Anyone know where you can hire these devices for a reasonable amount per week - the only place I have seen was £20 a week ?

Banger

I think £20 a week is not bad for the master-plus - it retails for about £170. It is very good though. What I have found however, is that the dog tends to know when it's on and when it's not and also when you have the device in your hand - it is much more effective if they can't see you at all and think the "puff" has come from whatever they are doing rather than you. Must say - I found the water pistol to be just as effective though.

Wish I could have rented one before buying one:(

Pam n the boys

whats a master plus?

It's a collar which is fitted with a box of 'gizmos' so that when a button on the control box is pressed it delivers either a 1.5 second or a longer burst of compressed air which can be 'flavoured' with a variety of 'perfumes' inculding citronella, and mustard I believe, which the dog finds objectionable - if this happens each time the dog carries out the behaviour you want to stop, the dog will soon start to link performing the behaviour with the action of the collar and cease the action..... That's the theory anyway.

HTH

Fran

I don't know where you live, but my local council (Sunderland) lends them, but doesn't charge.
It's only for a week, but it might give you an idea whether it works or not.
I think there should be some company that hires out all the dog equipment, it would certainly have saved me a fortune if I had the opportunity to 'try before you buy', the amount of complete rubbish I have paid for doesn't bear thinking about!
Jo

Banger,

You may find that dog trainers or behaviourists in your area will hire them out, or lend them. I'm not totally sure I approve of this practice as in my opinion their use should be supervised/their inclusion in a training programme should be as specifically directed. I am assuming that Celia has suggested you use one; can't she lend you one, if so?

Hope you get hold of one - but be wary of using it if it hasn't been suggested. Also, if you are using one, a friend of mine who does use them tells me that in her opinion, they should never be used more than 3 times for the same problem, because after that it is a form of abuse. I guess a lot depends on the dog, circumstances etc.

HOw is the big softie these days?<g>

LIndsay

Havent heard from Celia yet despite sending two emails to her but have asked her what she thinks on the matter.

Max is fine we just need to do a little fine tuning with him his main problem is with other dogs and am not sure about other people/strangers - we seem to have come to a bit of a stop with Celia !

Well I live pretty near to you, so if you need me (and anyone else I can rope in!) to help in any way, give me a shout.
I think we see the same behaviourist, small world!
Also, if Sunderland wont lend you an anti-bark collar (it wouldn't surprise me, they are all completely incompetent - I was in there today with my marriage certificate trying to change my name, I had to wait for 10 minutes until they found someone 'authorised to use the photocopier'. I assume it had a self-destruct button or something) then you could just use someone's address in Sunderland. I'd offer to help, but I'm on the waiting list to borrow one as well! If you don't know anyone, I'm sure I can find someone who wont mind helping.
What sort of dog is Max? What problems does he have? Sorry, I'm so nosy!
Jo

Thanks Jo - photocopiers are dangerous things Jo in council offices you'd be surprised how easy the glass breaks when someones bare bum is put on it :d

Gonna ring Sunderland and see what the position is tomorrow and maybe if South Tyneside does a similar service because its run by the Pollution Department not the Dog Warden in Sunderland.

Max is a delinquent 1 year and 8 months German Shepherd who constantly frightens the neighbours, cant be let off the lead because he chases joggers and bikes and is generally a little bit agressive, especially towards other dogs. He is a lot better after being a few months on the behaviour program but still has his moments and generally hates his paws being touched pretty tricky when its muddy/wet in the garden. But apart from all that hes a cutie LOL :d

What sort of program has Celia got you doing ? Would love to get Max used to some 'steady' dogs because most of the dogs he meets he usually ends up having a barking match with them. Are you going to any classes Jo ? Sorry but I'm just as nosey lol

Tim

Wow thanks Jo I live in South Tyneside I wonder if they do the same thing or maybe I can get Sunderland to lend me one :d

Champion Pet Supplies in Nuneaton hire both of these out. I have used them both and bought the Aboistop collar. They have a web site at championpets.com
diane

Banger at being stupid what is it ???? I am still trying to find a training school for the two
hooligans PAT XX

I'm really after a Master Plus so I can train Max off the lead will ring the councils today. Pat Aboistop is the anti barking collar and Master Plus is a remote contolled one. They both spray a puff of Citronella or Water if you want, onto the dogs nose when he's doing something he shouldn't. I really wanted to give Max a try with the remote controlled one and see if it works at all. I have seen a couple of programs on TV using the collar and it seemed to work ok. :d

Sounds really good Banger hope it works :) pAT X

Damn my local council doesnt do it and Sunderland only lends out the anti-barking collar :(

There must be somewhere near that hires them, if not, I think I'll buy one and go into business!
I'll ask at my training club tomorrow, someone there might know.
Jo

Thanks Jo - yea dont want to lay out £160 if it doesnt work with Max. Might try and borrow the anti-barking one from Sunderland (if they will let me - not being in the borough) to see if it makes any difference with Max !

I found a site that sells the Aboistop for £66 and the Masterplus for £136.13 (+ £5 P&P) at http://www.john-humphris.co.uk in the Miscallaneous section.

The MasterPlus has recently been upgraded and improved - these may be 'old stock' and as such not as reliable :-(

Yes, Digger makes a good point - I do remember some time ago, people were cursing because the MasterPlus control just wasn't working, just when it was needed to work!!!

However that was a few years ago so they have probably got it well sorted. Anyway hope you find one, Banger.

Let us know how you get on .Glad to hear Max has improved a bit on his behavioural programme :).

Lindsay

Exactley Lindsay, but the new model has only just been released as I understand it, so the dog trainer who was advertising it may be wanting to shift his 'old stock' before getting more new ones in - that great God Money!!

Hiya,
Celia has got me on a programme for Charlie who can be a bit barky with other dogs. He's much much better now, although I think 'steady' might be pushing it a bit! He doesn't mind being barked at (I know, total freak!) but doesn't like dogs near his face. He was attacked a few weeks ago by a bullmastiff, so that has set him back a bit, not much though.
My other dog, Len, is odd (I know, it's awful, but there is no other word for him!) he is not aggressive, to dogs or people but when over excited, he makes a kind of Mariah Carey-esque screech along with squeals, whines and barks. Perhaps not the best dog to introduce Max to!
I go to training classes at South Shields, in the Cleadon Park Community Centre on a Tuesday night (7-9pm), and agility at the Triple A in Boldon on a Thursday and Friday evening (between 6 and 8pm).
The agility was fantastic for Charlie, it's quite a laid back and relaxed environment. There's quite a few 'problem dogs' there, and my lads ignore them completely, as long as they go separately, the boys are a different story when they are together.
Today at training, Charlie was standing a few feet away from a border collie going psycho at an akita, and he just glanced over and ignored them, so perhaps he is more steady than I give him credit for.
My husband and I are quite steady though (most of the time, anyway!) and I would be more than happy to be a nice stranger for him to get used to. I'd probably be able to rake in some more 'volunteers' if you want!
Charlie would also be good at ignoring Max if he was barking at him, but wouldn't want to meet him up close - that is too scary for him at the moment!
Dogs eh, who'd have 'em?
Jo

The new version is called somthing like commander. Petplanet are selling it. I would buy a new version as I has many problems with my Master Plus. Eventually I demanded my money back.
Diane

Someone very kindly donated one to us and they are fantastic but sadly for some reason it has broken can they be repaired does anyone know?

Have you replaced the battery? I had a problem with mine put a new battery in still didn't work, tried another new battery and hey presto off it went again - seems the first replacement was faulty. The other problem you can get is with trying to refil them, I've had to have a valve replaced as it wouldn't allow any gas in to refil it, took it to a shop that sells them and they checked it out found the problem and ordered the part for me, took about a wk to get it sorted but still better than sending it back which apprantly can take upto 4 wks to get back.

We have it, it's called Spray Commander. As is Murphy's Law, I bought it last week for Buster jumping up and running off off-lead, I put just the collar on to acclimatise him to it and I have honestly not had a need to use it, had a big BBQ yesterday and he was good as gold, and my husband says he's been marvellous off lead - he must be psychic! I can't believe I've paid out £165 for something I may never use!

do you want tos sell it ?

Hi Mattie,
I am thinking about it - my husband didn't think I needed to get it in the first place, but I will sit on it for a week or so and come back to you if that's okay, I'll get in touch through this website when I return from holiday on the Tuesday after Bank Holiday - we are taking Buster with us so that will be a true test, we're going to Swanage for a week.
Nicki