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BPO Gear Forum => Collars, crates, & other cool things => : tyscrzymom November 02, 2005, 12:45:06 AM

: Bark Control Collar???
: tyscrzymom November 02, 2005, 12:45:06 AM
Okay so Bubba really likes to bark...ALOT. He is barking wether he is inside or outside,he isn't barking at anything just sitting and barking :(  My hubby brought home a static shock collar tonight for Bubba but I am just not sure about it!!! I think it is mean! I told my husband to try it on himself to show me that it doesn't hurt...but he won't(Darn It).I am just wondering if any of you have ever used one and what your results and thoughts were?????
: Re: Bark Control Collar???
: jules November 02, 2005, 01:53:03 AM
No Im with you.I cant bring myself to do that to my baby.Tell you husband hes just talking.Would he like it if you shocked him every time he talked...Hmmmm m maybe thats not a bad idea.
: Re: Bark Control Collar???
: HerbaMonster November 02, 2005, 02:17:45 AM
Our dog training class has a lot of barkers and the trainer uses a Citrinella Bark Collar.  They seem to work really well without hurting the puppies.  Try that out instead of the shock one - that sounds kinda scarey!

Good Luck  :)
: Re: Bark Control Collar???
: greek4 November 02, 2005, 09:50:12 AM
I have a remote shock collar for Rocco and he knows when it is on or off.  If he is barking and getting crazy I just have to pick up the collar and he mellows.  I wouldnt' recommend using it, I would agree with the citronella.
: Re: Bark Control Collar???
: Kermit November 02, 2005, 09:58:19 AM
I wouldn't be able to bring myself to using that kind of device either. Besides, it wouldn't get to the root of why your dog is barking so much. In my opinion it would just scare him and then divert that "bark" energy towards something else like obsessive chewing.
If it were my dog I'd try to figure out the cause behind the barking before just trying to get him quiet. Is he bored? Is he exercised as much as he wants to be? Is he left alone alot? I'm not a behaviorist but I know I have read some on this subject in the past.
I hope you can come up with a solution that is good for everybody!! Good luck!!
: Re: Bark Control Collar???
: Moni November 02, 2005, 10:04:34 AM
We just had a thread on barking not too long ago.  http://www.bigpawsonly.com/index.php/topic,4490.0.html

I personally would use correctional collars as a last resort.  Shake cans, squirt bottles, ignoring, etc.. combined with treats usually can work just as well. 

And this may sound weird, but I would use a static collar on my dogs before a citronella one.  The best of those type of collars out there have several different levels of stimulation and you are supposed to set it to the lowest level that works for your dog.  I've  tested one before and it felt like a static shock you'd get from a carpet.  I don't believe you should put something like that on your dog unless you've felt it first.  JMHO, fair is fair.  (And yes, I did also try a prong on before putting one on my dog.  I thought it was much more gentler than a slip/choker collar)

On the other hand, Citronella collars I've seen only have one level, "ON".  The citronella can get in their eyes, mouth and nose and linger there.  It is a lasting correction.  Think about how it feels to have something in your eyes or a bad taste in your mouth.  Or even worse an unpleasant smell and then multiply that by goodness knows how much, since dogs' sense of smell is so much more powerful than ours.

I'm sure that many people disagree with me and that is ok.  I'm just telling how I came to my decision on the matter, not saying its the best way or THE right way.  Just how I decided for myself.  :)

Good luck and try to think of it from the dog's point of view as well.

~moni
: Re: Bark Control Collar???
: lil_princess724 November 02, 2005, 06:24:32 PM
I agree, We also have the static collar and Bailey wears is as aregualr collar and we used maybe twice in the begining and never really high and we have tested it on our selves. Our collar actually has vibrating mode and if we feel we need it that is what we use, and she seems to be ok. We have taking a class on how to properly use it with our trianer. Best Luck
: Re: Bark Control Collar???
: Saintly Girl December 10, 2005, 12:00:20 PM
I would return the one he bought and get the citronella one.  I feel that if you wouldn't  do something to your own child, don't do it to your dog.  I also read once (this is strictly a myth but I thought it was cool.) that dogs are very sensitive to the afterlife world and when they bark for nothing, they are scaring away evit spirits.  The myth goes on to say that you should never stop your dog from barking as he may be scaring death away.  Saint Bernards are said to have a heightened sixth sense which is why they were so successful as rescue dogs because they sense when someone's in trouble and can sense upcoming storms and avalanches.  Maxwell can do his fair share of barking but I ignore it totally and don't even scold him.  He's just protecting us and his house and I think it's kinda cool.   We always get bothered by travelling salesmen trying to sell us security systems.  (at least twice a year.) and when they see Maxwell, they give up??  No alarm in the world could top him!!  No prowler in their right mind would break into our house!!  Ha Ha!!
: Re: Bark Control Collar???
: Lyn December 10, 2005, 04:38:11 PM
I must have an odd Saint because my Bubba never barks. In 10 months I think he's barked 3 times, and then it's just once. He doesn't carry on.

I think your best bet is to teach him the 'quiet' command. That entails teaching him to 'bark' on command first though.

All those collars do is basically scare them into shutting up. I wouldn't use them unless I exausted all other options first.
: Re: Bark Control Collar???
: nostaw December 10, 2005, 05:07:09 PM
Hi, I'm a Newfie person through & through and things might be slightly different with Saints, if the dog is barking at something in particular, a cat, someone passing or just something its uncomfortable with, that is one thing, and correcting it can be done by correcting it by any of the means discussed, although I think shock collars are very harsh. - A good firm NO and a pull on a lead usually works for me.

The other thing to look at if it is barking for the sake of barking is that it may well be bored. Ask yourself the question,  if I was in the position the dog is in would I have something to occupy my mind. It may just need something to play with, a bone to gnaw on, or toys. It might not be getting enough exercise, tired dogs tend to bark less and sleep more. It could just be lonely. Before you try anything drastic think about the dogs environment, it may be that the dog needs another dog for company! Thats the excuse I used with my wife anyway. ;D

Hope things improve, lol, Andy, Bell & Hovis.
: Re: Bark Control Collar???
: Loretta December 10, 2005, 05:07:24 PM
My extreemly irresponsible dog owner neighbors decided they didn't have time to train their new dog and let an electric collar do the job for them while they were home and out.  I was in the house one afternoon when I heard this poor baby screaming in pain.  I figured she broke a leg or something.  When we found her in her back yard (owners no where to be found) she was sitting still.  So I gave her a pat on the head and as soon as she moved she started screaming and writhing again.  Then we saw the shock collar hidden in her furry neck.  I ripped it off and started crying/swearing my head off.  My husband touched it and it threw his arm back over his head.  It was obviously malfunctioning and torturing this dog.   When the neighbors came home I had to be physically restrained to not go over there and "shock" them.  Needless to say all the neighborhood knew about this whole ordeal.  They stopped using the collar for a few days but one afternoon he came out into his yard with it and one of us was out and stared him down.  He backed back into the house with it and I haven't seen it again.  I'm constantly aghast at how some people treat their loved ones. 

I have a barker (although it's obviously because people are walking by) and for six years I've dealt with it by consistant discipline.  Koms are gaurd dogs, I'll never be able to stop the barking but he listens when I say enough now, and that's what I call a happy compromise.
: Re: Bark Control Collar???
: BabsT December 10, 2005, 05:17:58 PM
Well I am not a fan of bark collars I do have E-collars on order and used properly they are a great training aid.  There are different qualities and the lesser ones well, they may give unintended corrections that can confuse a dog.  There are a ton of dogs that are trained via E-collar (hunting dogs, police dogs, sch dogs etc....) 

Collars are only on under my supervision and they dont get a correction for barking.  I have LGD's and part of that is well barking.  If they bark and it is unwarranted and non stopping they will get a command 'quiet' if it isnt followed they get a correction.  You can also in my collars use a vibration mode to remind the dog that you are infact giving a command...

An E-Collar is similar to a long lead that is invisible and it is the same as giving a correction with a lead on.

They isnt just one set of shock it is many levels and you start at the lowest and go from there because every dog responds differently

But, it you are not eductated like the people this post is about then yes you can seriously damage a dog
: Re: Bark Control Collar???
: princessnmi December 11, 2005, 12:15:39 AM
I know a lot of people are going to disagree with me also, but I have tried those collars, and i've put it on my sister while she is sleeping. It only feels like the kind of shock you get from static electricity... carpet etc. Just like Moni posted. My mom has 4 dogs...a cocker spaniel, a shih tzu terrier poodle mix, and 2 chihuahuas. They bark at anything. My mom got a static shock collar with remote, and used it on the bigger dogs cocker spaniel and shih tzu mix...she only used it on them a couple times and now all she has to do is hold up the collar and all 4 dogs immediately become silent. She has 2 of the collars and neither one of them work but my mom runs daycare and during naptime will put the collars on the 2 bigger dogs and the dogs won't say a word. She hasn't used the collar with batteries actually in it in almost 3 years. But also like Moni said I would try using the spray bottle, can etc first. My mom tried everything under the sun with no success until the collar.
: Re: Bark Control Collar???
: Stacey December 11, 2005, 12:19:46 AM
I have used a static shock collar with my Jack Russel because he barks at the presence of oxygen!  It took him about 2 min and 3 barks to figure out action=reaction.  We use it when he is outside to avoid complaints from the neighbors (which in our case on the military base can lead to the confiscation of our animals).  I slightly resent previous implications that this makes me an irresponsible pet owner because my opinion varies from another.  I also should add, though, that the collar is not left on Remmy unattended (when we are not home, etc).  It is used in conjunction with our training of him and is only put on if he disregards the command for quiet...and like greek4 said most of the time when he starts barking I only have to show him the collar for him to stop.  In my case it was a choice between make him stop barking or lose him...I did what I  had to do.
: Re: Bark Control Collar???
: Alextj84 December 20, 2005, 06:05:28 PM
I have used one and I found it worked wonders. My fiancee has tested it on his self and I've gotten the shock a few times when I've been handling the collar and hit it on soemthing. Like it was said in another posting the intensity is no worse than a static shock that you would recieve from the carpet. Most of them intensify as the barking continues and then it will reset. With the one dog that we originally got it for we were able to remove it (after proper training) and the barking stopped (occasionally we'd have to give her a refresher course but you just about have to do that with any training if it's left alone long enough ;)). I still use it on some of my other dogs as needed but that's very rare it's not something I keep on them all the time. It's not any worse than the underground fence that a lot of people try to use (sometimes the intensity of the underground fence is more than the collar. Oh yeah if you do decide to give it a try make sure the dog is not wearing tags they tend to set the collar off when they jingle. I have also found it helps when introducing new dogs into the "pack." If you have one dog that is easily upset when being introduced to a new dog it helps because when they go to bark/ growl at the other dog they recieve the slight shock. Hope this helps!
Ashley
: Re: Bark Control Collar???
: -Molly- December 31, 2005, 03:44:57 PM
hmmmmm........ I think that sounds mean!  I agree with you.  And if your hubby won't try it he must know that it will hurt.  I dunno........
: Re: Bark Control Collar???
: nickerbokker December 31, 2005, 04:34:54 PM
i moved home last month, and in order to live with my mom, i had to buy the shock collar.  i DID get shocked by it and it is NOT bad, it is more of a startle than anything (then again, it isn't on my neck).  angus got the correction about 3 times, and has shut up since....he now THINKS before he barks...it has helped him learn to control himself.  nothing else worked, and it was getting desperate, and i am GLAD i tried it.  angus used to lose control of himself, and this has helped in a HUGE WAY. 

i am against everyone running out and buying one at first, i think it is a last resort.....but in our case, it has worked. 

so thats our case.

nic
: Re: Bark Control Collar???
: coop November 01, 2007, 02:01:11 PM
I'm an avid fan of the citrinella bark collar.i have a 5yr old irish setter and he does not at all like the collar afterall in fact he gets allllll kinds of excerise.

It works for anything(especially in the car when he's in your blindspot (even with a partial cage that keeps him in the back and jumping in the front)therefore it becomes a safety issue.

Try driving and looking over your shoulder and he's in your face and you almost clobber someone.


We're all entitled to "opinions' however if the collar works then it is what it is.........it's not harmful nor is it going to do anything besides prevent him from causing you(or him of course) to plow into another car and cause an accident.


Coop