Why Can a Silent Dog Whistle Be Heard?
"Silent" dog whistles are not really silent at all, they are only called "silent" because they are at a very high frequency which is often out-of-range of human hearing. Most dog whistles operate between 16 and 22 khz, while human adults can generally only hear frequencies of less than 20 khz. As hearing varies widely between people, and depending on a person's age, some people are actually able to hear silent dog whistles and can often be annoying and sometimes painful.
Other People Are Reading
-
How Whistles Work
-
Short whistles producer higher frequency sounds The sound produced by the whistle occurs when a flow of air is interrupted by a narrow blade (a fipple) that causes the originally smooth flowing air to vibrate in a turbulent vortex. The frequency produced varies inversely with the length of the whistle (the shorter the whistle the higher its frequency) and in some whistles a "pea" (small light ball) is used to create a chaotic vibrato. Silent dog whistles are generally in the 16 to 22 khz (kilohertz) and some whistles have a slider to vary the frequency, which is sometimes used for negative reinforcement training (by producing a painful sound).
Uses in Dog Training: Positive Reinforcement
-
Positive reinforcement helps in dog training Silent dog whistles have been used in dog training for more than 100 years. As dogs are able to hear and respond to higher frequencies than humans, dog whistles have been used by people to call to their dogs over large distances without creating a nuisance for other people that might be around. The whistle is used to gain a dog's attention, and when the dog responds by coming to the trainer, it is therefore rewarded--reinforcing the connection between the sound of the whistle and responding to it.
-
Uses in Dog Training: Negative Reinforcement
-
Negative reinforcement can be stressful Some dog whistles are used with negative reinforcement. Whistles that have an adjustable frequency, which the trainer can produce, to create a painful high-frequency sound to discourage negative behavior, such as barking or other unwanted behaviour. There are also electronic whistles that contain a microphone that detects a dog when barking, which automatically produces a painful sound to discourage this behavior. Most modern trainers try to encourage positive reinforcement, such as using the clicker method heard at frequencies by both dog and trainer, as this method is less stressful for the dog and more enjoyable for the trainer and or owner.
Effects of Dog Whistles on Humans
-
Teenagers can high higher frequencies than adults The frequencies that people can hear varies between individuals. What is inaudible to some people may be annoying or downright painful to others. Our hearing also changes as we age because of changes in the middle ear so younger people as a rule can hear higher frequencies than adults. A silent dog whistle that may be inaudible to the majority of mature adults can therefore be heard by a proportion of people, especially the young.
Dog Whistles Can Hurt Your Dog
-
Consult a veterinarian or dog trainer before using a whistle What a dog can hear varies between dogs as well as with the age and overall health of the animal. Dog whistles can be an effective training aid when used humanely and consistently, but overuse, especially at potentially painful frequencies, can not only stress the animal but may produce hearing damage.
Consult with a veterinarian or accredited dog trainer before embarking on using a dog whistle for training or discipline. It is easier and more effective to reward good behavior through positive reinforcement than to try and punish or correct unwanted behavior once they become established.
-
References
- Photo Credit dog image by Michal Tudek from Fotolia.com whistle image by Andrew Breeden from Fotolia.com training-the-dog image by Ivonne Wierink from Fotolia.com dog image by Mat Hayward from Fotolia.com two hip teenagers image by Elke Dennis from Fotolia.com the dog image by hupper from Fotolia.com
