Do you guys beleieve in bark collars for dogs?

Iceman · Dec 19, 2006

I have a 7 year old German Shephard female and the last few months she barks at any and everything that walks by my fence. Nothing to scary as there is a house between my backyard and the sidewalk, so it is more annoying than anything.

Not sure what to do other than add a privacy fence to slow her down. I yell at her to stop but she is forcing to me get up from my computer everytime and that is cutting into my RX time (LOL). She is an indoor dog but when I am home (which seems to be alot lately) I leave the door open and she comes and goes as she pleases. I don't want to leave her inside all day with me.

I always thought bark collars were a little rough. Any advice?

BAGIANT · Dec 19, 2006

I heard they don't work anyway. Imagine having 7 like I do and they bark at anything that farts. Our door is open all day long so they go in and out all day barking at the wind. It can drive you nuts!

wolfie_cr · Dec 19, 2006

I am considering it just for the heck of it, I have 4 dogs but the problem has only started with a mutt that I adopted from the streets.........that one is creating some sort of barking mutiny.............it appears according to my wife that they start the minute I leave the house......I have the feeling my neighbors are not going to be amused

HellonWheels · Dec 19, 2006

Get a squirt bottle fill it with water and squirt them in the face everytime she barks at something that you don't want her to. It might take a couple weeks, but if you stay on top of it she will get the point. It doesn't hurt them, most dogs don't like water in their face. It worked great on my dogs. They still bark from time to time, but only when someone rings the doorbell ect.

Iceman · Dec 19, 2006

wolfie_cr said:
I am considering it just for the heck of it, I have 4 dogs but the problem has only started with a mutt that I adopted from the streets.........that one is creating some sort of barking mutiny.............it appears according to my wife that they start the minute I leave the house......I have the feeling my neighbors are not going to be amused

same here. It's the neigbors I feel for. I try not to get to mad at the shepheard as it is her bloodlines and they tend to bark over any and everything from what I have read.

Iceman · Dec 19, 2006

Hell on Wheels said:
Get a squirt bottle fill it with water and squirt them in the face everytime she barks at something that you don't want her to. It might take a couple weeks, but if you stay on top of it she will get the point. It doesn't hurt them, most dogs don't like water in their face. It worked great on my dogs. They still bark from time to time, but only when someone rings the doorbell ect.

that is funny you say that my mom told me the same thing a few months back . The problem is I have to get up and run outside to stop her. Maybe I will just turn the underground sprinklers on (LOL). But will do that before getting a bark collar. Good idea, thanks.

HellonWheels · Dec 19, 2006

Iceman said:
that is funny you say that my mom told me the same thing a few months back . The problem is I have to get up and run outside to stop her. Maybe I will just turn the underground sprinklers on (LOL). But will do that before getting a bark collar. Good idea, thanks.

I know it is a pain, and a little time consuming, but 2 weeks of staying on top of it should do the trick. It beats worrying about the neighbors for the rest of your dogs days....

MattRain · Dec 19, 2006

Hell on Wheels said:
Get a squirt bottle fill it with water and squirt them in the face everytime she barks at something that you don't want her to. It might take a couple weeks, but if you stay on top of it she will get the point. It doesn't hurt them, most dogs don't like water in their face. It worked great on my dogs. They still bark from time to time, but only when someone rings the doorbell ect.

+1, we did that to our dog to train him to ask for the door when he licks, uh, himself, which makes a disgusting slurping noise. We would squirt water in his face, open the door and put him outside. Took a few weeks before he understood that he could avoid a cold shower if he simply asked for the door before going on with his filthy business.

It was fun watching him try to bite the water though :thumbsup:

hno:

Iceman · Dec 19, 2006

Hell on Wheels said:
I know it is a pain, and a little time consuming, but 2 weeks of staying on top of it should do the trick. It beats worrying about the neighbors for the rest of your dogs days....

yesterday I played the chase game with her and ran outside 3 times in a half hour telling her to stop, with a newspaper. Finally I tap her on the side and she laid there like I was going to beat her, which I never have or will. About 10 minutes later she started again and about 2 seconds after she let out a bark she stopped herself and let out a whimper like she knew better and stopped for a while. Just going to have to focus on this a little more.

wolfie_cr · Dec 19, 2006

well the only problem with the bottle of water is.....that they normally bark when I am not within their 'area' (just like kids normally try to behave when the parents are there)

I guess one thing I could do is tell some of my friends to walk in front of my house (that is, trigger the 'barking session' ) and stand there with my water pistol LOL

bellyputter · Dec 19, 2006

Iceman, I would never use a bark collar on my Schnauzer(love him too much), but it works great on my wife! Good Luck

HellonWheels · Dec 19, 2006

Yeah the barking when no one is around is hard to break.......
Not to highjack your thread here, but I have a rottweiler (2 years) that is stubborn, hard headed, and runs around like a bull in a china shop......I swear she is deaf, she doesn't listen to a word. Yell at her, she acts like she didn't hear you Had her tested vet says she hears perfect. Any suggestions on trying to get her to calm down a bit? Without the obvious beating, which I won't do.

DELSOLII · Dec 19, 2006

yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://forum.therx.com/showthread.php?t=291814

SportSavant · Dec 19, 2006

you can try a spray bottle, and give her a SPRAY of water (in her face) every time she does it with a FIRM NO.....

SportSavant · Dec 19, 2006

Hell on Wheels said:
Yeah the barking when no one is around is hard to break.......
Not to highjack your thread here, but I have a rottweiler (2 years) that is stubborn, hard headed, and runs around like a bull in a china shop......I swear she is deaf, she doesn't listen to a word. Yell at her, she acts like she didn't hear you Had her tested vet says she hears perfect. Any suggestions on trying to get her to calm down a bit? Without the obvious beating, which I won't do.

the most obvious answer is exercise, exercise, exercise. (but I am sure you already know that).

lack of exercise is the biggest cause of misbehhaving dogs.

Iceman · Feb 9, 2007

still struggling with this. Reviewed this thread and will put some tricks to use. Today has been a bad day, not good when you live in "the burbs".

crunch99 · Feb 9, 2007

I lost a 7 yr old GS few months ago.... she dug out of the yard and ran away cause she was deafly afraid of thunder and fire (both raging at the time). Damn I miss her.....

Anyways.... agree with others that those bark collars don't work. Bought one and it was really inconsistent. It would beep whenever it was a "recreational" bark instead of the "emergency" bark.... don't even know how it could tell it apart. Just a waste of money regardless.

Italianole · Feb 9, 2007

crunch99 said:
I lost a 7 yr old GS few months ago.... she dug out of the yard and ran away cause she was deafly afraid of thunder and fire (both raging at the time). Damn I miss her.....

Anyways.... agree with others that those bark collars don't work. Bought one and it was really inconsistent. It would beep whenever it was a "recreational" bark instead of the "emergency" bark.... don't even know how it could tell it apart. Just a waste of money regardless.

My German Shepherd is also morbidly afraid of thunder. When it thunders she jumps up and claws the front door trying to get inside...I think we've gone through 3 or 4 front doors in 2 years. The other dog couldn't care less and just stares at her like she's losing her mind.

As for the barking, my Shepherd also barks at anything and everything. I hate to be repetitive, but the people I've talked to have said a water bottle is a very effective way to treat this problem. We also have this little device that makes a super high-pitched sound when a button is pressed which also seems to be working.

fivedoorsdown · Feb 9, 2007

if your going to use shock collars , buy a higher end one so you can adjust the settings. cabelas has adecent one

and they do work for young trainable dogs ,not sure on a seven year old

wolfie_cr · Feb 9, 2007

Iceman, does your dog bark when you are away from home or when you are there?

I ask because I have some awesome (or ridiculous depending on your view) cds with music for dogs

if you think they would be useful to you ask Wil for my email address and I will be more than happy to send you a copy