iPhone Dog Whistle App

iPhone Dog Whistle application

This application can be a useful tool for training your dog. The program emits a tone. You may adjust the frequency and pattern of the sound, which will cause the noise to be more, or less, noticeable to your dog. Some of the frequencies are outside of human hearing range, but within the hearing range of canus lupus familiaris, our domestic canine companions, which are better known as dogs!

According to wikipedia, some dogs can hear frequencies as high as 60,000 Hz. To learn more about the hearing ranges of people and dogs, visithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hearing_range.

The dog whistle can be used  as a signal for your dog to perform a particular behavior, or as a punisher to reduce behaviors.

How you use the dog whistle iPhone application is up to you!

First, let’s clear the air. The iPhone dog whistle app does not magically attract dogs to want to come when called. It’s more often an interrupter, which means most dogs will stop and listen when they hear the tone. Some dogs become frightened by the noise and will cower or run away. With these guys, it’s not a good come when called signal!

If you want to use the whistle as a come when called command for your dog, it’s up to you to teach your dog what to do when he hears the sound.

Conditioning your dog to come when you blow a dog whistle is no different than teaching your dog to come when you blow a coach’s whistle.  To learn how to condition your dog to come when you blow any type of whistle, visit How’s Bentley web site and sign up for the mailing list. Follow the instructions for Whistle Come, but instead of blowing a coach’s whistle, you will sound the iPhone dog whistle.

Now I’ll explain how I used the iPhone dog whistle application to interrupt and reduce excessive licking of fabric behavior by my AKC registered Australian Terrier dog, Bentley. The sound of the whistle performs the role of a positive punisher, which is a stimulus that is added, which reduces the immediate behavior of licking. Bentley’s licking is caused by chronic pancreatitis, and at times, the behavior is classified as compulsive by dog behavior experts.

It’s important to note that routine amounts of brief licking is a normal form of self grooming by dogs and should be allowed. Many dogs perform this grooming before they go to sleep. The licking that I want to reduce is the compulsive licking of fabric, which has developed because of the many times Bentley has practiced the behavior. If I allow him to lick fabric excessively, he will absorb enough small particles of the material and vomit.  Any time you want to use a positive punisher to reduce behaviors, it’s best to consult with an animal behavior counselor. Poor timing, and unwanted side effects, of using positive punishers during dog training can sabotage your good intentions!

I set the frequency to 20,000 Hz, which is well above my hearing range, but within the hearing range of my terrier dog, Bentley. I sound the whistle when Bentley starts licking fabric. I say nothing, and from Bentley’s point of view, I am not responsible for the ultrasonic sound, thus no attention is coming from me. Bentley will stop licking, perk his ears up and I stop the whistle. The instant he stops licking, I stop the tone and praise him!

By using the iPhone dog whistle application in this fashion, I have successfully reduced licking fabric behavior!

Happy Animal Training!

Alan J Turner – companion animal behavior counselor and trainer, Memphis TN

Owner: How’s Bentley

Private and Group Dog Training in Memphis, Collierville, Germantown, Cordova TN