Barking Dogs

I tried a sound activated collar that gave an adjustable shock and at the lowest setting, my dog barked once (at the mailman) and let out a yelp. The problem here, is I want the dog to bark if someone other than people I know approach. I did not use the collar again.

What you might try is a remote shock collar and use it at its lowest setting or the vibrate setting.

This requires you to train with the dog by introducing visitors to your house and working with the dog to give you the response you want.

You may not get what you want, although. Basically, you have to make the dog understand its role and that is not easy in this case.

The collar would only be used to give the dog a distraction, not a punishment. The idea is to break the dogs concentration enough so that the dog notices your commands and follows them. Follow all positive responses by your dog with a reward or treat. Then once the dog starts to get it, fade the use of treats.

You may also want to look up "Marker Training" as an alternate to treats.

Some dogs are very bull headed and breaking their concentration is not easy or even possible without using some unorthodox means.

You might have better success getting your dog to bark, then go to a prescribed place and wait in a sit. Usually a mat on the floor at the desired place works well. This gives the dog the idea that it now has a job to do when someone comes to the door.

The hard part is enlisting volunteers in enough numbers and frequency to train the dog.

Actually, the collars are good if YOU use them properly. Your dog was just a bit surprised the first time thats all....He is allowed to be surprised isn't he?

Use only when the dog(s) are outside and take the collars off immediately when they come in. Or switch off.

Any halfway intelligent dog will "notice" the difference between inside and outside.....

I am lucky, in spite of a neighbours dog that only barks while its outside, my Weimy simply ignores him completely, but is still a good "door bell"dog....she did not ever need the collar.....

In my limited experience of other dogs, they learn within a few days when to bark and when not, but need occasional reminding....

"Use only when the dog(s) are outside and take the collars off immediately when they come in. Or switch off."

The dog will learn that when the collar is off, nothing will happen, so when the day comes to leave the collar off, it may revert to the original behaviour. When my parents got one to teach recall so their dog could be taken off the lead whilst on walks, the collar was left on for parts of the day even in doors. I should also imagine that putting the collar on and taking it off several times a day (particuarly in the summmer) would be a royal pain in the backside and you would not be able to leave the back door open for the dog to come and go as they please.

For barking problems, do what my parents did, the dogs were allowed outside, but if they barked they are called straight in, they soon learn that they won't get much time outside when they bark (not so great if your dog doesn't like being outside).

The other thing when teaching any animal (or child for that matter), is to stay consistant with anything you are teaching them, no letting things pass because you can't be bothered to sort it out "just this once". You would be suprised at how much difference this simple rule can make. So if the lady next door has tried lots of things, she probably hasn't stuck to anything long enough to make a difference to her dogs behaviour.

Had that very same issue a good many years ago.... With all of the noise laws in effect now days you may just get yourself in to trouble.... Picture a microphone and a speaker directed at the offending animals.. they bark and it is directed back towards them amplified many fold... the smart ones will not bark and at the very least their owners might get a taste of what your problem is.....and then some......

Thanks for the link.

CAUTION! CAUTION! CAUTION!

When using the Shock Bark Collars be very careful as to how you handle them! Many years ago my son was fitting one onto a dog. When he was handling it he had no shirt on and slipped and fell onto the floor. The collar probes were now against his chest and the dog barked several times. Yes, he jumped up very quickly from the floor since the collar probes shocked him!

When he knew what the dog would go through he never used it on the dog and found an alternate method to quiet the dog. He said that it was worse than getting shocked by a spark plug wire.

Good Luck, old salt

In California the solution is simple. You are unable to sleep and continue normal daily life activities because of the constant barking. Certainly its reasonable to first ask your neighbor to correct the problem.

That being unsuccessful the remedy here is a small claims court suit for nuisance. Sue for $7500, or whatever is the maximum where you live. Prepare your suit with evidence such as a detailed log of when the dogs bark and for how long. A suit will get this neighbor's attention. If possible encourage other neighbors who feel as you do to sue also. Suits on successive weeks from a number of claimants will be a hugely motivation force for the dog owner.

This person has absolutely no acceptable excuse for allowing this noise to continue and ranks with the worthless clods in our society that need a firm foot placed, albeit legally, where it will do the most good. If you allow the nuisance to continue than you fully deserve all the discomfort that results.

Time to find some cojones and fix the problem. ........ Ed Weldon

I am fully aware of what the law allows. I also know several ways to permanently silence dogs. Why would you or anyone else suggest that a lawsuit, something that would create more problems than it helped, would require certain parts of the male anatomy? If I was going to be a big hero, would I be looking for suggestions? You would be the guy that poisoned the dogs. A lawsuit? Really? Do you have police where you live?

Pretty clear that you are not going to be any great hero.

To insinuate that I would ever stoop to the point of hurting a dog that wasn't actually attacking me and threatening great bodily harm let alone poisoning it is a gross insult and reflects poorly on you, citizen. But I will forgive you.

I have been a dog lover and have had dogs almost continually for the last 47 years. Mine have never been excessive barkers and have always been sufficiently trained that they lived inside in a warm, comfortable, loving and secure home. It is easy to train dogs not to bark, Show them sufficient love and attention to build their confidence and they will not be problem barkers.

I did have a neighbor many years ago that kept a dog confined in a small outdoor pen next to my fence. I never saw him take the dog out of that pen. He simply gave it food and water every day. He and his famliy otherwise ignored it. The dog barked incessantly and even though I asked him to do something about it his response was that "dogs barked" and there was nothing he could do. I finally met him in front of the town judge who told him to fix the problem and that if he saw him a second time about the issue there would be a fine of unstated amount for him. So this neighbor moved the pen close to his house and the family started paying attention to the dog. Guess what? Problem solved. No more barking.

Dogs need love, attention and security from their owners. Sometimes the humans have to be dragged kicking and screaming to that realization.

Ed Weldon

My son moved into an apartment with his Boxer who tended to voice displeasure when left alone. My wife found a device on line that emits a sonic pulse when the dog barks. The results were simply amazing, and the best thing is it was relatively cheap. I would recommend it.

The device I spoke of could be mounted at your fence line and pointed towards the neighbors

Can you give me a web site?

Not really, I will have to emailmy wife, she is in Michigan and I am in Shanghai. I now though that she may have use Dr Fosters, http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=10817 this looks like the one

Just do a google search for "ultrasonic dog bark control".

I can't post a link because google automatically defaults to a UK search: I get 80,000 hits.

I had a similar problem at a location where I worked often. A home next door to where I was put two dogs outside regularly in a fenced area. When they sensed me, they began to bark constantly, with each triggering the other. After several months of this, I reacted by barking back at them when they started. They would stop temporarily. When they started, I would respond. After a week or two, the dogs were silent. What good are alarm dogs if they respond to normal activities?

I've a plan to bring my friends dog home and that's nice info for sharing

I don't have an answer, but I would venture a guess that less than half of dog owners realize how much attention these animals require. I think your neighbor is one of the people that doesn't have a clue.

Maybe she could check out this website. It's possible she could get her problem solved and get on TV too. It looks like there are some good tips on there.

http://www.cesarsway.com/

Works great from a distance......

Just kidding ..... good luck, the problem is the owner not the dogs.

I have also used this method and it worked wonders

I supplemented the use of the airgun with throwing crackers at the dog every time it barked. I used a catapult to get sufficient range.

It only took about 6 or eight bangs before the dogs( there were 3 of them) got the message and then we had peace. the treatment had to be repeated about every 3 to 6 months.

My neighbour had stopped talking to me when I first complained about the noise of the barking so he just had to accept the crackers.

We raise dogs, and when they are young pups barking is always an issue. We have tried ALL the shortcuts using various devices. The best way is, as you say, train them not to bark. You would do yourself and your neighbor a favor if you could convince her to get trainer into her home to assist her with the training. That's the best solution I know of.

However, I have used remote control shock collars to train for various things (Like NOT chasing deer etc). and it can be very effective. You should spend time with a trainer upfront, and learn how to properly use these devices. That said, if you were to invest in one, you would then need your neighbors permission to put it on her dog. And training multiple dogs at the same time is always a challenge!

In any case the best advise I can give as a professional breeder, is to get a trainer involved.

I believe that in most european countries, the electric shock ones are only allowed for certain licensed trainers. But there are other types with a vibrator on the throat or a small spray of water.....both of which I understand are not only effective, but are legal.

The best ones have a mic and are set to react only for tghe bark of the dog who is wearing it......you don't need to be ready with the button all the time.....they cost less than €40 on ebay...

I have found an incredible technology that will stop a dog from barking instantly. It is effective at significant distances, requires no batteries, leaves no marks on the dog, and, best of all, it works just as well on the neighbor's dog as it does on my own.

Follow this link to acquire this amazing technology for yourself:

Secret Anti-barking Device

This device works so well that I rarely have to use it. Whenever I reach for it my dog immediately stops barking before I can pick it up.

Woof (ouch, what the? that was loud!)

A friend of mine in the USA, about 25 years ago, had a problem with a neighbour and his/her 3 barking dogs. All day while the owners were at work, the dogs barked outside.

He started throwing a special laxative chocolate bars (in the UK called ExLax, what the US name is I don't know, it could be the same.)over the fence shortly before the owners returned in the evening. The dogs pooped the house full most nights, with (evidently) very runny faeces......also the house stank. The neighbours had a shouting match every day....

After 3 weeks, the dogs were sent to the dog rescue......no more were ever bought...

It was sad for the dogs, but having such a nuisance is worse.....

I am not recommending this to anyone by the way......I am a dog lover and make sure mine is never a nuisance. She is never alone outside either.....day or night.

Some breeds are often "Yappier" than others, before becoming an owner, people should check out the breeds carefully before buying....though this is never a 100% guarantee.....

All the dogs that I have known who barked a lot were dogs that were not properly trained and were complete bored through lack of owner attention. The owners would have been better off with stuffed dog......

If I may also be so bold to venture that generally speaking, my experience has shown me that good gun dogs, having a soft mouth, great with kids and families, are generally speaking a less "Yappy" dog......but they MUST be trained and amused a little......not just ignored.

There are many breeds that tend to bark more than average, small terriers/Jack Russel's and the like being to my mind the worst of all.....minature poodles also come to mind.....but I also know a poodle that is as good as completely silent....!

Don't start telling me about your silent terrier and the like, I was only speaking generally. Individual dogs of any breed, properly trained and amused are also wellknown to be good in this way......so a lot rests with the owners as well.....probably well over 50%.

I have three dogs, a 19 month old Bernese Mountain Dog, an 18 month old Lab/Golden Retriever mix, and a seven year old chow/lab/who-knows-what-else mix. All bark, but not excessively. Sometimes it's more than we want them to, but generally they are barking at something going on on the other side of the fence (someone walking their dog, neighbors outside talking late at night, armadillo digging in the grass at the edge of the fence).

It's not easy to correct them as they are outside and we are inside. As soon as we open the door they come running, proud they have been doing their job. So I'm not sure it's productive to scold them at that point. We have considered the electronic collars....but so far are have not gone that route yet.

Here's a photo of them lounging on the lanai.

I really recommend that you try a $2 dog whistle first. I bought a dog whistle after failing with a shock collar.

The biggest problem with the shock collar was my dog's fur. I had to keep his neck trimmed very close for the collar to be affective. He figured out that if he couldn't feel the prongs on his skin, then the shock from the collar would not hurt.

The dog whistle works so well that I have only actually blown it about 3-4 times. Since then as soon as I reach for it my dog stops barking. In your case you might have to crack the outside door the first few times to get your dogs' attention, but after that I bet they'll quiet down even if you blow the whistle from inside your house.

Thankfully, shock collars are forbidden in most westernised countries.

There is a range of other collars with a water spray or a vibrator, they work just as well.....and cause no damage.

Principally, because most people don't know how they are supposed to be used.

True, but that doesn't apply to the remote collars and your simplified instructions did not tell us how to adjust the power level.

The root problem with any shock collar is that people can't be bothered to take the time to understand how to correctly train with them. People think they are a magic wand.

This is the reason that so many countries band them. That, and organizations like PITA are clueless how to handle dogs that are dominant/aggressive.

The result of such ignorance can easily end up looking like this:

Dog Bite Wounds

You can click on the small picture if you have an iron stomach.

My point is that your are trivializing the subject, which is exactly why people get into trouble and dogs get destroyed.

Bravo!!!

GA

For a good commonsense/knowledgeable answer.....as to whether he will take it to heart.....hmmmmmm........I will reserve judgement.

If you had stopped and thought for a second before you started typing then you might have realized that you were trying to arguing with me after I stated that I agree with you that these things are basically bad. However you want to word it or phrase it, they are bad and are likely to do more harm than good in the long run.

Sorry. Now I am confused. My position was that I did not think these devices are bad andy more than I think that a firearm is evil.

I do believe that the way they are used by most people is wrong.

Did I misunderstand your position on these collars?

GA

Not that it's any of your business, but I tested the "power" of the collar on my own skin before putting it on my dog. The electrodes of the collar emit a low power DC voltage that yields a strong sensation that goes away immediately after the pulse is complete and leave no burn or nerve damage behind. I would not use a device that would "cause damage" to my dog unless there was imminent risk of him "causing damage" to a human being.

If you read my post carefully, then you should be aware that I am actually opposed to the use of these collars for various reasons, and that I prefer a dog whistle which is far less intrusive, requires far less maintenance, and is far-far less expensive.

...and you COMPLETELY missed my point! Its simply not needed for any dog (or human!), at any strength or power.....

Shock collars are considered to be severely OTT over here and there are other methods with guaranteed no posible harm or damage to the dog (or the owner!!).

I tried one of the shock collars on myself some years ago (only on the thigh, through trousers though!) and at the high range it was quite painful.....few dogs achieve my body weight, so they would feel it even more.......

Which is why I said MOST westernised countries.....which is probably why some simply don't get it!! They aren't in one.....where are you?

Poor dogs!!

If you dislike these collars so much then why on earth did you give Mr. "A. Hero" a GA for saying that shock collars are great?

Please give me the relevant posts, I cannot find that I did as you mentioned......thanks for letting me know IF I did as you believe.....

Electronic collars, correctly used, are a cheap and effective method to quieten dogs down.

You want to talk to your neighbours asap, maybe they are afraid of you or are too polite to say anything.....or something, but just because they have not complained, that they are happy with the situation.....

Just assuming is very bad manners.....that many, sadly, are guilty of......

Our neighbors are quite friendly with us and us with them. We have spoken to all of them many times. Apparently, the barking only seems to bother us. When we are out front, we have the dogs out there with us. Any of the neighbors walking by come over and pet them and play with them or let their dogs play with them.

As I said, they don't bark excessively....but just enough to make us tell them to stop. We can generally tell when it's something serious. The tone and intensity changes. I think most of the time it's just the dogs saying hi to the outside world.