Due to neighbour complaints concerning barking at my girlfriends regarding our dogs and neighbours dogs, we have decided to split our dogs up as we dont live together. We have 2 bitches aged 18 months, dobermann and a boxer. I have brought the dobermann home to my house but when i leave for work at 7am, she barks quite excessively.
I have been told about these anti dog barking collars which give you a shock when the dog barks.
I have been told they cost about £100 and was wondering if anybody could tell me if they are effective or a complete waste of money. I love my dog dearly and really need to sort out this problem ASAP :(

Thanks in advance
Ste_d and Kikki ( barking mad ) :)

HI ste_d

Is the morning the only time that your dog barks? my wolf hybrid used to have a routine of howling beteen 930 and 11 every day at nothing, she would sit in the middle of the garden and howl. It drowve my neighbours demented.

I used an anti bark muzzle called a husher on her, it was very effective, and cost about £15.

There are other types of collars also available, some give a shock when the dog barks and some spray citronella at the dogs face. Both of the last two need to be fitted very carefully and are activated at the sound of barking full stop so if you have more than one dog it may not work.

I personally do not like the shock collars.

Theresa

I always turned the hose on my dogs when they barked speaking very sternly to them
I would stand there then and wait for the bark and splash again .It only
took two days .
They never do it now unless a stranger comes in , thats ok no point in having a dog and barking myself
The funny thing is they actually separate the difference of getting splashed for barking between splashed for bathing .
They thoroughly enjoy the hosing down when getting washed .
Mari

Mari,

I have westies and I use the hose method also and both my hubby and I both agree it works you just have to do it ritually enough to get the message through.

Pam

Hose for me too. I rigged one up in the kennel, and turned it on from the house, so he couldn't even see me coming to turn it on.

I bet you took great pleasure in that didn't you!! :D

Fiona
x x x

She only barks when i am not there so the hose trick wouldnt work.
Do these shock collars work ?

Don't fancy idea of shock collar, what about aboistop collar has anyone any experience of using one?
Anne

well well well :rolleyes: wondered when we'd go this route........ If you want info on e collars etc, please do a search on this site for previous posts, my life is too short to start all this again :D :D

Beth

Hi Bethn
I am not able to go this road either so will have to drop out I would have nothing more to say only the same thing I will not plug my dog into the mains or battery or anything .
The thing is when the dog is a barker you come in without him knowing and do it then . There is always a way of making it work . Mari

Beanie Babies really worked with my crew -- sneaky assault that they never knew where it was coming from :d :D :D
Oh, the Buffalo was the best -- great airodynamics to land like a scud missile next to the barking offender :)

Yes, the static electric collars do work in the majority of cases. They are approved by the Humane Society in the US, and static stimulation systems are used by their staff. If you do get one, get a reputable one such as Innotek.

Spray systems have little success, and they have not completely tested the citrus or mustard spray for safety if it gets in the eyes. Some US outlets have stopped selling such products.

Our labrador used to start barking at daybreak - and as we live in a semi we couldn't leave her to bark (as you would a baby!!) and found that we were woken every morning in early summer around 4.30am. Obviously going down to her rewarded her barking and a hose in the kitchen just was not an option. We bought an aboistop anti bark collar and although I would not have left in on through the night to stop her barking, it was effective after just one wearing the day we got it - when it went off about 4 times in quick succession. It releases a lemon scented spray and with a distinct "squirting" sound which distracts the animal and as they can find no obvious reason for it realise it is something they have done to trigger it. After that first day of wearing, our dog never barked at day break again. We used the collar off and on for a couple of weeks to reinforce the message and in the end she just had to see it to look guilty. She did learn though that barking was for a message - we never used it to stop barking if she was shut outside inadvertently or something like that. I cant praise the collar highly enough - it worked brilliantly well and restored all patience love and affection for our pet at a time when tiredness was really getting us down! Viv

Our labrador used to start barking at daybreak - and as we live in a semi we couldn't leave her to bark (as you would a baby!!) and found that we were woken every morning in early summer around 4.30am. Obviously going down to her rewarded her barking and a hose in the kitchen just was not an option. We bought an aboistop anti bark collar and although I would not have left in on through the night to stop her barking, it was effective after just one wearing the day we got it - when it went off about 4 times in quick succession. It releases a lemon scented spray and with a distinct "squirting" sound which distracts the animal and as they can find no obvious reason for it realise it is something they have done to trigger it. After that first day of wearing, our dog never barked at day break again. We used the collar off and on for a couple of weeks to reinforce the message and in the end she just had to see it to look guilty. She did learn though that barking was for a message - we never used it to stop barking if she was shut outside inadvertently or something like that. I cant praise the collar highly enough - it worked brilliantly well and restored all patience love and affection for our pet at a time when tiredness was really getting us down! Viv PS I couldn't bear the thought of the electric shock variety surely that inflicts pain rather than just a distraction??

but when i leave for work at 7am, she barks quite excessively

Is she left all day? If so not surprising she barks. And if so maybe a collar should be fitted on the owner to make them think about dog's welfare rather than inflicting it on a lonely dog who would have no idea why it was being shocked.

Tiabo

Tiabo
Thats a bit unfair as we all (except the lucky few) have to work. I find as long as they have a proper walk in the mornings, plenty of toys and chews for during the day and a good walk in evenings they should be happy. Mind you this doesnt mean they wont bark thats a different issue. My 2, one of which is a collie are fine (so Im told ) all day even when strangers (decorators) are in the house but quite noisy some evenings when the local kids are annoying them (and me too I suppose!) Are you a lucky one who doesnt have to work?
Elaine

Elaine

What's unfair about my post? I was just pointing out that punishing a dog for doing what comes naturally IF it is left unattended all day with no-one there to correct it is unfair to the dog

Tiabo

Hi Tiabo
While it is necessary to leave dogs for some time while at work.
I do agree it is not right to punish them by electric shock
A person that can do this is no dog lover . Iabhor the practice
I am allowing my self to get drawn into this again so I am stopping now

Yes Mari,
Don't get drawn ;)
I know someone who used the citronella collar sucessfully and I would use that, if I had to, but I wouldn't use one that gives electric shocks. After all, if I did something wrong I could accept being reprimanded by a bad smell but I wouldn't want someone giving me electric shocks :)
Mind you there's some people I wouldn't mind using it on :p ;) :) :D
Dot

Tiabo
Yes I agree with you about the collar being cruel. I just thought you were saying its wrong to leave them which deep down I think is true but we have to work. I manage to nip home for a play with them at lunch times,they seem fine but I still feel guilty.
Elaine

There also collars that give off an offensive smell when the dog barks (thus stopping the dog barking), seen in the classified ads in dog mags or on the web. I don't know anyone that has used one so I can't comment much more, but they are advertised as a training aid.
Kareen

The aboistop collers do work and cannot spray into the eyes of a dog as they spray under the chin.In fact just the hiss they make even when they are empty is enough for a sensative dog.