Has anyone tried the Dog-Stop Distraction Alarm? A friend has just used one to successfully stop her little terrier barking at everyone who passed her garden or house on two legs or four. I've seen (and heard!) this wee dog in action, and know that May had tried just about everything in the past, so I'm impressed! The bumph says it can be used to "interrupt: barking, aggression, fighting, food stealing, car hysteria and other unwanted behaviours" and to "protect: pets and their people".

Sharon

My dog has an OCD of tail chasing. He was a rescue dog and I have had him for the last 19 months and for all this time have tried to 'break the habit'. I've read various training books, magazine articles, consulted two different vets and taken and acted on advice from various people and only last week posted the Forum for help.

He wasn't getting worse but he wasn't improving. Three days ago I invested in a MasterPlus Remote Control Collar (which sounds similar to the one in your post). I cannot believe the difference. It was difficult to do anything around the house as some household chores (turning on taps, vacuum cleaner etc) are his 'trigger'. I spent all day yesterday washing and cleaning and not a murmur from him. He isn't even bothered by not chasing his tail. I was worried that his 'frustration' may come out in another way, but he just goes to sleep instead. I'm sorry if I sound like an advert for the above but I am so pleased, so far, with the outcome. It was so distressing so see him going round in circles but he seems almost relieved not to be doing it!

June, that is great news :-) I am glad you found a cure for him

Thanks Leigh. We have coupled it with your suggestion of giving him a fluffy toy, so he has a big elephant (nearly as big as him!) that he can either sit and hold or just rest his head on for comfort. Though I must say, it isn't looking nearly as good as when we first gave it to him!

Hi June, well done for getting you dog sorted :-). I've not come across it but from what I read it obsessive compulsive behaviour seems to be one of the hardest things to correct. May actually tried an abiostop collar (not sure if that's the same as the MasterPlus?) with no joy, but this cheap, canister of compressed air did the trick for her.

Sharon

I didn't realise the Dog Stop gave out a noise. The MasterPlus is refilled similarly to filling a cigarette lighter and it puffs out an odourless spray and gives a slight hiss when the dog does what they're not supposed to do. You have the remote control hidden behind your back or in your pocket so they don't associate you with the spray. It grabs their attention immediately and it's up to you to re-direct them and praise when they come. In the case of OCD I was advised not to correct my boy but to call him and when he comes, lots of praise. It's worked very well so far. Also used it on my other younger GSD when she takes it into her head to run 100 yds to greet another dog! It stopped her in her tracks!

I'm glad your friend has found what works for her and her dog. It's so difficult because what works for one dog doesn't necessarily work for another, which I think we've probably all found at some time or another.

I've just seen the Dog Stop Alarm on Pets Pantry. You have to hope it's successful quickly or the neighbours get to complain about the 120db screech as well as of the barking!:)
LynnT

Hi Lynn, in this case the neighbours didn't mind. May lives in a small village and several neighbours have dogs. so when Scout barked at a passer-by she started off the others and it became a self-fulfilling circle. May gave me a Dog-Stop and I'm going to try it on the two little terriers that keep visiting the fence to wind my lot up over the weekend :-).

Sharon, don't foget your ear-plugs! ;) Good luck!
LynnT

LOL @ Lynn! When I tried the thing out last pm, Ian nearly jumped out of his beard :-). Maybe it has an application for husband training :D?

Hi Everyone
Would any of these device be able to be used at the side of the ring.
Since Driffield where a bitch was in full season(tail going over when being examined by the judge)our young dog has taken to barking when my daughter goes into the ring with our young bitch.It started at Driffield when he became like a man possessed trying to get to the `in season bitch`and now barks on and off at the side of the ring,can`t figure out what triggers it.I swear it cost him the ticket,we got the reserve as he just wouldn`t co-operate and did not move as well as he can.We are dreading LKA.
Don`t want to upset any other dogs at the show by his barking or a device.As he is as good as gold at home we can`t correct it there,he is even good when our own bitches are in season.Which would be best for him if any?
Carole

If a dog stop is what I think it is, a bit like a personal alarm, I would imagine your life might be in danger from other exhibitors if you use it at a show. I don't know so much about the spray collar that would prob not upset other dogs too much. I know in my breed Beardies they are very noise sensitive and could be put off if an alarm went off
Anne

Hi Penny, how about an abistop? They dont make any noise at all except a ""shhhhht" noise. Not cheap to buy, but worked a treat on out barking beardie.

Carole

The MasterPlus collar is similar to the Aboistop only it's remote control so you control when the spray is activated. I have heard that Aboistop's are really good but another dog barking can set it off. Don't know if this is the case, just something I read recently.

Hi everyone. Have tried the Aboistop collar on my 11 month old GSD for his barking in the car and when he is overexcited but did not work at all. Does anybody think the Dog stop remote control collar will be any better and do you know how much they are?

Dog Stop isn't a remote collar, it's a hand-held screech alarm. At 120db I wouldn't want to be in the car when it went off!:(
LynnT

Hi Fiona, as Lynn says the Dog-Stop is hand held. When I was given mine I'd have agreed with Lynn that it was too loud to use in a car, but after a bit of practice I think it might be possible. I've been using it to stop Finn jumping up when he gets excited outdoors, and its possible to make the thing give a brief but loud 'parp'.

I didn't expect much from the Dog-Stop and I'm frankly amazed at how well it has worked on Finn. I've only used it a dozen ot so times, but he is already looking to see if I've picked it up. In fact it has worked so well that I'd be worried about that in case it was so loud that it was hurting the dogs' ears, but the crew (including Finn) just look pained if I let it off full blast when they aren't doing anything bad. So I've no idea why it aborts Finn's sly jumps - but it does! That said, May (who introduced me to it) says her terriers both cringe when she uses it, so I'd still be wary about using one on a nervous dog.

It isn't a cure-all and it hasn't fizzed on the pair of noisy visiting terrors that wind up my lot across the fence. But to date I've only blasted it at them out the window and the next day that it doesn't rain (if there ever is one!) I'm going to lurk and give them a close up blast when they appear.

Going back to using it in the car, I doubt that the driver could use it safely. Its a canister and when you want to use it, you replace the 'blank' top with another one. You can snap the 'active' top into place but if you do it emits the screech constantly. To get the 'parp' effect you have to set the top on without attaching it and press gently. That's what takes the practice and I've almost lost the 'active' top twice when it fell off to end up in Brett's jaws.

I don't know how much it costs as I was given mine but they aren't expensive - less than a tenner I think. I suppose that's why they are so badly designed which is a pity as going on the results so far I'd definitely pay a bit more for a top that was easier to control.