Dog WhistleHow to Use the Four-Second Reaction Check
Choose a comfortable sound setting, start the four-second reaction burst, and observe what happens during playback. When the burst ends, select reacted or noReaction. This records your observation of that attempt. It does not measure hearing, confirm speaker output, or predict how another attempt will go.
Prepare the sound before starting
Set your phone or computer to a low system volume before opening the check. Place the device away from your ears and your dog's ears. Keep the current sound setting visible so you know which tone you are about to play. The software gain starts at 10% and has a maximum of 25%. This control is separate from system volume. A low software percentage alone does not describe how loud a particular speaker will sound.
- Read the displayed frequency before pressing the reaction control.
- Check both system volume and software gain.
- Leave enough space to reach the stop control immediately.
Understand what the tone controls change
The whistle generates a sine tone. Its lowest setting is 440 Hz. Its upper setting is calculated as the whole-number value below the actual audio context sample rate multiplied by 0.45. Coarse adjustments move by 100 Hz. The five preset choices are 4, 8, 12, 16, and 18 kHz, with any choice above the current limit reduced to that limit. Read the displayed value after choosing a preset. Steady, pulse, and warble are available sound modes. A 10 ms cosine fade softens the start and end of playback.
- A preset label may be higher than the value the current audio context permits.
- After the four-second burst finishes, choose reacted or noReaction to record your observation..
- An apparently silent tone does not establish what your dog heard.
Observe the four seconds without adding meaning
Start the reaction burst when you are ready to watch the whole interval. Focus on what you can actually observe during those four seconds. The two outcome choices give you a simple way to record that observation. They do not explain why a reaction happened or why none was visible. Dogs vary, and the app makes no promise about their responses. Avoid treating a single selection as proof that a particular frequency works. You also do not need to repeat a burst simply because the result was unclear.
- Choose reacted when that label matches your observation.
- Choose noReaction when you did not observe a reaction.
- Do not use either result as a hearing test.
Stop playback and finish the check
Use the stop control whenever you want the sound to end. The reaction check records what you observed during that particular playback attempt. Space toggles playback when focus is outside a typing field, so take care with that key while reviewing the page. Playback stops when the tab is hidden, an interruption occurs, or a devicechange signal arrives. A recorded reaction does not measure hearing, verify the sound leaving your speaker, or predict the result of another attempt. Stop manually before changing an output device. After the burst, choose the outcome that fits the attempt. The app keeps the last three dated outcomes locally and provides a clear action for removing them.
- Stop immediately if playback feels uncomfortable.
- Check the selected audio output before another attempt.
- Use the saved entries as a short record of observations.
- Lower system volume, place the speaker away from ears, and read the current frequency and gain.
- Choose the sound setting you want to observe, then start the four-second reaction burst.
- Watch the interval and stop early if necessary using the stop control or Escape.
- Select reacted or noReaction, then review the dated entry in the local outcome history.
Does noReaction mean the tone was inaudible?
No. It only records that you did not observe a reaction. The speaker's output is not verified, and the app cannot establish what was heard.
Can I use a higher preset if the sound is too high for me to hear?
The controls offer higher settings within the current generation limit, but silence is not a reason to raise volume. Keep volume low and remember that speaker response may not match the displayed frequency.
Will switching headphones always stop the sound?
No. Playback stops when a devicechange signal arrives, but browsers do not report every route change. Stop the sound yourself before switching outputs.