Finnish dog accidentally learns to play the tin whistle – listen to her rendition of a folk tune

A six-year-old lagotto romagnolo from Kuopio, Finland, has accidentally learned to play the tin whistle during dog dancing practice, Finnish public broadcaster Yle reports.

Marketta Kivimäki, a wind instrument lecturer at Kuopio Conservatory, was rehearsing a routine with her dog Signe in February when the unexpected happened. During a break, Kivimäki playfully offered the whistle to Signe, who blew into the mouthpiece by accident—producing a clear note.

“Signe honked into it so that it made a sound,” Kivimäki described. She immediately rewarded the dog with a treat, sparking Signe’s interest. Now, the six-year-old can play multiple notes without needing constant rewards and has even mastered the traditional Finnish tune “Ostakaa makkaraa” (“Buy Sausages”) after a few weeks of practice.

In rehearsals, Kivimäki holds the whistle and fingers the notes while Signe blows into it. The duo practices once every couple of weeks, often during their regular dog dancing sessions.

A growing trend in dog activities

Signe’s musical talent comes amid a boom in dog-related hobbies in Finland. According to the Finnish Kennel Club, registered participations in dog sports and shows reached 416,000 last year—a nearly 7% increase from 2022. The club, which oversees over 2,000 local associations, attributes the rise to pandemic-era dog adoptions and greater awareness of canine welfare.

“Many of these dogs are now 5–6 years old, the prime age for activities,” said Pirjo Onza, the Kennel Club’s executive director. Popular disciplines include agility, rally obedience, and scent work, alongside traditional events like elk-hounding trials.

Dog trainer Pirjo Heikkinen, who leads Signe’s dance group, has observed the shift firsthand. “People now understand that fulfilling a dog’s natural behaviors—especially in cooperation with humans—is key to their well-being,” she said. For Kivimäki, Signe’s whistle-playing has deepened her appreciation of canine communication: “They have such rich ways of expressing themselves if we just listen.”

While fans on social media have joked about a concert, Kivimäki insists the whistle remains a shared hobby. “It’s just fun for both of us,” she said. Meanwhile, Signe’s mother, Solveig, has also picked up a few notes—raising the possibility of Finland’s first dog whistle duo.