bark collar

[Anonymous]

I feel guilty even posting this, but we have been considering purchasing a 'bark collar' for our maltese. The non stop barking is driving DH crazy and making it hard on all of us, including my little ones who are still napping. He is 6 months old and this has been a problem from the day we got him at 3 months (we have two other friends that also have malteses, and it is a problem for them as well, so I am wondering if this is a problem in particular with this breed...) We have been working with him, all without any luck.

We also have another (small) dog who doesn't bark at all (except when there are strangers near the house).

Has anyone used a bark collar, and in particular for a small dog? He weighs about 5 lbs, and may get 1 lb larger, but will stay pretty small.

TIA, and no crazy posters please. This is a very delicate issue and something I am considering as a last resort.

[Anonymous]

My parents used a bark collar for their maltese. He was deaf. Like literally, he was born deaf. So during barking stretches, it was almost impossible to teach him to stop without some kind of immediate physical reaction so he could associate his action with something unpleasant. I was actually quite against it, but it worked very well and quickly. I put the bark collar on my arm, and on the lowest setting it was less than a static shock - really more alarming than painful.

After a few weeks of wearing it, his barking was dramatically reduced and it got to the point that if he started barking, they could just pull the collar out so he could see it and he'd stop.

[Anonymous]

There are more humane bark collars that use a high pitched noise or a citronella spray to teach dogs not to bark. Look into those.

[Anonymous]

I"m not sure this would be an issue with a maltese since they are so small. But a trainer once warned me against bark collars if dogs are barking in reaction to people walking by or coming to the door.

The reason was that they would begin to associate the negative feeling with the PEOPLE, not the barking, and it could actually lead to stranger aggression.

Given the number of times I've inadvertently trained my dog to do something I don't want her to do (!), I think this makes sense.

[Anonymous]

We haven't used a bark collar but we do use a "shock" collar for our hound dog who just will not come when called once he gets on a scent. It is extremely effective and honestly not even all that bad--I used it on myself before putting it on the dog. It's no worse than a swat on the nose. Our vet is fine with it. At this point we almost never have to shock the dog anyway--he knows what the collar means and that's enough.

[Anonymous]

try putting coins in an empty coke can instead.

[Anonymous]

Try this one - http://www.amazon.com/Innotek-SD-70-Lap-Dog-Trainer/dp/B000A7BC4Q

It isn't a bark collar as you have to push the button yourself, but it has worked wonders in our dog. It gives you the option of a tone or the shock. It didn't take long for my dog to respond to just the tone. Keep in mind that all dogs are different. Some respond well to things like this and some don't. Just pay attention to your dog so you know the difference. Also, people are going to judge you harshly no matter what you do, so don't let it get to you, as you will only end up frustrated. You're the one that has to live with your dog, not them.

[Anonymous]

I second the citronella bark collar. Irritating to the dog but not painful. Worked great for a friend. At least try all such options before a shock collar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My parents used a bark collar for their maltese. He was deaf. Like literally, he was born deaf. So during barking stretches, it was almost impossible to teach him to stop without some kind of immediate physical reaction so he could associate his action with something unpleasant. I was actually quite against it, but it worked very well and quickly. I put the bark collar on my arm, and on the lowest setting it was less than a static shock - really more alarming than painful.

After a few weeks of wearing it, his barking was dramatically reduced and it got to the point that if he started barking, they could just pull the collar out so he could see it and he'd stop.

There is a video on Youtube of a college guy wearing a collar around his own neck and getting shocked whenever he speaks and it is obviously WAY MORE POWERFUL than a static shock.

OP, have you tried a muzzle?

[Anonymous]

My parents used a bark collar for their maltese. He was deaf. Like literally, he was born deaf. So during barking stretches, it was almost impossible to teach him to stop without some kind of immediate physical reaction so he could associate his action with something unpleasant. I was actually quite against it, but it worked very well and quickly. I put the bark collar on my arm, and on the lowest setting it was less than a static shock - really more alarming than painful.

After a few weeks of wearing it, his barking was dramatically reduced and it got to the point that if he started barking, they could just pull the collar out so he could see it and he'd stop.



There is a video on Youtube of a college guy wearing a collar around his own neck and getting shocked whenever he speaks and it is obviously WAY MORE POWERFUL than a static shock.

OP, have you tried a muzzle?

OK PP, this is a good example of why you shouldn't make sweeping assumptions based on you tube videos. Some shock collars have higher settings than others. Some you tube videos are also done by people PRETENDING.

I have no motive to lie about the strength of the shock collar I tested on my arm. My parents purposely got a model with multiple settings and for smaller dogs. I think the level of shock required to get the attention of a 5 lb dog is probably different than say a 100lb pit bull (some breeds are less sensitive to pain).

So, unless you know what model I tested and what model was on the you tube actor, stop making silly comparisons - you only discredit yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

My parents used a bark collar for their maltese. He was deaf. Like literally, he was born deaf. So during barking stretches, it was almost impossible to teach him to stop without some kind of immediate physical reaction so he could associate his action with something unpleasant. I was actually quite against it, but it worked very well and quickly. I put the bark collar on my arm, and on the lowest setting it was less than a static shock - really more alarming than painful.

After a few weeks of wearing it, his barking was dramatically reduced and it got to the point that if he started barking, they could just pull the collar out so he could see it and he'd stop.



There is a video on Youtube of a college guy wearing a collar around his own neck and getting shocked whenever he speaks and it is obviously WAY MORE POWERFUL than a static shock.

OP, have you tried a muzzle?

OK PP, this is a good example of why you shouldn't make sweeping assumptions based on you tube videos. Some shock collars have higher settings than others. Some you tube videos are also done by people PRETENDING.

I have no motive to lie about the strength of the shock collar I tested on my arm. My parents purposely got a model with multiple settings and for smaller dogs. I think the level of shock required to get the attention of a 5 lb dog is probably different than say a 100lb pit bull (some breeds are less sensitive to pain).

So, unless you know what model I tested and what model was on the you tube actor, stop making silly comparisons - you only discredit yourself.

Then why don't you test it on your throat, where the dog feels it, instead of on your arm.

[Anonymous]

We used the citronella collar a few times. It worked very well - In fact, our dog would cease barking as soon as we took the collar out! We barely had to use it.

[Anonymous]

Then why don't you test it on your throat, where the dog feels it, instead of on your arm.

Because I'm a 115lb adult, not a 5 lb dog. The collar wouldn't fit around my throat - the dog's throat was more comparable in size to my lower arm. Simple reasoning. Please tell me you aren't a lawyer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Then why don't you test it on your throat, where the dog feels it, instead of on your arm.

Because I'm a 115lb adult, not a 5 lb dog. The collar wouldn't fit around my throat - the dog's throat was more comparable in size to my lower arm. Simple reasoning. Please tell me you aren't a lawyer.

PP, I have also been told that the collars used for electric fences are nothing more to a dog than a shock from static electricity but i have seen two large dogs -- labs -- run through their electric fence and squeal in pain. Really disturbing to see. It is obviously WAY MORE than a shock you get when you reach down to pet your dog and accidentally get static electricity, since I've never seen a dog squeal in pain when that happens, and yet people love to describe it as nothing more than that. I am not a dog (or a lawyer) but I have common sense and when I see a human being on Youtube with the collar ON HIS THROAT wincing in pain, it's clear he is in way more pain than if he had gotten shocked by static electricity. Why don't you hold the collar up to your throat and try it out?

[Anonymous]

Thanks-we will look into the other ones, such as the high pitched noise one, etc.

He doesn't bark when people come to the door-he barks for attention, when he wants food, and whenever he feels like it. My other dog (a yorkie poo) pretty much ONLY barks when there are people walking by/knocking on the door, and I am fine with that (and makes me feel like I have some protection when my husband is away on business).

I am hesitant to try the 'coins in a can' thing because I think it may send conflicting messages...my three year old will frequently make loud noises, and he has toys that make all kinds of crazy sounds. I don't want the dog to get confused.

Thanks for all the responses.