Buzz
During a visit to London's Zoological Gardens in 1876, Sir Francis Galton paused in front of the lion cage, took out a whistle, and began blowing on it. No sound was produced from the whistle, but it was clear that the zoo's animals seemed uneasy.
“It certainly annoyed some of the lions,” he would later recall.
What Galton possessed was a device that would come to be known as the dog whistle, a tool designed to emit sound in a frequency that is inaudible to human ears, but effective in directing and managing dogs. If you’ve ever seen your dog reacting to an empty space in a room or a silent window, you may have wondered if they were just overly anxious. The truth is, the dog was probably responding to a noise beyond human hearing, like a distant siren or the hum of an airplane above.
The reason dog whistles are effective lies in their exceptional hearing. By using a high-pitched sound, trainers and owners can easily grab a dog's attention. However, the story behind their effectiveness is a bit more intricate—and tied to Galton's legacy.
The Birth of the Dog Whistle
Galton, a half-cousin to Charles Darwin, was a scientist with an interest in the theory of 'regression to the mean'—the idea that human progress has limits and will eventually return to the average. For instance, two highly musical individuals might produce a talented child, but their child could then have little musical talent.
Galton’s ideas quickly evolved into the now-debunked theory of eugenics, which involved manipulating human reproduction to create an idealized, race-based society. (It’s not surprising that the term 'dog whistle' later became associated with subtly prejudiced rhetoric.)
Galton tested his theories of eugenics by observing how different species interacted with their environments. He became interested in measuring qualities like hearing, both in humans and animals, and invented a device he believed would demonstrate that certain abilities were inherited rather than influenced by external factors. The device had a sliding plug that adjusted the airflow inside the tube, producing sounds at high frequencies.
Galton described the inner tube of the whistle as having its depth controlled by a plug that can be moved in or out by twisting it. The more the plug is inserted, the shallower the tube becomes, producing a higher-pitched sound. This continues until the sound reaches a point where it can no longer be heard, even though the vibrations remain just as intense as before.
Galton observed that the human capacity to hear higher frequencies diminishes with age. He also found that cats had exceptional hearing, though they appeared indifferent to it. In contrast, smaller dogs showed greater sensitivity to sound than larger ones. While his initial goal was to use the whistle to advance eugenic theories, it was not scientifically valid.
How Dog Whistles Function
The whistle’s application extended beyond Galton’s initial work. He envisioned it for use with various animals, not just dogs. It wasn’t until the 1940s that his concept of a high-frequency whistle was used alongside the traditional, audible dog whistle that had been in existence for many years.
Humans and dogs both hear sounds up to 20,000 Hz, but dogs have the ability to hear up to 45,000 Hz, likely a result of evolutionary needs. Humans evolved to hear voices, while dogs needed heightened awareness for the sounds of smaller animals. Thus, a whistle that is inaudible to humans can be clearly heard by dogs.
The introduction of the silent dog whistle was a direct response to the growing suburban sprawl. As neighborhoods expanded, there was a demand for training whistles that wouldn’t disturb others. In rural areas, a silent whistle wasn’t necessary for a hunter, but in a suburb, where homes were often in close proximity, it became essential.
Silent whistles had another key advantage: Ultrasonic sound can travel greater distances. This was particularly useful when a dog was far from its owner but still needed to respond to commands. Regardless of whether the whistle is audible or silent, it provides consistent sound, unlike human voices which can fluctuate in pitch and cause confusion for a dog.
How to Use a Dog Whistle
A dog whistle on its own doesn’t change your dog’s behavior. It’s simply a tool for signaling, similar to hand signals or spoken commands. The dog learns to associate the sound of the whistle with a specific action, whether it’s sitting, staying, or eating, but the dog needs to be trained for this connection.
As the American Kennel Club recommends, the best way to introduce a whistle is with rewards. Blow the whistle, give your dog a treat, wait, and repeat. Soon, your dog will connect the sound with the reward. From there, you can pair the whistle with commands like 'sit,' eventually allowing you to use just the whistle without any verbal or physical cues.
You can use different combinations of whistle sounds for various commands. For example, asking your dog to return might involve two short bursts, a pause, and then another burst. Fetch could require three quick toots. (This is where silent whistles may be tricky: it can be hard for humans to know what sound they are producing if they can’t hear it themselves.)
Dog whistles operate at different frequencies. To discover the best range for your dog, try blowing the whistle at a low frequency while your dog is sleeping, and gradually increase the frequency until you notice your dog waking up.
A dog whistle is unlikely to harm your pet, as long as you don’t blow it too close to their ears. If your dog appears stressed or upset by the sound, you might want to consider using a different method.
A dog whistle will not stop barking. The sound may momentarily confuse or distract your dog, but they’ll likely adjust to it quickly. If you use it too frequently, the barking may even increase.
It’s best to limit the use of whistles to dogs. As Galton wrote, “I once frightened a pony with one of these whistles.”
Explore Answers to More Fascinating Questions:
