Bark Collars

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sheltiemom4

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Hi everyone....I need advice and/or feedback on "bark collars". My shelties have become progressively worse concerning their barking and it's getting to the point where my husband is threatening to force me to get rid of them. And I must admit, it's getting on my nerves too!!! The barking is at EVERYTHING!!!! Ex: shutting the door to the dishwasher, brushing my hair, the hairdryer, feeding time, brushing my teeth, coming home, and the list goes on & on. I have tried everything that has been suggested: pennies in cans, spray bottles, training, nothing's working. We just recently got our 4th one and I MUST get control of this before they teach the puppy their bad habits.

I had been advised to try bark collars and want to know if anyone is using them and any feedback you may have. I don't want to resort to this, but, I don't know what else to do. I really don't want to have them de-barked either.....:confused2:
 
Bark collar is never my solution... I can not help you to justify it...
hmm, one problem is many dogs household, one starts barking others join in.... who is most barker in your house, you might need to start with him first...
Initially I would suggest tripling whatever exercises and activities your group gets... and if your hubby wants quiet in the house he should spend his time making sure dogs are too tired to bark:lol:
my house runs on the idea that tired dog is good dog and house is for rest, activity is for outside...
so when dogs are restless and look into whatever mischief they can bark at they go outside, we do not have a fenced yard so we go outside too... now when dog is walking by our house they want to bark too... so I am practicing my recalls, smear some peanut butter inside upper part of their mouth/ it takes forever to lick it out/... when distraction is too much they go on leash we relocate away from distraction and work on whatever we can think of, Its your choice game, targets, look at me, puppy push ups etc...
Identify which dog is the worst and what sets him off the most... lets say you have phone ring... ring... pair up with A plus food and keep going... when phone rings and he does what you want lets say sit- make a party...
It might be not an answer to your question but if you can't / won't train your dogs I would rather opt for debarking... less damage to the dog this way...
 
If you have tried everything else, please don't rule out debarking (bark softening) your dogs rather than getting rid of them.

I realize debarking is controversial, and even illegal in some places, but it really does require consideration when everything else has been tried and is definitely a better alternative to giving up your dog.

Personally, I'd rather debark my dog than use a bark collar that shocks, sprays something, or makes some annoying noise to "teach" the dogs not to bark. Shelties are very sensitive and harsh corrections, especially when they don't really understand the correction, can make them just shut down.

Debarking is a quick, relatively pain free, process that is often done with a laser. The misnomer is in the name "debarking". The dog really isn't debarked but bark softened - they can STILL bark. My two were debarked by their breeder and their barks are still loud enough to alert you to potential problem even when you are sound asleep. (I've been woken up enough at 2 or 3 in the morning because of cars turning around in my driveway to know the truth of this statement.)

Here is a "Myth vs Fact" article on Debarking written Charlotte McGowan who is a Sheltie breeder, member of the ASSA, and AKC judge: http://www.naiaonline.org/articles/archives/debark_qna.htm

Even after learning about what this process is and is not you still may decide its not something you will do and there is NOTHING wrong with that. Regardless of what you decide, please do what is best for your dogs.
 
training has consisted of "Quiet" command and rewarding when they stop. To be honest though, it only lasts for a second. I have not achieved giving the command "Quiet" and achieving results. AND yes, the phone ringing is another example. I understand the peanut butter, but, I would be running to put it in their mouths 24-7. They all three and different "triggers" for their barking. One goes CRAZY when the phone rings, brushing my hair because she knows I about to use the hair dryer, phone ringing, going out the front door, starting the motorcycle, car rides, etc. Another when he sees a human, dog, bird, squirrel, etc. I COULD go on & on & on......

When you say they could "shut down"......what does that mean???? I really don't know what to do. The puppy is starting to pick up their behavior....I need help:no:
 
Silaria said:
If you have tried everything else, please don't rule out debarking (bark softening) your dogs rather than getting rid of them.

I realize debarking is controversial, and even illegal in some places, but it really does require consideration when everything else has been tried and is definitely a better alternative to giving up your dog.

Personally, I'd rather debark my dog than use a bark collar that shocks, sprays something, or makes some annoying noise to "teach" the dogs not to bark. Shelties are very sensitive and harsh corrections, especially when they don't really understand the correction, can make them just shut down.

Debarking is a quick, relatively pain free, process that is often done with a laser. The misnomer is in the name "debarking". The dog really isn't debarked but bark softened - they can STILL bark. My two were debarked by their breeder and their barks are still loud enough to alert you to potential problem even when you are sound asleep. (I've been woken up enough at 2 or 3 in the morning because of cars turning around in my driveway to know the truth of this statement.)

Here is a "Myth vs Fact" article on Debarking written Charlotte McGowan who is a Sheltie breeder, member of the ASSA, and AKC judge: http://www.naiaonline.org/articles/archives/debark_qna.htm

Even after learning about what this process is and is not you still may decide its not something you will do and there is NOTHING wrong with that. Regardless of what you decide, please do what is best for your dogs.
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I totally agree! Shelties bark, it's what they do, it's in their genes and to punish one for doing what they are bred to do is very wrong, imo. As long as your dog is getting enough exercise and stimulation, it's not barking to be bad, it's barking because it's a sheltie. Debarking is a very humane procedure and most recover faster than when they are altered. I thought about doing it to my sheltie but it hasn't become enough of an annoyance yet, but I'd certainly do it in a heartbeat before shocking her for behavior that isn't her being bad, just her being who she is. Please, research it. It's really cheap here ($80!)
 
sheltiemom4 said:
training has consisted of "Quiet" command and rewarding when they stop. To be honest though, it only lasts for a second. I have not achieved giving the command "Quiet" and achieving results. AND yes, the phone ringing is another example. I understand the peanut butter, but, I would be running to put it in their mouths 24-7. They all three and different "triggers" for their barking. One goes CRAZY when the phone rings, brushing my hair because she knows I about to use the hair dryer, phone ringing, going out the front door, starting the motorcycle, car rides, etc. Another when he sees a human, dog, bird, squirrel, etc. I COULD go on & on & on......
Click to expand...

It really sounds like these dogs aren't getting enough stimulation! How often do they get walked? exercised? are they in agility, flyball, freestyle? if not, have you thought of it?
 
Oh....and I have tried exercising more also. I have taken them to parks and walked for an hour to come home and go CRAZY when the phone rings. I used a treadmill too!!!!
 
sheltiemom4 said:
training has consisted of "Quiet" command and rewarding when they stop. To be honest though, it only lasts for a second. I have not achieved giving the command "Quiet" and achieving results.
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Have you tried redirection?

That is really the best way to teach a barking sheltie how to stop. Like...when the door bell rings they get their favorite toy.

An example of this was described in this thread:
http://sheltieforums.com/showthread.php?t=9328&highlight=redirection&page=2
post #14 from Melissa.
 
sheltiemom4 said:
When you say they could "shut down"......what does that mean???? I really don't know what to do. The puppy is starting to pick up their behavior....I need help:no:
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When you refer to a dog "shutting down" it basically means their personalities change. For example, an outgoing dog can become very withdrawn and timid. A playful dog may not want to play any more.

Spraying or shocking a dog can build fear which has to potential to result in something worse (example: snapping/biting) when the dog can no longer control the fear since they may never know when or if the unpleasant punishment will happen.
 
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