got home friday to find a note through the door (infacted posted via the royal mail) .... no name on it.

"your dogs are barking whilst you are not in during the day......

please rectify this problem or i will contact the local authority"

signed - NO ONE ( i was a bit annoyed that they just didnt tell me in person so they could say if the method of keeping them quiet is working or not?! now i have no idea)

lol

anyway, i know which dog is the gobby one! .... she barks at school kids on the way to school (they tease her and woof back!!)

i generally pop a anti bark muzzle on her for half an hour on a morning so she dosnt wake people when shes barking at them. she dosnt mind wearing it. this solves this,

but i dont want to cause the nighbours any trouble/distress if my woofers r woofing! if im work and so is the OH (whoch isnt often when they r left completely alone)

i can sympathse that non doggy ppl dont want to listen to barks when im not there

so was thinking about an anti bark collar for the one bitch (the other dogs r quiet) ........ has anyone used any of the differnt types b4?

i live in a detached house, and the neighbours arnt that close but a large GSD bark is pretty loud.

any help ??? thanks

What is an anti bark muzzle?
Our dog barks in the morning when we are getting ready for school/work and
i'd like to put a stop to it, if the anti bark muzzle works.
(I currently have to walk around the house with him on the lead and tell him no everytime he barks, which is working but maybe this would be a good addition.

i got mine from pets at home about £6 (think they call it training muzzle) , its a nylon sleeve muzzle that just fits the nose, fit it around the head quiet tightly. but only to be used when you are there etc. I first used one when taking dogs racing and they got sooooo excited waiting for there turn they would wimper/bark/scream so they wore it b4 it was there turn to run.

she also wears it in the car (she gets over excited when going to the farm/horses and screams almost.... right behind me...in my ear) so she dosnt mind wearing it because generally when she does wear it shes going to be going somewhere nice.

http://www.petsathome.com/find/category-is-2+dog/category-is-2k+training/category-is-2K04+Muzzles/product-is-V00202

The Safety Muzzle for Dogs by Pets at Home is a comfortable, easy to fit nylon muzzle which is fully adjustable and designed to prevent chewing, nuisance barking and aggression. Muzzles are known to have a calming effect on most dogs and will help walking and training become more enjoyable for both you and your dog. The Safety Muzzle for Dogs by Pets at Home is dog trainer approved and was designed by George Grayson - Chairman of the Dog Training Industry Association, UK.

I think you mean this?

http://www.caninekennels.com/~sa_webapp/run.asp?page=16476&gclid=CLbavMP36pYCFQ2Y1QodXS5ePA

My friend has used one - and it worked for her dog. 

ETA A spray anti-bark collar

Where do I begin...?
I moved into my new house 6 months ago.  Both of use work full time and the dogs live outside in the all-weather run during the day. Dogs bark, simple as.  It's their way of communicating.  At the same time next door started to keep their dog outside too.  For the first 3 months of this new routine for my dogs they would bark - especially when next door had builders or the other side's kids were out playing or the cats from the neighbourhood would pop in and look at the caged beasts (cat poo has been found!).  The dog warden recommended an anti-bark collar, I think she must get shares in them, it was £60 and has no effect on my dog (refill spray is £7).  If he wants to bark he will bark.  It just depends on the dog I guess as there are many success stories.

Re: link

But, surely something like this should only be used when you are there, I would never leave a dog unattended wearing a muzzle like this especially for going to work, it looks as though it straps it's mouth together, is it held together with velcro? How would a dog drink, eat, what if it chokes, not to mention not very comfortable for long periods.

the collars yes - was just showing RReeves the muzzle.

they do ultrasonic, static and spray collars wanted to know what worked. or which work the best

> static

Electric shock in other words! :-(  Whatever else you contemplate please do not consider that! The Welsh Assembly have banned them and the RSPCA and KC both campaign strongly to see them banned across the UK which will give you some indication of how widely regarded as cruel they are.

You are quite right to be sympathetic to your non doggy people but as you rightly point out it will be difficult to find out if any action you take is working.

Could you send a note to your nearest few neighbours explaining that you've had an anonymous note.  Say that you have every intention of taking action to resolve things but explain that you would appreciate their involvement and or feedback to see what is effective.

In that way you can demonstrate that you are concerned but also try and remove the anonymity.  Even if they do not come forward then you will at least be able to find out who isn't complaining!

Good luck

> .... she barks at school kids on the way to school (they tease her and woof back!!)
>

Can't you simply bring her into the house away from windows where she can see the children as they pass for that period of time?

the muzzle is used when im at home just on a morning or when she is in the car or when the lurchers/greyhounds are waiting to race. the dogs cant eat/drink so the owner must be always present when the dog is wearing the muzzle. then it works wonders and stops owners getting distressed with noisey dogs. It certainly works when ive ever used it.

RReeves wanted to use the muzzle also when they r getting ready in a morning so they are at home with the dog when it would be wearing it.

as for the collars i dont want to use the ultrasound collar cos all the dogs would get a loud noise even if its just the one culprit barking? or isnt it loud enough for them also??

is the static an electric shock??!!! are they band? theres loads on ebay?! i thought they gave a vibration to correct the dog not shock the bugger!

as for spray im guessing that my dog in question who loves the hosepipe squirting and will happily chew my "citronella horse fly replellent" that she wont mind?

ekkk.. anymore suggestions

Vibration is one thing, static is quite another and yes, it is electricity.  Please don't swear :-)

good idea dogs a babe!!

i could do that and send out a lil questionaire almost to wether or not the dog is woofing.

i have cured the school kid problem when she is barking on a morning she wears the muzzle but..............  i have now found out from this note that she is barking when i go to work (they are rarely left for 2 hours +) untill my partner comes home.

so i was hoping one of these collars would help?

ouch :(

But, surely something like this should only be used when you are there, I would never leave a dog unattended wearing a muzzle like this especially for going to work, it looks as though it straps it's mouth together, is it held together with velcro? How would a dog drink, eat, what if it chokes, not to mention not very comfortable for long periods.

Haven't looked at the link but I once tried a "Husher". That was a really strong ELASTIC muzzle which made it possible for the dog to open its mouth to drink, pant, eat and yes bark, but the idea was that it was such hard work to keep barking it would stop. However my dog simply removed it.

> i can sympathise that non doggy ppl dont want to listen to barks when im not there
>
>

I own five dogs at a time of a breed known for liking the sound of it's own voice if not taught to be quiet/managed to minimise barking, and I can't stand the sound of dogs barking continuously (more than a warning bark).

The best solution with your barky one is to confine her to an area where she is not stimulated to bark, having the collar on must be very frustrating, it will be much better if she is where she cannot be teased or see and hear what sets her off.  Also the others are very likely to pick up the ahbit of barking from her.

It is a good idea to keep dogs away from windows that overlook areas that are walked past.  Also leaving a Radio or TV on will tune out outside noises.

My best suggestion would be forget the collars, the previous one I agree is fine used for the uses you've described,

The best way to stop a dog from constantly barking in the home is to eliminate all stimuli, this can be done in many ways depending on the set up of your home, a small breed can be popped in a crate (for no longer than 1-4 hours) with a cover over it, can't see, so won't bark.

A larger breed or anyone not wishing to crate their dog you do the same thing by closing your curtains, or putting your dog in a room where it can not see anyone passing and you put the radio or tv on to block out small noises.

Dogs will bark because they are bored, it can become a game, they will bark for attention, they will bark territorially so any noise or movement will immediately set them off. So removing anything in eyeline works well so does the TV and radio. If a dog is getting no attention it gets bored (that includes self attention, if it thinks no-one can see it or hear it, what's the point) So try stimuli blocking first, see how that goes, it usually does work. :-)

Beat me to it Brainless, I shall have to type quicker. :-)

>
> The best solution with your barky one is to confine her to an area where she is not stimulated to bark, having the collar on must be very frustrating, it will be much better if she is where she cannot be teased or see and hear what sets her off.  Also the others are very likely to pick up the ahbit of barking from her.
>
> It is a good idea to keep dogs away from windows that overlook areas that are walked past.  Also leaving a Radio or TV on will tune out outside noises.

they live outside (but come in the house at night for cuddles and to watch tv!) in there state of the art kennel and massive run (that my beloved built) , i have another kennel & run where they cant see as much but sometimes i feel guilty that they cant see/hear things cos its more out of the way but its even nicer than the other kennel (brick built, double glazing, heating, etc!!! lol) as far as i know she is quiet in this one but the run isnt as big so i told myself they would like the other larger kennel & run during the day and they just sleep at night in the other one.

do u recon i should put them in the smaller brick kennel whilst im out? they cant see much thats all.

she seems to be one of those dogs that just woofs away happily at nothng where the other guys dont make a peep. she has been kept in the nosiy MOD kennels where im guessing shes picked up the habit along with everyone else.

also the anti bark collars...... wouldnt the other dogs b able to chew it if they wanted....cos they r expensive!

ok thanks. ill try putting her on the quieter kennel with a friend, and maybe playing a radio? i try and give them lots of toys/ chewies to keep them occupied

do u recon i should put them in the smaller brick kennel whilst im out? they cant see much thats all.



Best thing you could do. :-)

How many dogs have you got, could you alternate, just put two in the 'none view' kennel and then swap for another dog the next day? That way if it is smaller the dogs would have more room.

> they live outside

This is the major disadvantage of housing dogs outside, it works fine if you have land that is devoid of people coming within sight or sound of the dogs, but otherwise your dogs advantage becomes your neighbours nightmare and your disadvantage.

With five dogs that are very visible in my neighbourhood (I walk them all around the area so everyone knows of them) I am particularly aware of keeping the neighbours on side as even if it isn't my dogs barking they are most likely to get the blame.

We used to get notes like this then they sent around the RSPCA, Peter had access to the garden and kitchen via a dog flap but he just did not want to be alone, we had moved house. I hated that house and we sold up and moved - anonomos letters are horrible. I hope you get it sorted out OK.

When I moved into this house 7yrs ago my dogs got the blame of barking all the time when I was out.   Now the neighbours know its not mine as they got the blame of barking whilst I was away at the caravan for a month. I politely asked the neighbour did she have super hearing and she looked at me weirdly, then I explained I had been away with the dogs and it would not have been possible for mine to be barking all the time. LOL. Never had a complaint since LOL.  There is one dog round about here that barks most of the day.

Oh I think thats excellent Marguerite :-)  I have had people assume its my dogs that are barking and been able to prove them wrong to, some people seem to assume that if you have more than one dog its bound to be them making a noise.