Dog whistles have been used since the late 1850’s for training dogs for hunting and herding. Whistle commands are used when working dogs outdoors over long distances where verbal and visual commands are impractical. Typically these commands are taught after the dog has mastered the related visual or voice commands.
A variety of styles of whistles are in production, and each has its advantages based on the type of work the dog is performing and environmental conditions. In this review we will discuss which model whistles are appropriate for herding dog training along with video tutorials of whistle training basics for this venue.
Herding Dog Whistles
If you are adept at whistling, scroll on down for the video on traditional herding whistle commands. For those of us that have a hard time making any sound through pursed lips, Acme makes two models of whistle that, with a little practice, should suit you nicely.
The Shepherd’s Whistle also known as the Shepherd’s Mouth Whistle is used to give directional commands to the sheep dog over long distances, often when the stock and the dog are out of site of the handler. There are two types of shepherds whistles, the metal and the plastic models.
 |
| Nickel Whistle:Typical Price Range: $10.99-13.00 |
The metal or nickel shepherd’s whistle has a clearer tone and carries over greater distances. It also has a classic, retro design that ties the 19th century shepherd to 21st century shepherd. This model is the most popular seller, however, some purchasers were sensitive to the taste of the metal. It is made of nickel and can taste like having a penny in your mouth. Others complained that the machined edges were rough and required a little sanding to make it comfortable.
 |
| Plasitc Shepherd's Whistles Price Range $5.99-$9.99 |
The advantage of the plastic model is that it is less expensive and preferable in cold winter months when temperatures drop to freezing. Metal whistles can get stuck to the lips when temperatures drop below freezing. Both whistles require some practice before they can be used effectively.
Typical herding whistle commands include: down, stay, walk up, come by and away to me.
Sheep Dog Training Video Tutorial
This video demonstrates a border collie responding to the given whistle commands.