no-bark collars (Erica1989)

JackieG

miranadobe

For electonic bark collars, I'd go with Tri-Tronics Bark Limiter - quick and clear - straight cause effect.  This one does NOT go off when another dog barks - it only initiates when the dog wearing it barks because it's placed over the vocal chords.  For that reason, it must sit snugly in the same position for the duration of use, so the care instructions remind you to check the dog for rubbing and not to keep it on indefintely. 

This is my suggestion also based on personal experience.

 Ditto.

I still swear there has to be some minpin in that boy somewhere :) 

Gobie had to wear a bark collar a LOT.  Barring all other good/bad opinions on electric bark collars, the dog nearly got us evicted from 2 apartments. I started to take him to work- and nearly got fired because of his non stop barking.  Travelling and hotels was awful (because of his constant barking) and as a result the BEST and most humane option was a bark collar.  Citronella was a joke.  He would bark, it would spray, he would bark, it would spray adn the smell is overpowering.

Electric (Innoteck is the brand) worked like a charm.  The thing is, once they learn that the collar zaps them when they bark and the collar is on them- they don't bark.  So many times Gobie had the bark collar on with no battery.  I do not think it is cruel, considering eviction- we could have dumped him off at the shelter or had him euth'd (for the barking and his MANY additional behavior issues). 

It's a trade off.  Anyway, I like the Innotek brand. There are many small dog sized ones now too.  If you don't mind replacing batteries, the battery operated ones are a bit cheaper. THen again, you could go with the convenience of the plug in rechargable one too.

Casey, be a good boy for your momma now!

  I have been using e-bark collars on my dogs for many years. IMO if the barking is the issues, I would definitely go for a bark and not a remote collar. The bark collar will correct the dog at consistently and doesn't rely on you being there. I have used Innotek and Petsafe (both cheaper models under $60). The Innoteks work well, use batteries you can buy at Radio Shack and seem to last for years. The Petsafes worked fine but the battery life seems low and they take proprietary batteries. The two I had also didn't last real long, only about a year (I have had the Innoteks last 6+ years).

 IME these collars will not train your dog to be quiet when the collar isn't on. They will train your dog very well to be quiet while they are wearing the collar though. You could possibly try using the collar with some behavior modification. An interesting thing about the use of bark collars IME is that for some dogs, they can help ease anxiety, frustration and territorial behaviors. The dog can't get themselves all worked up barking, so they don't escalate to worse behaviors.

  FWIW I have tried sonic no-bark devices, both collars and free standing ones. IME they didn't work well to begin with and after a very short time, they didn't work at all. The dogs learned to tune it out extremely fast (some never seemed to give it a second thought).

Myra

JackieG

miranadobe

For electonic bark collars, I'd go with Tri-Tronics Bark Limiter - quick and clear - straight cause effect.  This one does NOT go off when another dog barks - it only initiates when the dog wearing it barks because it's placed over the vocal chords.  For that reason, it must sit snugly in the same position for the duration of use, so the care instructions remind you to check the dog for rubbing and not to keep it on indefintely. 

This is my suggestion also based on personal experience.

 Ditto.

 

TriTronics is my choice as well.  I have intimate knowledge based on use with my own dogs.  I had a Giant Schnauzer who would bark at trees moving in the wind.  He needed to not alert to everything that moved when out in the kennel.  Yes, getting the dog e-collar literate before use is best.  But, the no bark collar will work eventually.  You just may need to go to a higher level to get the dog's attention.  Then, once the dog feels a stim worth paying attention to, you can back it down one level. 

TriTronics as a brand is about 100% more reliable than any other brand.  Battery in them is odd.  But easily found with a search on the internet.

Your dog will get "collar-wise" in that it will be quiet wearing the collar and bark when it is off in the same circumstances.  So what!  My GS wore his bark collar every day out in the kennel with no harmful effects at all.  You can stop the barking and keep your neighbors happy, and keep your dog by using a no bark collar.  Sonic ones do not work.  Citronella is cruel in that long after the dog is quiet the smell from the collar going off still lingers all around his head.  The dog never gets free of the smell.  That's cruel in my opinion.  The stim of a no bark collar corrects and is over in an instant.  The dog is not repeatedly punished when it is trying to behave correctly.  Do yourself a favor.  Get a  TriTronic collar.

Erica we all know you are good dog momma!!  We know that you have searched and researched every alternative.  I know you will get it all worked out!  Be a good boy Casey, your mom just wants the best for you!  And sshhhh!

 Just a thought.  One of my brothers had a barker in a residential area.  Neighbors called, then called the cops.  Brother got a bark trainer that had a volume control that tripped the zap.  His dog learned to bark quietly-just under the thresh hold of the collar.  Good luck.

 I have never used a bark collar, so I cannot speak to that specifically. I feel though what I can speak to though are the effects of using punishment. You may get some unwanted side effects of this, and you may not. You may even get some good side effects, it can happen. He will most likely, as other people said, learn to discriminate the collar being on vs. collar off. That's not necessarily a bad thing, because there are sometimes when you can take it off and barking would be ok. He's a dog, sometimes dogs should bark. I'd be somewhat wary of it increasing in intensity as barking continues, or starting off low and increasing the intensity as the barking continues. This might allow him to habituate to the collar, thus you may have to keep cranking it up, until he is completely ignoring the stim. While you obviously do not want to go any higher than is necessary, you also don't want to go too low.

AgileGSD

FWIW I have tried sonic no-bark devices, both collars and free standing ones. IME they didn't work well to begin with and after a very short time, they didn't work at all. The dogs learned to tune it out extremely fast (some never seemed to give it a second thought).

This has happened (surprisingly) TO work well - but we also have varied "where" we hang it in the yard and that may help with success (i.e., so she can't just go to the other side of the yard to tune it out).

The reason we went with the device was simply that it is **there** where we care whether she barks or not!  Outside -- (pointed towards City Hall *sigh*) -- that's where we'll get in trouble if she barks (at any time of the day) -- and since they are inside crated when we aren't home the only time it IS a problem is when they are outside in the evening for a potty. 

It tends to be the night critturs that get her going -- possum, coon, owls that fly and chase citrus rats, etc.. 

But knowing all the different things that are available and what everyone thinks of them is helpful.

griffinej5

 I have never used a bark collar, so I cannot speak to that specifically. I feel though what I can speak to though are the effects of using punishment. You may get some unwanted side effects of this, and you may not. You may even get some good side effects, it can happen. He will most likely, as other people said, learn to discriminate the collar being on vs. collar off. That's not necessarily a bad thing, because there are sometimes when you can take it off and barking would be ok. He's a dog, sometimes dogs should bark. I'd be somewhat wary of it increasing in intensity as barking continues, or starting off low and increasing the intensity as the barking continues. This might allow him to habituate to the collar, thus you may have to keep cranking it up, until he is completely ignoring the stim. While you obviously do not want to go any higher than is necessary, you also don't want to go too low.

I don't think you should underestimate the effect that shock has on dogs, versus the effect that an unpleasant smell has on them.  I prefer putting barking on stimulus control, if I think the dog will respond well, before resorting to other methods, but I would certainly give the citronella collar a try over the shock collar, because cit collars have outperformed shock collars by several percentage points in testing,and in the case of a malfunction, they simply empty, rather than possibly burning a dog's neck.   

Before you decide that you really have tried everything and this is your last resort, read: http://books.google.com/books?id=DA4NFI-kBgAC&pg=PA271&lpg=PA271&dq=putting+barking+on+stimulus+control&source=bl&ots=E1aEZyeiPj&sig=IgeKYkVGPCelPhoD2yDFzkpDJUM&hl=en&ei=ikmPTY-eEtOBtgf5pZHBDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CDoQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=putting%20barking%20on%20stimulus%20control&f=false

Dunbar's method: http://dogtime.com/dog-training-behavior-barking-dunbar.html

I personally don't like this any more than I like cit or shock collars, but it's an alternative: http://www.hitecpet.com/hushpuppy.html

spiritdogs

, rather than possibly burning a dog's neck

 "The Importance of a Snug Fit
Myth No. 2: Remote training collars can burn a dog's neck. “Not true,” Benson said. "The stimulation that a collar can output from the battery that's housed inside is not high enough to physically burn even if it is set on a high level for long period of time," he said.

The collar must fit snug so that it does not rub back and forth, which could wear away hair on the dog's neck. If the collar is not clean and is rubbing into the neck then hot spots could develop and create a sore that could be mistaken for a burn, he said. Or maybe the collar was left on too long or it was too loose and an infection began to appear."

from http://securepets.com/debunkingmyths.html

spiritdogs

I don't think you should underestimate the effect that shock has on dogs, versus the effect that an unpleasant smell has on them.  I prefer putting barking on stimulus control, if I think the dog will respond well, before resorting to other methods, but I would certainly give the citronella collar a try over the shock collar, because cit collars have outperformed shock collars by several percentage points in testing,and in the case of a malfunction, they simply empty, rather than possibly burning a dog's neck.  

 There is no possibility of a bark collar burning a dog's neck.If used improperly, there is a possibility for them causing rub sores but that is preventable by following the manufacturer's guidelines.

  Several of my dogs wear bark collars whenever they go outside. The only effect the collars have on them is they don't bark :)

calliecritturs

This has happened (surprisingly) TO work well - but we also have varied "where" we hang it in the yard and that may help with success (i.e., so she can't just go to the other side of the yard to tune it out).

  Would you mind telling me which device you use? Perhaps I haven't tried the right ones - mine have all been small, in home use ones and collars. It would be beyond convenient to not have to put bark collars on the dogs before they go outside. I'm having a hard time picturing it working multiple dogs though, since the "correction" will be given to everyone each time one barks.

 Erica, we all know that you have Casey's best interests at heart. Bravo, for doing the research!