Do people still use dog whistles?

[Chickenandrice]

We are hopefully getting a dog and I was just thinking about training it. I remember as a child our dog was trained really well to a dog whistle she came back instantly and it was really handy. I assumed we would do the same, but thinking about it I am just wondering if it’s not the done thing any more? I see people with clicker training things now?

I have a dog and never even considered using one. Ddog is 13 btw. My friend has an 18 month old lab and has just started training her with a whistle and is seeing great results. She does go to classes with her so I've no idea what that involves.

I use an acme whistle.. or rather DH does.. I can wolf whistle with my fingers and my girl comes running to that too..and I never forget my fingers
Its really useful as a whistle carries much further than calling, and it takes the panic out of the recall when your dog has just vanished chasing a deer! (mine has a high prey drive!)

Our working springers are whistle trained.

We only started whistle training this year and use the Acme whistle too.
We started it as our dog suddenly decided he liked chasing sheep.
We only use it for recall when out hill walking but do practice with it quite regularly when at the beach/at home etc.
As pp said we like it as the sound carries quite far and also because it is emotionless. He gets special treats when he responds to the whistle

Used a whistle all the time until ddog went deaf - from old age rather than whistling, I hasten to add! Very useful, for all the reasons mentioned by pps. Get a proper Acme one, because then you’ll know it’s always the same pitch (the cheapo ones from pet shops aren’t, although I say cheapo - they probably cost more than an acme one!) which makes it easy to replace a lost one. I have at least three floating around in coat pockets and bags still.

My elderly dog is going deaf, so I recently bought a whistle, one that you can alter the pitch of to find the pitch she can hear. Previously she always responded to voice or hand commands. I admit I feel a bit of a plonker using it, particularly when she's not far from me but looking around wondering where I've gone.

My first dog trainer told me I did not have a voice for recall so to buy a whistle. Works a treat. Lots of whistle users round me, but my dogs can tell which trill is mine. They do listen to others though, so it’s good to have your own sound and as ever be consistent with it.

Our working setter is whistle trained for recall, leave, stop and turn.
Makes life much easier for us and more fun for her.
Our Dalmatian was whistle trained for recall, on and off. He was less skilled but clingier, so it wasn’t a problem.