Has anyone used one of these and if so which type did you use?
Did you find it beneficial- does it harm them in anyway and does it affect any other dogs in close proximity?
Thanks in advance for any replies

Make sure that you get the ones with remote control as the ones that are activated by a bark can go off if another dog barks, a phone goes off etc. so the dog will be sprayed even when they've done nothing, whereas the one that goes off when you press the button they only get sprayed at a time when they've barked.

They are expensive and we used it on one dog and to be truthtul it was no use at all.

Agree with this post.

My friend tried the ones activated by a bark on her dog, it went off when any dog barked, doors were closed, it went off if the dog shook itself and would go off a couple of times while the dog was being walked on lead. We think it was the movement that set it off. Ironically sometimes it failed to work when the dog wearing it barked!

Someone else I know has a remote control collar which was better but didn't work on some of the dogs she tried it on.

I think I've seen companies that loan collars out, might be worth hiring one for a few weeks before buying?

I bought the standard type (cheaper then the remote control), but I think it depends on what your problem is to which type would be better.

It certainly worked for me.  I had a problem with my dog barking when we arrived at a show and wound down the window to speak to a parking attendant, it used to drive me mad.  With a queue of cars behind you can't reallly get out open up the back and correct the problem.

I bought it this year at Crufts and at the first show we arrived at, off she went as usual and the collar sprayed her, she went quiet very quickly.  All the shows after that I have only had to put the collar on her and she is as quiet as a mouse.  The last two shows she hasn't had it on and no noise.  So I am very pleased with it.  (I would suggest getting the citronella one so you can smell that it has actually gone off)

I borrowed one to try out some years ago for Tara. It was useless, she soon learnt to ignore it :D :D :D

Daisy

It's like any aversive, it has to be used every time the problem barking happens or the behaviour won't stop and will probably get worse.

I've not used one for barking but I have a remote masterplus that I've used for recall training and dead rabbit training (getting the dog to leave them alone as I had no control over him when he got them) - he learned very quickly that he could do what he liked when he didn't have it on.  He also learned after one go what the noise of an empty canister meant (when I'd forgotten to refill :rolleyes:), and it only took one try to ignore me if the battery was flat and he'd learn that too!

Doesn't work on all dogs - Opi doesn't respond to it at all, never has.  And she would be the more likely to - much more nervy than Remy, who couldn't give a toss about most things :D

When we had a problem dog and problem neighbours we were desperate enough to try one. The dog VERY soon learned to MOVE the box on the collar with his hind paws so that the box wasn't underneath his nose anymore, and if and when it went off, it sprayed into the air and never hit him!

I tried one on my youngster, it was comical to watch. She soon learnt that if she tipped her head sideways and barked constantly it would empty the collar quite quickly. She caused more noise when she had the collar on than what we had put it on her in the first place for. She was very smug after she had emptied it though LOL

To be honest a hand held spray bottle does the same for me as a remote controlled collar, and I only need one for all the dogs, as my dogs are never out of range of it at home and it isn't needed anywhere else.

Have tried one before.  No good.  It went off at the slightest thing!  Best thing I've found is a small coke bottle with a few chuckies in it!!  Works wonders!

> Best thing I've found is a small coke bottle with a few chuckies in it!!  Works wonders!

Yes - we used one with Bramble, it worked very well. Tara, however, just ignored it :) :) It shouldn't be used at all with some dogs tho' :(

Daisy

Providing it's used correctly (same with any device) there shouldn't be a problem.  It's just a case of finding what works for each individual dog.  The water spray bottle, for example, would work on some dogs, but others (my Dylan) think it's a great game and try to catch the water!! :rolleyes:

Water bottles have never worked with either of mine - they just want to drink the water !! :)

Daisy

They aren't gundogs are they   Now Elkhounds very rarely like water especially squirted in theri faces :)

> They aren't gundogs are they

Nooo :D :D Tara is an Aussie and hates bangs :D Bramble is, well goodness knows - but definitely not gundog :D :D :D He just loves the hose in his face :D

Daisy

Many thanks for the replies everyone :)

>They aren't gundogs are they <

:-D I haven't found anything my gundog girl doesn't like yet. not that I've been looking for objects of torture I can't water the plants without her sticking her face in the hose stream; bangs, well they just indicate where to look for the next mischief; rattle bottles are toys - give it here mom. Maybe I should wave a set of those horrible mary jane shoes for dogs at her. I'm lucky my voice usually puts her off norty activities. :)

To be hones t the spray bottle rattle can should really be to distract not frighten.  If they find them mildly unpleasant then OK, but frightened dogs will not learn anything.  they should startle, interrupting the behaviour so you can then use training to redirect, prevent the desired behaviour with lots of praise for compliance.

I know someone who used one on her Westie - the sort that made a high pitched noise when she barked. However when my pointer was there and he barked it set the collar off, and the poor Westie had a 'but I didn't do anything' look on her face.  I also don't think it made a huge difference from what I remember.