How to Set a Low Whistle Volume

Lower your device's system volume before starting the whistle. Then set the app's software gain below its default 10% and use hold mode for a brief playback check. Keep the speaker away from ears. Stop immediately if the sound causes discomfort.

Set the device volume before touching playback

Open onlinedogwhistle.com and leave playback stopped while you prepare. Use your phone or computer's system volume control to choose a low starting level. Check which speaker or audio output you intend to use. Keep the device away from your ears and the dog's ears. Do not begin by holding a phone beside an ear to check whether the whistle works. If you have just played music or a video, review the volume again. That earlier setting is not a useful starting point for this task.

Adjust system volume while the whistle is stopped.
Place the speaker at a comfortable distance before playing.
Keep a stop control within reach during the first check.

Reduce software gain and choose hold mode

The app starts with software gain at 10%. Its available range is 0% to 25%. Move the gain below the default for your initial check. These numbers describe the app's signal adjustment. They do not describe a measured volume in the room. A 10% setting can sound different across devices and system volume levels. Choose hold mode so playback follows your press and release. Make a brief press, then release it. Leave a pause before deciding whether another check is needed. Stop if you or the dog appears uncomfortable.

Treat 25% as a software cap, not a target.
Use separate, brief presses while checking the controls.
Change one volume control at a time so the adjustment stays clear.

Read frequency separately from volume

The visible frequency value describes pitch, not loudness. The whistle generates a sine tone from 440 Hz to a device-dependent upper limit. That limit is the actual AudioContext sample rate multiplied by 0.45, rounded down to a whole number. Coarse frequency changes use 100 Hz steps. Presets offer 4, 8, 12, 16, and 18 kHz, with values clamped to the available cap. Read the current setting after selecting a preset. None of these values verifies the speaker's physical output. Before a brief hold check, reduce software gain below its default 10%. Do not raise volume repeatedly because a high setting sounds silent.

Review the displayed frequency after each preset selection.
Keep frequency adjustments separate from gain adjustments.
Do not use the whistle as a hearing test.

Review sound mode and later output changes

Steady, pulse, and warble describe different playback patterns. Choose the pattern deliberately instead of treating a change in sound as a volume adjustment. The app uses a 10 ms cosine fade at playback edges, but this does not set the room's sound level. Before switching speakers, connecting another output, or returning after an interruption, stop playback and lower system volume again. The app stops when it receives a devicechange signal, but browser support does not cover every route change. Make your own stopped-state check before restarting. Dogs vary, and an observed response does not establish a suitable volume or promise a training result.

Check volume again after changing the audio output.
Use the visible controls to confirm your next playback choice.
End the check when there is discomfort.

Leave playback stopped, place the speaker away from ears, and lower the device's system volume.
Move software gain below the default 10% and select hold mode.
Read the current frequency, press briefly, and release before making another adjustment.
After any output change, stop and review both volume controls before playing again.

Does 0% gain mean playback has stopped?

Zero gain removes the app's signal level, but use the stop action to end playback. Keep volume adjustment and playback control as separate tasks.

Should I turn up an 18 kHz preset if I hear nothing?

No. Silence does not establish weak output. The preset may be capped, and the speaker may not reproduce that frequency. Keep the volume low.

Can I save a measured safe volume in the app?

The gain control does not measure sound pressure. Its percentage cannot certify a sound level for a particular speaker, room, distance, or dog.

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