Hi, I read somewhere on here the other day about a collar you can hire from your vets that gives out like a citronella spray when they bark (or something like that I think).

I have a GSD who is so vocal. She barks all the time when playing (when excited) or when I play with the other dog (a puppy). She barks at the door, or if she hears something out side just all the time really.
She is a very nervous dog and on her toes all the time. I have had her since she was 8 weeks and she is 8 years now. We took her training etc when she was younger but she got very stressed through it and then went one-to-one and she was petrified of the woman! If you say walkies to her she literally hides, her ears drop her head drops and her body drops and she kind of skulks away under the nearsest thing ie a table or behind a chair! she is scared of the dog lead and traffic and lies down with her eyes closed if a car goes past her!! I only take her to a park now in the car where she can run free and is as good as gold, you would never think she had a problem if you saw her at the park (off the lead of course!). Believe me we have tried all sorts. We have sat in a village at all times of the day on a bench just watching traffic go by to try and get her to realise its not scary!!
If it sheds any light on her she is a White German Shepherd which do have a tendancy to be nervous.

The reason I have explained what she is like is because I do not want the collar to make her have another phobea (she has many, from cuttlery, foil, her lead etc etc) and I dont want the collar to make her any more nervous. I heard of one that gives a small shock when they bark but there is no way I would put that on her!! I think she would have a heart attack from shock!

Any ideas about the barking would be grateful taking her nervous/fear factor into account.

Not sure that the spray collar would be a good idea if she barks out of nervousness or fear. Hopefully other people who are more experienced will be along to offer advice soon :)

Melody :)

No, most of the barking is not when she is nervous it is more when she is round the house and excited in the garden playing or jealousy to the new puppy. Although she does bark at noises outside alot and people that come to the door.

Thankfully our next door neighbour has just got a collie cross that barks just as much so atleast we wont have any complaints!!

Hi

Aboistop collars can be wonderful for stopping barking, but agreeing with Melody, i would really not attempt to put one on your dog. From what you have said, although she is happy when barking, she is generally a very nervous dog and I feel that if she barked when out in the park and the collar went into action, she could do anything - wet herself in fear, or bolt :( :(

A friend's dog hid in his basket shaking for 10 minutes when he was sprayed, and he is a fairly placid Goldie, not nervous although occasionally a little sensitive.

I would try to enlist the help of a very "happy" trainer to help tackle the barking problem. Try www.apdt.co.uk and look under your area. Clicker training may work well with her - my dog is now pretty good with barking through use of this, and believe me, she knows how to bark LOL :D

Good luck with her :)

Lindsay