Dog Silencers/Bark Collars?

[TCLove]

I moved into an apartment building in the past few months and I've since been receiving a lot of notes/calls about the barking & whimper disruption from my neighbors within the building usually when me and my girlfriend are gone for the day. I called a local vet and all they mentioned was it was due to "separation anxiety" and recommended a dog prescription pill...which looking from the ingredients is basically prozac but re-labeled.

I was looking online and I ran into the goodlife dog silencer pro's which use ultrasonic high pitched sounds, does anyone have experience with these? Or if there's any other method/products you can recommend I'd appreciate it. Thanks in advance ~

[Tweakers]

how old is the dog? i know when i got my puppy when we left he would cry for ever, he does it for maybe 5 or 6 minutes after we leave now, but hes getting better.

[That_girl]

There is a recent thread in this section about this same thing. here's what I suggested to the person they do to train the dog not to whine when you leave:

A good way to fix this is to take it slowly. First, leave the house for 2 minutes, then come back in. Ignore the dog for 5 minutes - let her jump on you, whatever, but don't pay attention to her. Do this 1/2/3 times a day for a couple of days. Then leave for 15 minutes, then 30, then 1 hour, etc. Always ignore the dog when you return for about 5 minutes. If the dog is good, give them a reward when you return. If the dog whines - no reward. In the meantime of doing this, you'll probably be leaving for longer times. This teaches the dog that you will be gone for various amounts of time, but you will always return.

After a week or two of this, your dog will learn that you leave, but you come back. And if you reward for calm behavior on your return, the dog will not get so crazy when you come back.


I would try this technique for a week or 2, and see if you get any calls from your neighbors. Maybe you can have one help you out and let you know if they hear the dog. If this doesn't work, then you could go to the prozac or the bark collar. I think it's important to first try training before going to another method.


In my experience, bark collars work amazingly well. We have one at the kennel that we use if we have a dog that is unreasonable. There is only one specific dog that I have had to use it on. I'll put it on him - he knows what it means at this point. I leave it on for about a half hour, then I take it off. If he starts barking, I show it to him, and he quiets down.

I wouldn't recommond this for use for long periods of time, unless you have no other options. Anything with electricty could short out and shock the dog unnecessarily. If you aren't home, you can't be there to monitor the collar.

[_Lisa_]

If this doesn't work, then you could go to the prozac or the bark collar. I think it's important to first try training before going to another method.


Great advice on the training That_girl! One thing to add, if you do decide to try the meds (most likely amitriptyline or clomicalm) you HAVE to keep up with the anti-anxiety training anyway. The meds will never "fix" your pet, they just bandaid the real problem. There are so many great threads out there that you can read to see what some of us have been through with separation anxiety with our own dogs. They also have some great tips on anti-anxiety training!

http://forums.petlovers.com/vb/showthread.php?t=23361&highlight=separation

http://forums.petlovers.com/vb/showthread.php?t=23361&highlight=separation

http://forums.petlovers.com/vb/showthread.php?t=17361&highlight=separation


I've never tried a bark collar, but have heard great things about the citrus bark collar sprays, I even read a study that said they were just as effective as shock collars! The only thing that worked in my house was adopting another dog (http://forums.petlovers.com/vb/showthread.php?t=24535&highlight=separation). Ever since, my dog has made a complete 180 degree difference! And we're all happier for it, including my wallet!

[Macawpower58]

Bark collars work well.

I would get the ones that work on vibrations in the dogs throat over the ones that use sound to activate the collar. Much less chance of accidental shocks for the dog. Once the dog understands that excess barking earns a small shock, you can set them so they just give a warning sound. The levels of correction can be adjusted also.

They are widely used by trainers of all levels. I am thinking of getting one myself for one of my boys.

The good ones are a little $$$ though.

[wishbone]

In my experience, bark collars work amazingly well. We have one at the kennel that we use if we have a dog that is unreasonable. There is only one specific dog that I have had to use it on. I'll put it on him - he knows what it means at this point. I leave it on for about a half hour, then I take it off. If he starts barking, I show it to him, and he quiets down.

I wouldn't recommond this for use for long periods of time, unless you have no other options. Anything with electricty could short out and shock the dog unnecessarily. If you aren't home, you can't be there to monitor the collar.

Bark collars really did well on our neighbor with their 10 months old pup who seemed to cry all day when no one is around. I think it's collar with vibrator and a collar with something that sprays (maybe citronella) help them manage their dog's behavior along with good socialization with other dogs around. Now their dog is a year and a month old now and he's doing fine without collars.

[TCLove]

There is a recent thread in this section about this same thing. here's what I suggested to the person they do to train the dog not to whine when you leave:




I would try this technique for a week or 2, and see if you get any calls from your neighbors. Maybe you can have one help you out and let you know if they hear the dog. If this doesn't work, then you could go to the prozac or the bark collar. I think it's important to first try training before going to another method.



In my experience, bark collars work amazingly well. We have one at the kennel that we use if we have a dog that is unreasonable. There is only one specific dog that I have had to use it on. I'll put it on him - he knows what it means at this point. I leave it on for about a half hour, then I take it off. If he starts barking, I show it to him, and he quiets down.

I wouldn't recommond this for use for long periods of time, unless you have no other options. Anything with electricty could short out and shock the dog unnecessarily. If you aren't home, you can't be there to monitor the collar.


Thanks..I have actually tried that for the past month, but does not appear to be working as I still receive complaints. I do have another dog also, Amber is the barker/whiner, she's 2 years old and my other cocker is almost 3 years, she tends to stay quiet but sometimes joins Amber in the disruption.

I don't feel safe using a shock collar, what I have been looking into abandons the shock, but I don't know how effective it would be

http://www.ultimatebarkcontrol.com/ds_ultimate.htm

The other alternative was this...

http://www.ultimatebarkcontrol.com/ds_pro.htm


Any idea if these products are even worth the time? Since it does have a 30day money back I may think about ordering one or the other

[_Lisa_]

Any idea if these products are even worth the time? Since it does have a 30day money back I may think about ordering one or the other


If it is true separation anxiety then these products will only help to solve part of the problem.

[xpalaboyx]

have you tried using bark collars (http://www.petstreetmall.com/bark-collars/) to your pets?