The dog whistle was developed in the 1870s by Francis Galton to test hearing ranges, producing frequencies above what most adults can comfortably hear. Working dog handlers later adopted it for training and recall because the tone travels well and does not startle with a loud voice command. Online, recordings of the whistle spread through prank videos and hearing test challenges, where younger listeners often hear it more clearly than older ones. It remains popular as a simple reaction and prank sound.