Dog training collar / No Bark Collar

Glowrdr

So... even though my dog is 5 years old now, he's slowly getting worse and worse about his barking. He's not the type of dog that just sits outside for hours on end and barks non-stop. He's a tree barker. If there is a squirrel in the tree, he's staring up in the sky barking at it.

Out of consideration for my neighbors (have a couple new ones) - I'm looking for a solution to stop his barking. A muzzle isn't an option for me.

I'm kind of leaning towards using a full fledged training collar, since I can use it for some obediance issues as well (i.e. not coming in when being told, or when he actually catches a squirell and wont let me near him)

I would consider a bark collar though, but I don't know much about them (or should I say what works)


I don't want anyone to think I've got a disobediant dog by any means. But when my dog is outside, it's his playtime (and territory). Even being his owner, I cannot pet or touch him outside. He just wags his tail, and runs circles around you thinking it's the greatest game in the world. Problem being, he will catch rabbits, birds and squirrels - and then pick it up and run away from me when I try to dispose of the remains. That's when I'd like to zap his little ****. lol

So.... anyone have any input on this? I know there are noise makers, electrical and misting types of collars. I believe none are to be worn all the time (not a replacement collar). Anything else I should know? The collar would also need to have probes on it if it were of the electrical type due to my dogs fur.

nooshinjohn

That's not a dog... it's a bear cub!:razz::cool:

I have been wondering the same thing, especially since we are in an apartment for now. My dog barks at everything that moves, whether she can see it or not. My girl comes when called and does all the basics without hesitation, but will not shut up. I too would be grateful for some input.

Thanks for asking the question.

PerfectCreature

That;s a Chow right?
Anyway, I have never used one, but your best bet is to talk to your Vet about it. I had a neignor that used one on his dog and the dog did not like it at all. It got really aggressive and agitated every time it was used. This was, mind you the "shock" type of collar. They have another one that is the "sound" type which emits a VERY high pitched sound that hurts the dogs ears a bit to get it to stop. I personally would never use either.
Try this.
Take a 12 oz soda can, put about 6-10 pennies in it. Duck tape the crap out of, I mean really tape it up.
Then everytime it barks, shake the can. Soon enough, all you need to do is pull it out and it will stop.
We used that for our Chow and our Lab. A couple shakes and some verbal ques and the dog would stop.
Hope it help.

tonyb

I used to use the elecrical ones on my dogs, not for barking, to get them to stay as I have no fence in my yard. Works pretty good. They have a variable setting for the shock, and also a tone setting to give them a warning first before you shock. Yes, they also have different size probes for long haired pups. After awhile, I no longer needed it. Pretty fun to put around a drunk persons neck and shock them when they become unruley.

Danny Tse

Back in November 2011, my sister and I had our 5.5 years old Old English Sheepdog, Bogi, went to a trainer for 4 days, working with an e-collar (in conjunction with his pinch collar). Bogi's problem was that he tends to pull and lunge at people and other dogs during our walks; he doesn't seem to have such a problem when he is off-leashed. That's quite a problem given Bogi is now about 115 lbs, and believe me, it wasn't fun "dog skiing" down the sidewalk. My sister and I both suspected that Bogi was neglected when he was a puppy and wasn't socialized correctly by his previous owner, thus his reaction towards strangers and unfamiliar dogs. Otherwise, Bogi is just like a big teddy bear and has been great as a companion to my mother, who has mild dementia.

Anyway, for 4 days, Bogi was trained using an e-collar. We kind of wondered about how much "shock" Bogi is receiving whenever the "buzzer" buttom is pressed on the remote. Of course, we tried the e-collar on ourselves (on our fingers) and, to my surprise, it's actually not that bad. We certainly don't want Bogi getting hurt from the e-collar and he didn't show any fear of the e-collar whenever I put it around his neck after the 4 day training. The e-collar has 2 metal prongs (with rounded ends) that sticks thru the dog's fur. The trainer told us to use the e-collar for 90 days to further condition him to do what we want him to do. Bogi doesn't wear the e-collar unless he's going out for a walk, although our trainer said he could be wearing it about an hour before the walk to condition him that the e-collar is not to be feared.

The e-collar worked. Just last Saturday, we took Bogi out to a busy shopping area in Berkeley, CA where there are plenty of people and dogs walking around. We asked our trainer to come along in case trouble arises. In short, Bogi succeded beyond my wildest dreams. Bogi walked for over an hour and must've walked past several hundred people and many of their dogs....even through a packed outdoor Peets Coffee. He was calm and didn't make any bad moves at all. He just wore his regular pinch collar and that was it. I was so proud of him.

For the last 3 days, Bogi has been walked in our neighborhood without the e-collar and he has been almost perfect. There's still work to be done but Bogi has improved so much.

So I am giving a thumbs up for the e-collar/dog training collar.

blueboxer

There are collars that offer the option of both the electrical shock and a vibration mode as well. The electrical shock an vary from mild to pretty intense, with the dog's tolerance determining just how it is felt or received by the dog. Personally, I would advise using a training in conjunction with the collar to teach you how to properly utilize and administer it. People often enforce a different behavior or reaction than just the one that is intended. Dogs associate just as people do and they might connect the correction with something else that is unintended that could cause additional negative reactions or behavior patterns. The rule of thumb for most dog instructors is that once on power, always on power. In other words, once you use power to correct the behavior while the dog is outside then the dog should always have the collar on when in that environment, not necessarily on all the time, but all the time that the dog is in the environment or situation that the collar was used to correct. Canines are brilliant animals and will figure out that when the collar is not on they can still get away with it and they will even test the collar to see if it is on or not if you try putting the collar on, but not turning it on.

Gotta love dogs.

P.S. Chows are among the most stubborn breed so take that into account, very alpha driven dogs and respond as such.

rengnath

Our neighbor used to have the sonic collar that worked pretty good indoors to keep the dog from barking, but it couldnt be used outdoors because any sort of wind or breeze would set it off. In the house, something such as clapping for a football game can set it off though.

The pennies in the can works great. It was suggested by our vet, and because our dog weighs 7lbs a shock collar probably wasnt the best option. Our dog had a problem with barking inside, and every time she did we took a can full of pennies and chucked it in her general direction (never to hit her, although sometimes we didnt have the best aim). It worked though, and now if she begins to bark again, we just have to bring the can out and set it on the table and she knows its there.

PerfectCreature

rengnath wrote: »

The pennies in the can works great. It was suggested by our vet, and because our dog weighs 7lbs a shock collar probably wasnt the best option. Our dog had a problem with barking inside, and every time she did we took a can full of pennies and chucked it in her general direction (never to hit her, although sometimes we didnt have the best aim). It worked though, and now if she begins to bark again, we just have to bring the can out and set it on the table and she knows its there.

Never tossed at them, that I remember, but yes. The can just appearing and in plain view was normally enough to peel the ears and make them think about barking or not.

soundfreak1

I think a whip and a chair to start with than graduate to the colt 44 if necessary.

exalted512

I wonder why the penny can thing works. Never heard of that before.
-Cody

Glowrdr

I know that really the object of any of the collars is to distract the dog. Once you distract them from their behavior, then you are pretty much the center of focus. That's why the penny cans work. Lately we've just been squirting him with a water bottle and it seems to help. Or I stand outside and wait for the dog to bark - then abruptly call his name when he does (in the "tone" he listens to) and he starts to quit. I think it is just a training issue, and as stated - he is testing me all the time.

Our dog definately falls into the abused catagory before we got him. We got him when he was less than a year, but I went to the house to adopt him and his dad had to be held on a short (aka 12" leather) leash. Never seen a dog that was so vicious - they literally had to hold him back while the dog lunged and snarled at us. We passed because they started to play games with the pricing and dog itself. 3 monthes later they offered the dog for 1/4 of the price, with papers and full shots.

I also think part of his barking could be attributed to a couple things. We've NEVER kenneled him. He was baby gated into the lower landing for about a week and a half while we were at work. He potty trained himself that quick. So now when anyone comes over - they are in his territory since the whole house is his. It's weird. He will bark at anyone for about 15 minutes. Then he quits. He does definately keep an eye on you, but he doesn't want anything to do with people other than me, my wife and little kids.

And yes, for those of you that asked - he is a purebred Chow. I've also got a white Persian (I'm allergic to cats, so this is one of the only breeds I can be around)

tonyb

Glowrdr wrote: »

but he doesn't want anything to do with people other than me, my wife and little kids.

And yes, for those of you that asked - he is a purebred Chow.

Thats a characteristic of the breed itself, doesn't mean anything happened to him as a pup. Akida's are the same way, good with their own family but watch out around strangers.

Glowrdr

I also mention this because he's never been the same after my was house burglarized by my old neighbor. I don't have any reason to believe that he was injured in any way, but he definately changed. Odd thing, is when the wife and I leave town for any reason and have someone dogsit - he is perfectly fine, at their house. He will jump right up on the couch and watch TV with them. He almost goes into the protective mode for them instead by following them around the house, sleeping at their feet, etc.

Great dog though - as much of a pain animals can be, they are both a huge part of the family. I always make sure to pick them up on the way back into town because it's just weird to be home without our little buddy under foot.

tonyb

Yep, damn critters worm they way into your heart and stay there....even after they are gone.

Danny Tse

Glowrdr wrote: »

I always make sure to pick them up on the way back into town because it's just weird to be home without our little buddy under foot.

It used to be our dog would have separation anxiety, now it's our turn. Always wondering if he's doing ok whenever we are out of the house.

Btw, he now has his own Facebook page.

blueboxer

The only issue with the penny can is that the correction cannot be administered unless you are around and in sight, dogs cue in on that and learn when they can and cannot behave. The collar allows for consistent correction regardless of your presence and is more effective at reducing or eliminating a behavior versus curbing it when you are around.

alexarean

I wonder why the penny can thing works. Never heard of that before.

Glowrdr

Blue - you bring up a good point. Although, does anyone here have an example of one that they have used? There are so many out there, I'm really not even sure what brands are good (or where to get one for a decent price). Most stores around me only carry 1 brand, so you either get what they've got, or you don't. Not too much for choices or comparisons.

I do like the fact that a bark collar would work all the time, not just when I'm watching the dog. Another part of me doesn't mind if I have to monitor the dogs behavior. He is not an outside dog, so it's not like he will be out there without me knowing what is happening. Not sure if this is a positive reinforcement or not - but I'm thinking a reactive solution would promote the fact that I am the alpha male. By him not taking orders from me, he will learn that there is an unwanted effect (whatever that may be). Where the bark collar would take the anxiety off me, and correct the behavior itself.

Any of this sound logical, or do I just need to and pickup a collar at a reasonable store (i.e. petstore, not k-mart) and see what happens? I should check and see what the return policy is on those things.

markmarc

I applaud that you respect your neighbors enough to take this on. Barking dogs that go on and on are big pet peeves of mine (dog owner myself). I know of three dogs that got the collar from their master. On the two large dogs it worked great, the little weiner dog just wore out the battery.

blueboxer

Petsafe makes some decent bark collars that automatically administer a correction and are rechargeable. If you are looking for a overall correction collar that you control dogstra makes some great products, especially the ones that will either vibrate like a pager or administer a shock based on your preference or what you think the situation calls for.

pitdogg2

you may be wasting your money on a collar. My neighbor had an Akita that a shock collar would not work on him. Because your dog has so much fur and a very dense undercoat it most likely will not penetrate. We even held the Akita off it's front legs by the collar and it had no affect on him.

If your bound and determined to get one check out the hunting dog sites. The collars on these sites will have a stronger more reliable shock and some will go out to 1 mile or more. We used them on our treeing walker hounds when they would jump a Deer or Coyote and take off after it.

here's one site there are many more
http://www.lcsupply.com/Remote-Dog-Training-Collars/departments/29/

blueboxer

Long or heavy coated dogs require longer prongs, which you can purchase, some coats would require trimming around the neck to ensure the prongs make contact. Common sense should be the rule of thumb on whether or not contact can be made with each individual dog's coat.

pitdogg2

blueboxer wrote: »

Long or heavy coated dogs require longer prongs, which you can purchase, some coats would require trimming around the neck to ensure the prongs make contact. Common sense should be the rule of thumb on whether or not contact can be made with each individual dog's coat.

very true but even with the longer prongs and a trimmed area still didn't phase him one bit. Some breeds are just oblivious to pain.

Glowrdr

I'd rather stand outside with my Indy hat and a whip then to shave my dogs neck. lol

Finding some promising information, and getting some good advice here. I'll keep checking and pick something up in the near future. Looks like I can get into the game for about $100.

blueboxer

Chows are very stubborn, so this breed might be prone to ignoring pain or corrections. lol

Glowrdr

Here goes nothing. After some research, here is the one I decided on. http://www.thedigitaloasis.com/Innotek-SD-400S-SDG-FIELD-TRAINER-STUBBORN_p_10195.html

I was looking at a similar model, but it was $110, and took the CR2032 batteries (4) and it sounds like you had to replace the batteries almost weekly. This one is rechargable, waterproof (submersible) and seems to get solid reviews. Not that I consider my dog stubborn (as indicated by the SD-400S model) - but the regular model came in florescent orange. The "Stubborn" version comes in black, and it might fare a little better if I gotta zap through some fur. I'm hoping he just learns that the tone means it's gonna hurt if you don't listen soon.

tonyb

Don't just start zapping the crap out of the pooch.:eek::biggrin: It's best to associate a command verbally when giving him the warning tone. It's ment as a training device and not a long term solution so keep that in mind.