbing people around you.

Price

Expect to pay between $5 and $30 for a silent dog whistle.

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Did you know?
Despite the name, silent whistles aren't 100% silent. Even though most humans can't hear the tone that the whistle produces, you can still hear air blowing through the whistle.
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Dog whistle materials

Most dog whistles are made of plastic or metal.

Plastic

Plastic dog whistles tend to be very inexpensive. They don't feel as cold to the touch when you use them in the winter, but they're not the most durable or attractive option.

Metal

Metal dog whistles tend to cost more than their plastic counterparts. They look smart and are usually extremely durable.

Dog whistle sizes

While most dog whistles are quite compact, some are larger than others.

You want a dog whistle that's not too big or bulky to slip in your pocket or wear on a lanyard around your neck. Equally, you don't want a whistle that's so small that it's awkward to use and easy to lose.

Check the manufacturer's specifications to find the right size of any dog whistles that make it onto your shortlist.

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Did you know?
Silent dog whistles tend to be slim, streamlined, and the ideal size and weight to carry around with you.
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What's the best frequency?

Different dog whistles have different frequencies.

Silent dog whistles use ultrasonic frequencies that can't be picked up by the average human ear but ring out loud and clear to your dog. Other whistles use lower frequencies that are audible to humans and our canine companions.

There's no single "best" frequency for a dog whistle, but you should choose one and stick with it to avoid confusing your dog.

Some whistles only operate at a single frequency while others (usually silent models) have adjustable frequencies. For whistles with adjustable frequencies, test out a few to find one that your dog seems to respond well to, then mark it so you don't forget.

Tips

Look for a dog whistle that's easy to clean. Since you're going to be putting it in your mouth, it should be easy to wipe down, without too many nooks and crannies that can trap dirt.

Consider the whistle’s durability. It's likely that your whistle will end up taking a few knocks and scrapes, so select a model that can stand up to some wear and tear.

Choose a whistle that's easy to replace. That antique silver dog whistle might look great, but if it breaks or gets lost, it's highly unlikely you'll be able to replace it with one that's exactly the same. Your dog will get used to the tone of whichever whistle you use and will need to be retrained if you can't replace it.

Decide on whistle commands and stick to them. You'll need to have different whistle commands for different behaviors. For instance, a single short blast might mean "sit" and three blasts might mean "come." It doesn't matter what commands you choose as long as you’re consistent.

Don't use your whistle when your dog is right next to you. It could hurt her ears or damage her hearing.

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Positive reinforcement is key when training your dog to respond to a whistle. When he gets it right, give him lots of praise and some high-value treats.

FAQ

Q. Do dogs instinctively respond to whistles?

A. Dogs don't instinctively know what to do when you blow a whistle at them. They may look in your direction or prick their ears up in response to a new sound, but they won’t instantly come running to you or lie down. Instead, you have to train them to respond to a whistle in much the same way that you'd teach them to respond to voice commands. If you're unsure how to do this, you'll find plenty of resources online.

Q. Over what distance can dogs hear a whistle?

A. It's hard to say exactly how far a dog can hear a whistle because it varies depending on a range of features, including the type of whistle, the frequency, the terrain, and how good your dog's hearing is. However, it's safe to say that most dogs can hear a whistle from at least a couple of hundred feet away, and often much farther. You can buy dog whistles that are specially shaped to encourage the sound to travel farther. It's also worth noting that sounds at lower frequencies travel farther than those at higher frequencies, so the sound from an audible dog whistle will be heard at a greater distance than the sound from a silent dog whistle.